Quote from article
The national registry would cost an estimated $5 million in its first year. The agency has said consumers would be able to dial an automated toll-free number to bar telemarketers from calling them, and violators would be fined.

ClickonDetroit.com Article
http://www.clickondetroit.com/sh/news/stories/nat-news-148027620020524-170553.html

FTC Article
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/05/fyi0229.htm

It looks like we may be getting rid of some of those pesky telemarketer calls. Of course anything that is done now won't take full affect for a few years. That's how slow the government moves along it seems. Still thought this was interesting to know.

It's about time.

I'm sick of all the calls that come in ohhh just around supper time when they know your home.

:)

The telemarketers would not make the calls if they didn't work. It's amazing...I have never found a single person who will admit to liking telemarketers, yet it is extremely profitable and the use of telemarketing continues to grow. Fact....someone isn't admitting the whole truth. Sort of like the President who gets elected but after the election you can't find anyone who will admit they voted for them (not the current President, but some in the past).

But obviously everyone doesn't hate telemarketers. So, they have a legitimate right to conduct business. We just need to set boundaries. My personal suggestion is that anyone telemarketing be required to register their phones as telemarketing numbers and you be allowed to block calls from telemarketing numbers to your phone. This is not only technologically possible, but quite practical. More effective and less burdensome than lists.

I think part of it is also that there are people out there that hate "telemarkers", but occassionally will accept a good deal from one of them...

my 2 cents.

I agree; I avoid them at all costs but sometimes just can't pass up a good deal (long distance, credit card, etc)

Incognito, I agree with your post. This issue at hand isn't about stopping telemarketers from working, it's all about making it easier for the people that don't want to receive their calls to do exactly that. The "Do-Not-Call List" is nice but there are still some that don't listen. If you have either a National list (with fines that are enforced when not followed :rolleyes: ) or a hardware device to stop them, that's all for the better.

And the people that don't put their names on the list can receive calls knowing that the reason why is because of their interest.

I recieve multiple calls within minutes of each other ( usually during dinner, of course.. ). MCI for example, called me 3 times within one hour. I'm pretty sure that's somewhat illegal, but I cursed quite a bit at the last call and haven't heard from them since. It's those "Pre-Approved" credit calls that'll make me postal. Fortunately, there is a current removal process for that one. I can't stand anyone calling me unless it's an emergency anyhow, but that's jut me. ;)

Hey markblair...

You from Detroit?

Originally posted by CChard
Hey markblair...

You from Detroit?

I live in suburbia, just outside of Detroit... :D Roseville, MI to be exact. How about you?

Farmington

While I don't own a house; I avoid telemarkaters at all costs. In fact I only answer the phone if I know who it is (parent, or close relative). Other than that, please leave a message at the beep.

Well the industry is starting to regulate itself. Put yourself in a telemarketor's shoes, would YOU want to call someone who doesnt want the call? It's more profitable to have access to a "No Call" list. It brings down the denial count. You can also get "The Zapper" from radio shack that stops spam calls. It's pretty simple really. Your phone still rings, but the computer that called you hangs up as soon as you pick up and it put's your number on an "Out of Service" list. Ever call a number that's out of order? Spam computers listen for that first tone, if it hears that, then it hangs up. The zapper sends that first tone everytime you pick up a call. I have it, and I get no more spam calls....my fax on the otherhand....that's worse than the calls. Fax spammers hould be forced to send you a payment each time they fax you so as to cover the cost of wasted ink..

Oh, the bad thing about those lists...they are automated. Push one button to put your number on it, another off it. Then you type in your number(with no kind of verification process). This means it can be abused. Someone who's mad at you can call the line and put your number on the "DO call" list..

Fax Spammers are easily fixable. Just go into Word and expand the margins of the document to fit the entire page. Then, type some text of your choice regarding their spam in the center of the page. Make it a smaller font but something that can be read. Change the color of the text to white and the rest of the document to black. If they still have one of those antiquated thermal fax machines, sending that a couple times should eat up a $30 cartridge... :D Even on toner or ink, that's a ton of one color used.