Silencing Telemarketers
By Dayana Yochim (TMF School)
March 28, 2003
Sick of that infernal phone ringing? A national do-not-call list is coming to the rescue.
The Federal Trade Commission announced that starting July 1, it will roll out a national do-not-call list to block many sales calls. Consumers can then register to be on the list for free by phone or online.
According to news reports, West Coasters will be the first to enjoy interruption-free dinners. The program will then spread until it's activated nationwide by late August.
In September, telemarketers will have to check the list every three months. Consumers who get calls by perps will be able to file complaints by phone or online. Fines for violators could reach up to $11,000 for each unsolicited call, and violators will be towed, er, fined starting in October. To keep the peace and quiet, consumers will have to renew their registration every five years. Mark your calendars!
Of course, there's the requisite outrage over the new system (mostly by the Direct Marketing Association, which says this will devastate its members' businesses and affect the economy). And then there are the exemptions. If you bought, leased, or rented from a company within the past 18 months, they can call you. Same goes if you have inquired or applied for something from the company during the past three months. Charities, surveys, and calls on behalf of politicians also are exempt.
And no, mothers-in-law are not included on the list.
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