Travel Technology - What happened to the "no call" [Do-Not-Call Registry] list ?

a couple years ago there was a "no call" list you signed up for ,
then the marketers were not allowed to call you,

Is this still working ?

I have been getting more calls from marketeers in the last few months than usual , many are machine calls with a recorded messages,

Plus I have got a few on my cell phone :(

Rally

The registration is good for 5 years only. New registation may not take effect immediately. When you first registered, you should have received a confirmation email. Look it up and see when your 5-year is up.

If you need to register again or just verify registration, you can go to:

https://www.donotcall.gov/Register/Reg.aspx

You can file complaints if your registered numbers are getting "those" calls:

https://www.donotcall.gov/Complain/ComplainCheck.aspx

When the entire thing was new there were actually people getting fined for it. As that has dribbled to like nothing, the companies don't see much risk in it at all.

Interesting forgot about this, but I did notice a lot less calls compared to a few years ago

It was good for me for a while - ie. no calls - but they've started up again. Thanks for the link...I re-did our do not call request.

As noted its still around. Please note many states also have there own do-not-call sign-up site. Some are stricter than the federal list.

MisterNice

They've been reminding us here about our state list. Early registrations are about to expire on that. I just went ahead and re-entered our numbers in the state and national lists, takes a couple minutes. That plus the fact that all we have are cell phones means no telemarketers. Zilch. I don't even get calls from companies I already do business with. The public theater (non profit org, they're exempt) did call me a while back.

The bad thing is that non-profits, political groups, and companies and their affiliates that you have a relationship with can still call. It should be no calls, period.

We've gotten more calls in the last two weeks than in the previous year. So far we've had the FOP, Children's Cancer Society, and a few more that I forget. Just now the MS foundation called. As soon as I ask them about their "do not call" list the line goes dead.

For those of you in the UK you can sign up to the TPS - telephone preference service and it does pretty much the same thing but market research calls are not excluded by signing up to it. I'll see if I can find a link - or you may like to google for it.

The registration is good for 5 years only. New registation may not take effect immediately. When you first registered, you should have received a confirmation email. Look it up and see when your 5-year is up.

If you need to register again or just verify registration, you can go to:

https://www.donotcall.gov/Register/Reg.aspx

You can file complaints if your registered numbers are getting "those" calls:

https://www.donotcall.gov/Complain/ComplainCheck.aspx

Thanks for the reminder. I totally forgot about the 5 yr limit. The links are very helpful.

We've gotten more calls in the last two weeks than in the previous year. So far we've had the FOP, Children's Cancer Society, and a few more that I forget. Just now the MS foundation called. As soon as I ask them about their "do not call" list the line goes dead.

None of those are affected by the main do-not-call.

I think we need to extend the do-not-call system. Make a specific tone pattern that lasts maybe 1 second mean "put me on your do-not-call list". It would be something that would be recognizable to the human ear and easily picked up by automated systems.

Any telemarketer of any kind who heard that on the line would be required to honor it. Anyone operating from an outfit using anything beyond simply phones would be required to install equipment to automatically honor it.

In the case of business telemarketing I think we also need to go after the business, not just the caller. The current system is useless against calls originating outside the US.

The Do Not Call legislation does not prevent telemarketers from using the internet, ie. VOIP calls to harass you. Call or email your congressperson and request they prohibit the use of VOIP to bypass the intent of the Do Not Call law.

I think the frequency of calls will increase as more businesses become aware of this loophole. Most of the calls I get are clearly originating from an overseas phone bank using VOIP.

It's comforting to know it isn't just me - I'm getting a ton more marketing calls than just say 6 moths ago. Well, maybe a year. I am sure my 5 years is still in effect, but I'll check and if it's not I'll report back to take back this message. If it is, I guess I'll just enter our numbers again.

Hi

Well I am glad I was not the only one . I mostly get recorded ones for carpet cleaning etc,
no way to figure out who they are from unless I listen to all of the mesage and then they win :(

Rally

The Do Not Call legislation does not prevent telemarketers from using the internet, ie. VOIP calls to harass you. Call or email your congressperson and request they prohibit the use of VOIP to bypass the intent of the Do Not Call law.

I think the frequency of calls will increase as more businesses become aware of this loophole. Most of the calls I get are clearly originating from an overseas phone bank using VOIP.To clarify, this applies if they're calling your VOIP account directly. Calls originating via VOIP that arrive at a regular telephone number in the US are covered by Do Not Call.

Thanks for the reminder about updating DNC registrations.

None of those are affected by the main do-not-call.I know. But they do have their own DNC lists. The real solicitations are very carefully crafted these days so it's very difficult to determine which company is calling.

To clarify, this applies if they're calling your VOIP account directly. Calls originating via VOIP that arrive at a regular telephone number in the US are covered by Do Not Call.

