DNC (Do Not Call) List

[B-flat]

I suppose that many of you have signed up on the DNC, aka Do Not Call list.  I did because I got really tired of sitting down to dinner to the sales pitches of magazines, travel packages, life insurance, ticket packages and whatever.  Keep in mind that charities and political organization are exempt and still may call you.  However, you can ask they they remove your name and phone number from their list and put you on their company specific DNC list.  The next time you are called, you can file a complaint and can sue them for non-compliance.  To do so, you must have their name or company name, telephone number and the time and date of the call.

It seems that some of these so-called charities and political parties keep calling me and refusing to remove my name and phone number from their lists.  I am keeping records and the AG of NC will make sure that I don't get bothered anymore.  Each time these folks persist, I just tell them that I have previously asked to be on their company specific dnc list and that they can be sued up to $11,000.  Theses folks just don't get it, and and they persist some more on how they are exempt.  I then just say they had better not call me anymore because I am planning to retire on the money I will be receiving.  :Z  :eek:        

So, is the DNC list keeping you from getting calls unwanted solicitation calls?  Is it really working like it should?  Is it quieter at your house now without the phone interrupting your evening or day?

[Gone-Camping]

Well, you are aware that charities and non-profit organizations are exempt from that list aren't you? So they are gonna keep calling!

Now the rest of them are finding some loop-holes in the DNC law too. Instead of calling and throwing a sales pitch on you, they are calling you with a "survey" which has specific undertones to it that steer you in the direction they want you to go. These are shady, and in most cases you can report them for violation of the DNC anyway.
 
I found something better than the DNC... I use the "Ringer - Off" switch on my phone! The caller ID will flash a red light, and I can see when someone calls, and who it is. No more phone ringing for me!!!

[labontefan]

Check with your phone company to see if they offer "Call Intercept". Verizon offers it in our area. It's $5/month and it is well worth it! With Call Intercept, all unidentified calls are blocked. (Most telemarketers show up as "Unavailable" or something similar on your caller ID.) Unless the caller's phone number shows up on the caller ID, the call is blocked. I've had Call Intercept for about three years now and I probably average about one telemarketing call a month!

So what if it's a legitimate call? (Sometimes cell phones will show up as Unavailable.) The caller gets a recording saying your number does not accept unidentified calls. They have the option to record their name and/or the name of their company. Your phone will ring, but it's a special tone that tells you it's an intercepted call. When you pick up the phone, you hear the recorded name. You have the option to: #1-accept the call, #2-reject the call, #3-reject the call and have the caller hear a "remove my number from your list" message, or (if you have voice mail)#4-send the call to voice mail.

Also, if you have a friend or family member that calls from a work phone or somewhere that shows up as Unavailable, you can choose a special 4-digit code when you set up your Call Intercept. If they have the code, all they have to do is punch it in when the intercept recording starts. Their call is automatically put through, and you hear a special ring that tells you it's someone who used the code.

Call Intercept is quite possibly the best $5 a month I've ever spent!

I registered with the Do Not Call list, but as GC said, there are a lot of loopholes. Didn't someone here post something about a postcard they got offering a free 6-pack of Coke or Pepsi? You had to call a toll-free number to get the soft drinks. You really did get the free 6-pack, but in very tiny fine print on the postcard was a notice saying that by calling and getting the free gift, you were agreeing to allow that company to contact you by phone with other business offers. The DNC law doesn't apply if you give a company permission to call you!

[B-flat]

Yes, Gone-camping, I said that I knew that charities and political organizations are exempt from the DNC rules.  However, when these are asked to not call and to place my name & number on their company specific do not call list, they must abide by my request or else they can be sued for up to $11,000 if their name/company name, telephone number and date and time of call can be provided.  That's the key to it...get their name & phone #, company and date and time.  Most are trying to avoid giving it and they are using blocked numbers, too.  

Some local businesses are trying work around it by sending an "invitation" in the mail for some special or to attend some event they are sponsoring.  After you have received the "invitation," they see this as a license to call you anyway to see if you got the "invitation."   I just state that they are in violation of FTC rules regarding the DNC list as well as the State DNC list.  They get off the phone fast.

Let's see $5/mo might not be bad to block certain calls but that adds up to $60 plus tax over a year's time.  It would buy a camping trip for me.

I was just wondering if others are having the same problem that I have and whether the DNC list is working.  Apparently others are having problems and are still getting calls.

[mike4947]

An FYI about a new ruling and some other thoughts.

Seems there now a ruling that telemarketers have to provide "caller ID' information". I don't know when it goes into effect, but it will negate a lot of the call intercept funtions.
 
I got a very nice letter from the NYS AG's office thanking me for my participation in the do not call registry violation notification program. Seems four of my reports help get fines totaling over $140 thousand assessed against violators.
Only one was an actual vilotator of the list rules. The other three were "charities/read boiler shops fronting for charities and taking over 80% of donations for operating expenses"
They refused to remove my name (and others) and kept calling.
 
Does it work? You bet your @ss it does.

[B-flat]

Mike, it went into effect on January 29, 2004 (that requires transmission of their phone # to caller id).  This and other rules on the TSR(Telemarketing Sales Rule) can viewed at:  //www.ftc.gov/donotcall

[angelsmom10]

I have noticed a reduction in the calls, however, our local news this past weekend had a report on this and they were saying that the telemarketers are doing other things that are "border line".  They are calling and "doing a survey" and after a short survey, it goes into a sales pitch.

[wynot]

Check with your phone company to see if they offer "Call Intercept". Verizon offers it in our area. It's $5/month and it is well worth it! With Call Intercept, all unidentified calls are blocked. (Most telemarketers show up as "Unavailable" or something similar on your caller ID.) Unless the caller's phone number shows up on the caller ID, the call is blocked. I've had Call Intercept for about three years now and I probably average about one telemarketing call a month!
 
So what if it's a legitimate call? (Sometimes cell phones will show up as Unavailable.) The caller gets a recording saying your number does not accept unidentified calls. They have the option to record their name and/or the name of their company. Your phone will ring, but it's a special tone that tells you it's an intercepted call. When you pick up the phone, you hear the recorded name. You have the option to: #1-accept the call, #2-reject the call, #3-reject the call and have the caller hear a "remove my number from your list" message, or (if you have voice mail)#4-send the call to voice mail.
 
Also, if you have a friend or family member that calls from a work phone or somewhere that shows up as Unavailable, you can choose a special 4-digit code when you set up your Call Intercept. If they have the code, all they have to do is punch it in when the intercept recording starts. Their call is automatically put through, and you hear a special ring that tells you it's someone who used the code.
 
Call Intercept is quite possibly the best $5 a month I've ever spent!
 

I have to call (workwise) a number of folks who have this thing.  I also watch the meter tick (long distance), while the person decides whether or not to answer, and if they aren't there, then I get to pay 2 minutes plus toll charges to leave a 20 second message.
 
Concept is great, but it is painful on the other end.