US - Do Not Call registry (page 2)

drwtsn32

I was just talking to my wife about this.... I don't think we've received any calls since early this month. Woo hoo!!!

blaid

Does anyone get those calls where they either:

a) dont answer to you untill you actually say 'hello??!!'

b) say something along the lines of "Please hold and the next available assistant will be with you

and then you are put on hold for HOURS

*twitch* stupid telemarketers

maxwell

There was a live on-line chat with "legal expert" Stuart Banner last week. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35572-2003Oct2.html

It was suggested at that time that a higher court might overcome the 'freedom of speech' argument by arguing that the government is not restricting speech but facilitating a consumer's right to restrict speech. The government cannot discriminate or restrict speech based on speech content except in certain circumstances. But individual citizens can. Maybe that's what this latest court has decided. I haven't read the full thing. But I am glad they are going forward with that. I was worried for a while about that. It reminded of the Stratton, Ohio case. The government couldn't restrict the JW in that case. However, as pointed out in the chat above, any citizen may put up a "do not solicit" (or even a "No Jehovah's Witness") sign. The do not call list is the equivalent for your phone. But it did make me wonder. Would there be interest and would it be possible to create a Do-Not-Knock or a Do-Not-Mail list?

SpunkyChick

Ug, telemarketers give me irritable bowel syndrome. I heard it was some dumb-assed judge here in Colorado who felt it was wrong and unconstitutional to have a do not call list. That boogar should have his house called everynight in the evening when he's relaxing from a days work and listen to someone try and sell him a new mortgage.

Princess

We run a business out of our house and have three numbers ringing in on the same line. That means we get each call X3. Sucks. We have noticed a HUGE drop in the number of telemarketing calls since last week. The do not call registry rocks.

Bendrr

The telemarketing industry just doesn't realize how bad they're shooting themselves in their collective foot with this one. It's already come out that telemarketing execs are on the dnc list, as well as the judge who tried to shoot it down. The American people aren't nearly as dumb as they think we are. They're fighting to keep us from keeping them from calling us, that's what it comes down to. How much further will it go?

Why is it that state dnc lists are ok, but a national list isn't? If this challenge is successful it could pave the way to getting rid of state dnc lists as well. I hope sanity prevails.

Their challenge saying the list violates their First Ammendment right is baloney. The First Ammendment garantees you the right to speak but not the right to be heard. We have a right to lock our homes against unwanted persons, we can post signs that prohibit salespeople from coming to our doors, why shouldn't we also have the same ability to keep them off our phone lines?

We can only hope that ultimately this case reaches a sane judge who's not hurting for money.

Mike.

p.s. I've said this before but it bears repeating. If you don't want telemarketing calls (and junk mail) don't give out your phone number and address in the first place. Sometimes you have to, but in that case you should always request that the business keep that info private. If you're not getting credit, or a service or product delivered to your home, then that business doesn't need your personal info and you have a right not to give it to them no matter how pushy they are about it. Store discount cards are another way your name hits calling lists. How many store discount cards do you have? Guess what? They sold your info to someone! Think about it next time you're offered a discount card.

Me? I get zero telemarketing calls and very little junk mail. I've always been careful about giving out my phone number and address, and it's gotten me into some confrontations with store employees who got a little too insistent. I always tell them when they keep on about it "I'm profit and you're overhead. I don't give out personal information."

US - Do Not Call registry