FTC puts smackdown on telemarketing calls

As of today, you have a new weapon against telemarketers. Federal Trade Commission rules that just took effect say that telemarketing calls that are recorded in advance -- also known as robocalls -- from businesses or charities must include ways to opt out of future calls.

You're already supposed to be protected from unsolicited commercial calls if you're on the national Do Not Call registry, but calls from businesses with which you have a relationship (you've bought something from them, inquired about their products or services, etc.) were permitted. Also, calls from legitimate charities were allowed.

They still are. But under the new rules, a prerecorded message has to give the consumer a way to cut off the business or charity call -- and ban future calls from the same source -- by pressing a particular number or saying a word.

According to FTC, there is no universal number or word that all telemarketers must use, but the opt-out information must be stated early in the call. According to the rule, a call must begin with, in this order, the identity of the caller, the purpose of the call and instructions for opting out.

Consumers can report telemarketers that violate the new rules by visiting the FTC's Complaint Assistant website or calling 877-FTC-HELP.

If the recorded call is left on an answering machine, the message must include a toll-free number the consumer can use to stop future calls.

The new rule applies only to residential numbers -- you can still be bugged by commercial or charity calls at the office. Also, robocalls for political purposes are still permitted to all landline phones and are not restricted by the new rules. Thank goodness we can still get those calls from out-of-work politicians pushing their candidates.

-- David Colker

Photo: Wes Bausmith / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Jeffry]

This is excellent news, I was sent here from a blog posted by EveryCall and as they pointed out, this will probably will help curb only a small percentage of the robocalls we all get because most of these calls are made illegally anyhow from scammers who don't care about the FTC's laws.

How do we stop those calls?

[Mark]

To expand on the question posted by Jeffry: what about those companies who are well known, frequently named on websites where people list complaints, yet are still in business? For example, many of us receive regular calls from a company that wants to help people with credit card debt. This company has been discussed at length in places like www.heatherinaccountservices.com , and yet they still exist. What does it take for the FTC and FCC to go after these people? It's not like we don't know where to find them!

[JWest]

Mark,

VoIP makes is difficult to trace these callers. When a foreign telemarketer calls, the call often goes through several VoIP providers. That's why phone scam is flourishing. This article lists "16 Ways You Can be Phone Scammed" at http://800notes.com

Making the beneficiary pay would be one way to enforce the rules (could work if the company that benefits is in USA).

[Donna]

I have gotten robocalls and been given the way to opt out of receiving any more which I took advantage of by pressing the number they specified. Guess what... the next day and for two weeks following, I still got calls from that same place.

[Former Tele-Marketer]

As an experienced former tele-marketer, Here's the scoop. My manager said we keep calling these folks unless they tell us they died. That is the only time you should record DNC - Do Not Call. So unless someone at your home says you are dead - you'll probably get those annoying calls for magazines etc...