From Clark Howard's Aug 1, 2007 show (show notes www.clarkhoward.com)

"Why the "Do Not Call" list isn't working
Have you continued to get telemarketing calls even though you’re on the federal “Do Not Call” list? Clark found out why. Internet phone calling is not included in the scope of the law. So, American companies have been hiring telemarketers outside the States and using them to call you with their sales pitches. Clark plans to contact the Federal Trade Commission to ask if this is legal. When the Do Not Call list was created, no one thought about the possibility of calls coming from overseas. So, we’ll let you know what we find out. Also, keep in mind that you must re-register on the list every couple of years to keep telemarketers away. There are a few exceptions. If you did business with a bank for 18 months after your last account activity, the bank can legally call you and any marketing partner of the bank can call you. Also, politicians and charities are allowed to call."

It seems to me that the telemarketers and the public are involved in an Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) war: devices like the Tele-Zapper are marketed, and the telemarketers figure out how to defeat them. Radio Shack offers the "Quick Hang-Up" and AT&T the EZ Hang-up but TMs still get to make you answer the phone again and again.

How about a device that stores the Caller ID of annoying callers (including OUT OF AREA and so on) and simply answers the call and hangs up if they call again? Would anybody buy such a unit from a TV infomercial ($19.95 plus s&h)?

The bad thing is that non-profits, political groups, and companies and their affiliates that you have a relationship with can still call. It should be no calls, period.
Sorry to bump this thread. But I am trying to figure out a more efficient way to stop them.

I just got a call from Mario, who represented NOP (National Opinion Firm, he said. How could that turned into "NOP"? ) and doesn't know the company phone number. :rolleyes: On his way of transfering me to his supervisor, the line was dropped. :rolleyes: I googled NPO but only found the one from UK. From whocallsme, the complaints on NPO were associated with the number 02078909051. I didn't find any US contact for such company.

I usually don't get as many bugging calls, not only because I registered with Do-Not-Call" but also I've moved a couple times in the last 2-3 years. I always register my phone numbers though.

However, in the last three weeks, I start getting more of those calls from market research firms and police fund raising organizations. When I challenged them about my "do-not-call" registration, they always respond: "we are not regulated by FTC and do-not-call because we are not trying to sell you anything... " They would emphasize that they are not selling me anything. But I don't and didn't agree for them to call me either! And my time is money! :mad:

I would ask the numbers for their companies. Generally, the CSRs don't know. :rolleyes: I would always act surprised, "you don't know the phone number of the company you work for?!" I would ask how they got my number. They would say the computer dialed it or from their database. I would ask to speak to a supervisor and ask them to remove my number from their database.

I am a poor international student who doesn't subscribe to caller ID and don't have money to pay for extra features/services, so I don't know who's calling me unless I answer the phone. They normally call me between 7-9 pm in the evening.

Can you American FTers help me out here? If the Do-Not-Call can't help me to stop them calling me, who can? What can I do to have those calls disappear? Those are very very annoying calls!

Oh, there's another kind of mystery calls I've been getting recently as well, especially during my zzzz hours. :mad: There's no recording or voices when I answer the mystery calls. I can only hear the beeping sound every other second, like beep..beep..beep..beep. Just the other day, they made 4 of these mystery calls within 20 minutes from 9:00 am Sunday morning!! I don't even know where to complain for receiving such calls. :mad:

Please help me. :(

FYI. FTC update on October 2007: No 5-year expiration on the registration any more

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/10/dnctestimony.shtm

Sorry to bump this thread. But I am trying to figure out a more efficient way to stop them.

Oh, there's another kind of mystery calls I've been getting recently as well, especially during my zzzz hours. :mad: There's no recording or voices when I answer the mystery calls. I can only hear the beeping sound every other second, like beep..beep..beep..beep. Just the other day, they made 4 of these mystery calls within 20 minutes from 9:00 am Sunday morning!! I don't even know where to complain for receiving such calls. :mad:

Please help me. :(

FYI. FTC update on October 2007: No 5-year expiration on the registration any more

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/10/dnctestimony.shtm
The mystery calls with the beeps are someone trying to send you a fax. Without caller ID I don't know what you can do to avoid the other calls as it sounds like they are coming from political organizations.

The mystery calls with the beeps are someone trying to send you a fax....
Are you sure that's incoming fax? Isn't the fax coming in with those high-pitched grinding sound ;) (the handshake between the modem thingy)? :confused:

The mystery calls bundle with short-pitched beep& beep only. I usually just hang up.

Are you sure that's incoming fax? Isn't the fax coming in with those high-pitched grinding sound ;) (the handshake between the modem thingy)? :confused:

The mystery calls bundle with short-pitched beep& beep only. I usually just hang up.

