FTC Outlaws Pre-recorded Sales Calls
from the but-will-they-enforce-it? dept
Over the past few months, at least twice a week, I've received a phone call on my mobile phone with a stern (almost angry) recorded voice saying "this is your second warning that the factory warranty on your vehicle is about to expire." Of course, the factory warranty on my car isn't about to expire, and considering that I've received about 30 of these calls, it's difficult to believe it's the "second" warning. Apparently, I'm not the only one to receive these calls. An informal poll of friends found that more than 50% of them were all receiving the same bogus calls. While those already broke various telemarketing rules, it appears that the FTC is looking to further crack down, announcing that all pre-recorded telemarketing sales calls are banned without a signed, written agreement allowing the calls. Informational calls (non-sales calls) such as informing you that a flight has been delayed are allowed -- but sales calls are not.Of course, the big question is whether or not the FTC will actually enforce the new rules and go after violators. Part of the rule change does give the FTC more leeway in going after those responsible for the messages, but until the FTC really does start shutting some of these operations down, you can bet they'll continue making the automated pre-recorded calls. I'm sure I'll be hearing about the imminent expiration of the factory warranty on my vehicle for some time.
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Filed Under: ftc, pre-recorded sales calls, robocalls, telemarketing
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Re:
the phone # was from (416)-523-1121...very annoying!
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They will just move..
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Re: They will just move..
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Once a month I get a Spanish speaking
Burns me up wasting my time and money.
I have verizon and they will not block a once a month call.
I have real anger issues with machines talking to me.
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Re: Once a month I get a Spanish speaking
And I also get the car-warranty one, as well. I actually do have a car and my warranty DID expire recently, so I figured it might be legit. Too bad I don't care about warranties expiring or they may have gotten me.
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Debt collectors?
(If it's so important, call me yourself instead of waiting for my return call, because it's not coming.)
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Re: Debt collectors?
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Re: Debt collectors?
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Re: Re: Debt collectors?
Yoda ?
Is that you ?
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Re: Debt collectors?
Under FTC Fair Debt Collection Act, a creditor can only call once a week. At this point, it would be good to write a letter (or, better still, have a lawyer draw one up) and include your call log.
You'll have a very strong case in court too.
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Don't forget...
This is legislation at its worse. It "does" what needs to be done, except puts so many exceptions that the law is useless. But because its already a law, yuou can't make it better easily.
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Re: Don't forget...
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And I thought it was just me
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DoNotCall
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Re: DoNotCall
>and have reported them to the FTC web site. Nothing ever happens, so why should the telemarketers even care?
The problem is that if you have ever done business with a company they have the right to call you with other offers under the DNC.
The ones that cheese me off are the ones that ring the phone three times a day and no one is there on the other end. I'd almost welcome a robocall from them so they would stop.
My answering machine gets everything unless I'm looking at the caller ID and recognize the caller.
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Re: DoNotCall
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why wait for the FTC?
Anyways, turns out plenty of people are already suing these guys:
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/250013
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Can we have the FCC outlaw Political ad calls and polls?
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Al hates t-marketers
Thanks to the D-Bags for ruining what was once a very useful tool.
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i don't have a car either
sometimes i even wait until they say the part about pressing two to be removed from the list, doesn't work.
i'm also on the do-not-call list, and have been for years.
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The government is worse than spammers and cold-callers and telemarketers
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Extended warrantys?
Just consider how many stupid people out there pony up $100 a year to get a "Health Care Plan", "Prescription Plan" or "Dental Plan" and think it's supposed to work like insurance.
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I get them as well
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Never Will Stop
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Waranty expire calls..
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30 calls is all you got??
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I see a business oppurtunity here
Something like the gmail system where phone numbers are reported as spam by a minimum number of users and then filtered out.
Would this be technically feasible?
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I get that one too LMAO
Yeah I get really scared the warranty on my 1987 Alfa Romeo is going to expire any day now LMAO . . . ?
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Service..
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Re: Service..
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More spam ...
Yes, I thought there were regulations about t-marketing to cell phones. As I recall, it is similar to the ruling on spamming a fax machine. They are effectively stealing from you.
So why do the cell phone operators allow this to continue? Because it is not their problem and they are making $$. I suppose it is the DA or AG who should shut them down.
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by the way...
--Glenn
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Ho hum
Most people need to realize that a law is only as good as its enforceability. So what if it's against the law to call someone after 8:00pm or call them 30 times a day. If the caller hides behind a "000-000-000" Caller ID or doesn't say who they are, how can you file a compliant about them with any agency?
"Predictive dialers" (where a company has a computer call you and you hear silence as the rep on the other end is connected to the call) have been illegal for years. But, good luck prosecuting a company for it.
Junk faxes have been illegal for years, but companies still do it. Why? Either they know they won't get caught or the punishment will be a small fine (also known as a "cost of doing business").
So what reasons do telemarketers have to stop calling?
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Amusing way to fight back
The robospam always gives you a number to press "to speak to a representative". That's some minimum wage or less schlub who tries to sell you their "product" and otherwise get as much financial and identity information as possible, so his bosses can rip off your CC or bank account.
So, press the TT number to "speak to a representative".
When they're taking orders for car warranty, just say, very slowly and stupidly, "But I wanted to order carpet cleaning. The call said free carpet cleaning".
Play around as long as possible, and always insist that the call was about something besides what they are selling. Ask if you can speak to someone who can "fix this problem". Maybe you can speak to a supervisor. If you do, play the same game.
Waste as much of their time as possible. Of course that depends on how much of your own time you want to waste.
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RE Post #14
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RE Post #14
"The government is worse than spammers and cold-callers and telemarketers by Stephan Kinsella - Aug 20th, 2008 @ 6:16pm
...the state...has no business regulating this area. It ought to be a private matter...customers ought to put pressure on them to do so or vote with their feet."
Agree entirely!
And the government has no business regulating crimes like murder or theft. We should all simply put pressure on murderers and theives to not rob or kill us, and vote with our feet if they haven't been severed and interred. And we should each hire our own security staff that enforces our rules, instead of sharing a common police force that follows a common set of rules that they are so bold as to call "laws".
Let's privatize everything. Down with the government.
OR: dude, get a grip. This is exactly the kind of thing we need government to do. The 'townsfolk' should gather in the town square to agree that they hate SPAM calls, agree as a group to forbid, and entrust someone to enforce that decision. Societies, sadly, need laws or some bad apples will invariably cross our boundaries without recrimination.
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i get these
since i don;t answer strange numbers most went to voicemail but then when it didn;t stop after month i started getting pissed.
you connect through and they ask for the make and model of your car.
i do not own a car and actually have never owned a car with a warranty.
you tell them to stop calling, ask who the company is and they hang up in you.
WTF!!!!
according to my cell they have multiple numbers. today it's 978-570-2245. tomarrow, who knows?
i reported it to fcc. apparently someone knows something weird is going on(azstarnet article) can't hurt to add.
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You Can Stop Them
At work, I have to answer the phone. I hate these morons, and all the others like them. "Did you know the government is giving away free grant money" "Buy foreclosures in your area" "We're calling to let the owner know they qualify for a ($$) line of credit"
I press "1" to speak to an agent and try to waste ~their~ time for a change.
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Alternative to FTC new voice broadcasting laws
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