Telemarketers, please don't call me (ever again). Americans have been harassed by telemarketers for decades now and finally the federal government has taken some action to protect your right to eat dinner in peace. A national do-not-call registry has been set up.
Toll-free telephone number: Those without Internet access via computer and modem may telephone to the toll-free number at 1-888-382-1222 to have their telephone number added to the national do-not-call registry. (note: you must call from the telephone that you want added to the registry, unless, say, you want a certain pay telephone added to the registry).
Internet access: From your computer to the Internet, go to www.ftc.gov/donotcall/ or www.donotcall.gov/.
Effective enforcement date of new law: September 30, 2003. If you have registered your telephone number by August 31, 2003, the telemarketers should be calling less after October 1, 2003.
Legal penalties again telemarketers: Federal law will subject violaters to fines up to $11,000 per violation. In California, individual consumers may sue telemarketers in small claims courts for up to $1,000 per violation (if they have had their telephone number listed in the federal do-not-call registry).
References: San Jose Mercury News, 27 June 2003. Sacramento Bee, 27 June 2003, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 July 2003.
A simple telephone answering machine deters most telemarketers. I have never understood why many people don't bother with the cheap, easy and highly effective way of detering telephone telemarketers: just buy an inexpensive telephone answering machine and plug it into your telephone line, and voila, ninety-percent fewer telemarketing messages. It is apparently illegal (at least in California) for telemarketers to leave messages on answering machines. Further, you can make your own answering machine message and tout your own products, services or viewpoints or humor. Spam them before they can telemarket them.
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Contact author James K. Sayre at sayresayre@yahoo.com. Author's Email: sayresayre@yahoo.com
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Web page last updated on 1 July 2003.