Consumerism Commentary - Latest Comments in One Way to Get Rid of Telemarketers

Re: One Way to Get Rid of Telemarketers

CW — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:36:28 -0000

I think we should hit the telemarketers where it hurts, when setting up their boiler rooms. I contacted my local congressperson and proposed that the suppliers of phone lines, equipment, etc for boiler rooms must first have several things from the company/person/entity that wants a boiler room. First, the entity must have an IRS tax number, be licensed to do business in the state of the boiler room's physical locations, sign an agreement with the supplier that they will not use the boiler room for criminal purposes such as ID theft, fraud, etc or violate any FCC regulations, and last they must post a bond for a hefty amount say one million to ten million that is forfeited if they violate their written agreement. I called one of the suppliers of a boiler room, which I located through a private reverse phone service and asked them if they took responsibility for criminal activity on their equipment/lines and they said to get a subpoena. So let's hit these crooks where it hurts. Also you should beware that they people who set up and use boiler rooms can be dangerous, as they have no ethics or morals. They could be fronts for ID theft, home invasion robberies, etc. So do not give out your address to these folks, hang up. Anyone who does not follow FCC regulations is probably a crook. Ethical businesses follow the rules and these are the people you should do business with. Don't give a telemarketer a chance. Hang up. and if they violate FCC rules, file a complaint with the FCC, the FTC and you local state attorney general. Let's grind the telemarketing business to a halt and bury it. The industry does not regulate itself very well and because of that and phone line and equipment suppliers don't care either, I think it is time to end this as an industry. If any one likes the above proposed legislation, contact your local congressperson and spread the word. Enough irate consumers and something might actually get done.

Re: One Way to Get Rid of Telemarketers

Harlan Landes — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:54:25 -0000

Clyde: Not a bad idea. I think a "Please Call List" would be blank, or at least, very small.

Re: One Way to Get Rid of Telemarketers

clyde — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:48:53 -0000

Instead of a "Do Not Call List" where folks have to register not to be called by telemarketers, why don't we have a "Please Call List" where folks who want to be called can register. Otherwise, nobody gets called. Why do we have to register every five years when we don't want to be called?

Re: One Way to Get Rid of Telemarketers

William Powell — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:48:08 -0000

Don't delete calls from our family members.

Re: One Way to Get Rid of Telemarketers

Kelly — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 23:29:43 -0000

That is a great idea! We have listed with Do Not Call but still get the calls, this is what we've done to combat the problem.

Re: One Way to Get Rid of Telemarketers

mapgirl — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:32:00 -0000

I have an unlisted number and due to the crappy weather, I got a call from the local FOP for a donation. I wonder how the hell he knew my name?!?!

Telemarketer/charitable donation solicitor/survey taker. It's all the same to me. WASTE OF TIME.

I do keep a landline around for broadband and 911 access. I don't trust VoIP for emergency calls.

Re: One Way to Get Rid of Telemarketers

Sun — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:08:37 -0000

I used to get a lot of calls (around 7:00 pm) for telemarketing, but it's true that after I registered at Do Not Call, there's almost no such call any more. Most of the calls I got now are from Credit card companies and my mortgage company which are exempted from the Do Not Call because I have business with them so they can still call me. But the Do Not Call does work and I almost didn't get any extra political calls because of the registration.