The beeps are the fax machine saying its a fax answer me. You wouldn't get the handshake noise because there is no handshake - you aren't sending a fax answer tone.

We have started getting a large number(2-5 a day) of calls from 866 and 877 exchanges that show "no listed user" or some such. if answered, is usually blank, but when answered, is a loan offer, or some such.

we are no call registered.

i do not know how the callers are able to keep the identy of their phone unlisted to caller id.

I have been getting a rash of calls lately in PA so I turned over the answering the phone 100% to the answering machine. FWIW I am signed up on the federal and PA do not call list. Nil calls received in HI.

MisterNice

I give my banks, charities, insurance companies, etc. a free voice mail number instead of my mobile phone (I don't have a landline). I'm aware that currently telemarketers won't reach cell phones, but my alma mater for example directly dials every living alumnus for donations at least annually.

It is extremely rare anyone leaves a message (5-6 times a year), and in such cases I'm sent an e-mail alerting me. Mostly it is the Red Cross if I haven't rescheduled my regular blood donation.

I give my banks, charities, insurance companies, etc. a free voice mail number instead of my mobile phone (I don't have a landline).


Where do you get your free voice mail from? This sounds like a great plan for someone who doesn't have a landline and travels constantly. In the past I had telemarketers calling my cell # at 2 and 3am since I wasn't in my "home" timezone at the time of the call.

However, in the last three weeks, I start getting more of those calls from market research firms and police fund raising organizations. When I challenged them about my "do-not-call" registration, they always respond: "we are not regulated by FTC and do-not-call because we are not trying to sell you anything... " They would emphasize that they are not selling me anything. But I don't and didn't agree for them to call me either! And my time is money! :mad:


They are correct. Politicians - and political organzations - are also exempt from the Do-Not-Call law. You should become more familiar with the law and its limitations, whether we like it or not. If you really can't be bothered, let all calls roll to voicemail.

I use RingCentral, but they no longer offer a free plan (I was grandfathered). A Google search turns up several possible alternatives.

August 19, 2008

Rule Will Halt Prerecorded Sales Calls Unless the Seller Obtains Consumer's Permission:
(complete details: here (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/08/tsr.shtm))

The New TSR Amendments

Specifically, the TSR amendments adopted by the Commission and announced today:

-Expressly prohibit telemarketing sales calls that deliver prerecorded messages, whether answered in person by a consumer or by an answering machine or voicemail service, unless the seller has previously obtained the recipient's signed, written agreement to receive such calls;

-Exempt from the written agreement requirement all charitable solicitation calls placed by for-profit telemarketers (telefunders) that deliver prerecorded messages on behalf of non-profits to members of, or previous donors to, the nonprofit, but require that such calls include a prompt keypress or voice-activated opt-out mechanism;

-Require that, by December 1, 2008, sellers and telemarketers provide, at the outset of all prerecorded messages, an automated keypress or voice-activated interactive opt-out mechanism so that consumers can opt out as easily as they can from a live telemarketing call;

The prerecorded call amendment requires that any prerecorded telemarketing call must: 1) allow the telephone to ring for at least 15 seconds or four rings before an unanswered call is disconnected; 2) begin the prerecorded message within two seconds of a completed greeting by the consumer who answers; 3) disclose at the outset of the call that the recipient may ask to be placed on the company's do-not-call list at any time during the message; 4) in cases where the call is answered by a person, make an automated interactive voice and/or keypress-activated opt-out mechanism available during the message that adds the phone number to the company's do-not-call list and then immediately ends the call; and 5) in cases where the call is answered by an answering machine or voicemail, provide a toll-free number that allows the person called to be connected to an automated interactive voice and/or keypress-activated opt-out mechanism anytime after the message is received.
Effective Dates

The provision requiring that all prerecorded telemarketing calls provide an automated interactive opt-out mechanism will become effective on December 1, 2008. The provision requiring permission from consumers to receive such calls will become effective September 1, 2009. The amendment modifying the method for measuring the maximum allowable rate of call abandonment will become effective on October 1, 2008.


Sort of good news, I guess.

Now, what about those scammers who tacitly set up the call centers offshore? Or those "car warranty expiring" calls (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=847339)? Can they be stopped? :(

Sort of good news, I guess.

Now, what about those scammers who tacitly set up the call centers offshore? Or those "car warranty expiring" calls (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=847339)? Can they be stopped? :(

Good news I think.

I still get calls from some clowns masquerading as the local police benevolent association. I guess the loophole in state and federal regulations is act like you're a charity and you can still do cold calls soliciting donations. The calls go like this,

Caller: local police benevolent association, you want to contribute?
I say: Are you on the local police force?
Caller: We're soliciting donations for ... (without directly answering yes or no, big surprise there).
I say: I know some of the local policeman, can I just give them the donation.
Caller: Mumbles, hangs up.

