They Really Ring My Bell!

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They Really Ring My Bell! was Originally Posted on December 7, 2004 by

Those readers who live in the U.S. are no doubt familiar with the “DO NOT CALL LIST” which limits MOST telemarketers from calling you. Some of us think that this list already has too many loopholes.

For example, if a person is taking a survey, if the company calling already has a business relationship with you or if they are a politician, they can still call. Loopholes are that some company can take a “survey” to ask you questions which help them qualify you as a potential customer, etc.

Your telephone company can call you daily if they wish, to tell you of new products which you MAY like to buy. It just came to my attention that there is now a proposal being reviewed to widen those exceptions.

According to ClarkHoward.Com (a noted consumer advocate):

[b]The FTC is considering a petition by a telemarketing firm that would allow pre-recorded “spam blitzes” to be left on your voicemail. File an electronic complaint to stop it!

https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-tsr/[/b]

I suggest that if you live in the U.S. that you read and respond.

My response was as follows:

I[b] am against any form of automated or human sales calles via telephone.

Why is it that a company who already has a business dealing with us would need to place sales calls to us? Every company I do business with has its own website where I am perfectly able to view new offers and sales information.

I use a telephone for outgoing calls and inbound calls from those I wish to hear from. This group DOES NOT include any type of sales call. In the 30-odd years I have owned a telephone, I have NEVER responded to a non-solicited sales call from any company. That will not change now.

Why is there no groundswell from people who WANT to be bothered by sales calls? The answer is obvious. Sales calls are an obtrusion on our privacy and just because we own a telephone does not mean that we want to be solicited.

The “DO NOT CALL LIST” should have excluded businesses AND politicians from calling. When I signed up, I wanted a DO NOT DISTURB, not a “unless somebody has enough clout to press into law a reason why THEY are special and their reasons negate my wish for privacy” list! [/b]

Your response may differ.