National "do not call" list becomes law

[Lorix2]

OK, that's great! BUT! Whenever I pick up a "private" or "out of area" call on my caller ID and it's a telemarker, I always tell them to take me off the list.

Now, if they do call again after they've been told, what recourse do any of us have since their telephone numbers don't show up and you can't *69 them?

HERE'S THE STORY: (How do I post a link anyway?)


President George W. Bush has signed a bill into law that creates a national do-not-call list.


Consumer groups and many lawmakers say the registry has overwhelming support from the public.

Telemarketers say the registry will devastate their business.

They'll have to check the list every three months. Those who call listed people could be fined up to $11,000 for each violation.

Telemarketers will also have to help pay for the service, which is expected to cost $16 million in the first year.

An industry group is suing the Federal Trade Commission on the grounds the registry unlawfully restricts free speech.

The FTC said on its Web site that it will start taking names online in July. People will then be able to sign up by phone, but that system will be phased in over eight weeks.
Copyright 2003 by TheWMURChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

[olena]

HALLELUJAH!!!!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

High Time

 

[pumba]

years and when we would get calls.....we would say ....please (always so polite) put us on your do not call list and if you call again we will give your name and company to the A G office in Maine....it made my life so much easier.....went from having six to ten calls a day to maybe one a month.......my kind of peace and quiet....and now if we could get rid of fax machines making mistakes and calling here....we would be all set........thanks USA for doing the national do not call list

 

[jamsmom]

YEAHH!! I feel sorry for the telemarketers who are just trying to make a living. But how many calls should we have to deal with every day?

 

[Blueberry]

I am on a do not call list and get almost no calls....woo hoo....

 

[janette]

Although the federal Do Not Call list has been authorized it is not in place. They still have to work out how people are going to sign up and how the list will be distributed. Once you are on the list you'll have a set amount of time before it's mandatory that it be used. If someone who is not exempt calls you after that you can report them, the violation will be investigated and they will be fined accordingly.

There have been "Do Not Call" laws in effect for many years that required companies to maintain a list of everyone who requested that they not be called. Under those laws if someone called you and you'd previously requested that they add you to the do not call list you could persue a claim in small claims court and they were liable for a fine that you could collect. These laws will remain in effect along with the new national registry.

There are other new requirements under the new law that will make telemarketing more difficult. If you'd like more information go to www.ftc.gov .

 

[Pin Wizard]

They should have to pay to GET our phone numbers. Not given to them freely and then we have to get on a "do not call" list.

 

[Mskanga]

Pin Wizzard I couldn't agree with you more, I have to pay to keep my number private however if they want to call me to bug me it's free, I don't get it.

 

[Serena]

We've had it a while and love it!