Or:

I say: What's the name of your organization?
Caller: No answer to that question, but says I'll send you an envelope. (I guess this is where you give out your name, address, SSN and birth date.)
I say: OK, but I'll just drop the donation off at the local municipal building because I pass by it all the time.
Caller: Hang's up.

I guess this works on the elderly?

August 19, 2008

Rule Will Halt Prerecorded Sales Calls Unless the Seller Obtains Consumer's Permission:
(complete details: here (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/08/tsr.shtm))






Sort of good news, I guess.

Now, what about those scammers who tacitly set up the call centers offshore? Or those "car warranty expiring" calls (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=847339)? Can they be stopped? :(I certainly hope this works. I feel like I'm playing whack-a-mole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whack-a-mole) when I answer the phone these days. I didn't know I had so many out-of-warranty vehicles...

I had the insurance call about 10 times, finally let them bite and led them down the path of interest, etc. Giving a whole bunch of bunk info (trying to get theirs) once I started to finally ask for company info, where could I mail them and get info on the policy - they just hung up. I haven't received a call yet, maybe that is the way to get them to stop!

This afternoon I had a recorded call (no opportunity to opt-out) advertising -- get this -- telemarketing jobs! :rolleyes:

On my donotcall.gov report I wasn't sure whether to report the incoming CID or the local number they wanted me to call. Any suggestions? I listed the local number and put the CID number in the comments field.

If you waste your time waiting to ask to be taken off the list they just hang up immediately.

Once upon a time I thought it was a bad idea to abuse the people that called since they were probably just trying to make a living. Now I figure abusing them might make it harder for the telecrapmarkerters to hire people....

If you waste your time waiting to ask to be taken off the list they just hang up immediately.

Once upon a time I thought it was a bad idea to abuse the people that called since they were probably just trying to make a living. Now I figure abusing them might make it harder for the telecrapmarkerters to hire people....

Or just ask if they can hang on, then just leave them on hold! That's what my father does. Wastes their time, too, though they never hold on very long.

I had a telemarketing call that came from a cell phone, according to my CallerID. I wonder if the new tactic is to buy throwaway phones from Wal-Mart or whatever and use those for whatever scam they are trying. I should have listened for a bit, but once she started her pitch, I slammed the phone down on her.

My normal approach on a telemarketing call (if I feel like answering) is to say "Hello" and if no one answers immediately (because the call has been made by a machine), I scream "HELLO!!!!!!" at full voice into the phone, then hang up.

The ones that really bug me right now are the calls from my past colleges asking for endowment contributions. Whoever is advising these schools has the school recruit a bunch of undergrads to make the calls, then has the undergrad chat up the alumni for 15 or 20 minutes. I've stopped taking the calls. I got stuck with one kid for a half hour one night because I wasn't feeling surly enough to hang up on her. The next time one started, I cut him off and said, "Let's cut to the chase. I have a kid in college, so I know the deal. Put me down for what I donated last year and send me a confirming letter." This summer, I didn't want to deal with one school and I watched them call me twice an evening, every evening, for over a month. They will be getting (along with the other schools) a very strong letter from me asking them not to bother me again by phone and send me an annual request letter. If they bug me, no donation.

I had my first prerecorded (US voice) spam phone call last week.

In Australia, we have a DNC list and 95% of these calls were stopped by our joining this program.

Aside from the permitted charity calls, we have only had a couple of calls from telecoms call centre people from the subcontinent.

Until this US recording - presumably a US spammer! :eek:

If you waste your time waiting to ask to be taken off the list they just hang up immediately.

Once upon a time I thought it was a bad idea to abuse the people that called since they were probably just trying to make a living. Now I figure abusing them might make it harder for the telecrapmarkerters to hire people....

Yup, had this happen to me. Some carpet cleaning company called and I asked for the name of the company. The woman kept asking if I wanted to set up a cleaning. I said I want the name of the company. After 3 times, she said she knew I was trying to get the name because of the DNC list. I said if she knew that she shouldn't be calling me.

She said "B**ch, why you wasting my time?" and hung up on me.

The DNC list has no teeth because the telemarketers are smarter than the government. We have no way of finding out who these people are. If I knew the company, I would have certainly sued this one in small claims court. It's very easy to do.

On my donotcall.gov report I wasn't sure whether to report the incoming CID or the local number they wanted me to call. Any suggestions? I listed the local number and put the CID number in the comments field.
Just file two complaints.

Even though the CID number may not be the "true" contact number of the telemarketer, this is what I normally do. If I get enough info (company's name or the closest googled result based on what I have fished from the conversation), I will file two complaints, one with the CID number, the other the contact number (or the contact number obtained; or the 800 number from the google search).

I believe my strategy has helped and successfully stopped at least two long-distance companies so far.