http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA6QLQZRWC.html

Government Proposes Stopping All Unwanted Telemarketers With a Single Phone Call

By David Ho Associated Press Writer

Published: Jan 22, 2002

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government is proposing the creation of a national "do not call" registry that would allow consumers to ward off unwanted telemarketers with a single phone call. The registry is part of a Federal Trade Commission plan to strengthen existing telemarketing rules that forbid late-night calls and deceptive sales tactics, the agency said Tuesday.

Current rules require individual telemarketers to comply when consumers ask them to remove their names from calling lists. Privacy groups advise that people clearly say the phrase: "Put me on your 'do not call' list."

The proposed national registry maintained by the FTC would let a consumer stop calls from all companies with one request. Consumer would also be able to allow calls from specific companies or charities through the telemarketing block.

The agency plans to hold public hearings in June on the registry and other proposed changes in telemarketing regulation. FTC commissioners could vote on the changes as soon as a year from now.

A registry would be a convenience for consumers, said Howard Beales, the FTC's director of consumer protection. "It's one phone call."

Telemarketers who ignore the national list could face fines of up to $11,000 per violation under the proposal. They say it isn't needed.

"The government may be overstepping its boundaries by spending taxpayer dollars to limit communication that is protected by the first amendment," said H. Robert Wientzen, president of the Direct Marketing Association. He said the proposals could cost the telemarketing industry money and jobs by having companies relocate to other countries to avoid the regulations.

Wientzen said people who do not want to be called can request that their names be added his group's list, which now has 4.1 million names. The bulk of telemarketers voluntarily participate in this service and abide by the list, he said.

Many states already have statewide "do not call" lists including Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Texas. Some states charge consumers a few dollars per year to stay on the list.

Florida, in 1988, became the first state with a no-call measure, primarily intended to protect senior citizens.

The FTC also proposed preventing telemarketers from blocking their identification on a consumer's caller ID box. Consumers have complained that without the name or number of a telemarketer, the person targeted cannot follow up with a complaint.

The House passed a bill last month that would prohibit that practice.

Proposed changes prompted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks involve expanding the telemarketing rules that now apply to sales calls to cover those made by charities seeking donations, the FTC said. The changes would allow the government to punish charity telemarketers who are abusive or deceptive.

Other proposed changes include restricting the way telemarketers sell credit card protection and promote contests. The new rules would also prohibit telemarketers from sharing billing information about their customers.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Answers

Hard to explain but I cannot afford to have these people calling, and I can't do anything to stop them from calling, and I can't afford to not race to the phone and answer the call. Not with my present situation. I also can't risk telling them what I really think of them because someone else might hear me. However, I have found lately that I have tended to adopt such a totally manic tone of voice in my desperation that it's possible some of them won't call back. Of course, thousands more just like them out there...

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Brooks, I bought the "Zapper" at Target (also available at Best Buy) and tried it. I normally get 25 telemarketing calls a week. (price: $45 - $50) (When one wants to be put on the "Do not call list," one is referred to another number, which hangs one up in a phone tree. I have reported this practice to the AG of OH) I've had the Zapper now for three weeks. No calls. I'm happy. Also:

>Some states charge consumers a few dollars per year to stay on the list.

I smell a scam! That's as bad as Ameritech charging for Call Privacy when they are the ones selling our numbers!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Meemur, would you mind explaining in more detail how the Zapper works? What I need is something that prevents the phone from ringing if it is a telemarketer. Does it perform that magic trick?

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Okay, it plugs into the phoneline so that the computer the telemarketer uses gets the "line disconnected signal." I leave my ringer off and screen calls. I think the phone has to ring for the Zapper (formal name Telezapper (?) ) to work (I don't know), but I would think that after three days, you'd catch the bulk of the calls. This method doesn't work for hand-dialed calls, but I screen calls, so the recorder gets the rest.

That may or may not help you.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Just found this link...

http://www.telezapper.com/default.asp

B.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

I see. Just works for the automated dialing calls, but that's a start. Thanks for the suggestion!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

In my area, it's 97% computer dialed calls. Only the really small outfits dial by hand.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Just ordered it from amazon.com (who still had all my info even though I had tossed my cookies...). Here's hoping I really do have a spare outlet and jack.

Meemur, apparently you (or your answering machine) has to pick up the call. If mother answers and immediately starts talking, does that make it not work on that call? (She doesn't get to all of them. Are those the only ones where it would work?)

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

When a telemarketer computer phones, the phone rings once or twice and then the telezapper answers. If it detects a computer, it omits the tone. If not, my answering machine then kicks in, and then the person talks or hangs up. If they talk, I answer. I keep the ringer off and listen for the voices of people I know.

This works because 99% of people I care about email me, and I generally have an idea when the 1% will call (holidaze).

Does that answer your question?

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Sorry I'm so dense. I don't think it works if you pick it up before the tone sounds. I'd have to look at the instructions. As I wrote, I rarely pick up my phone.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

This is what the web site says...:

"The TeleZapper uses the technology of telemarketers' automatic dialing equipment against them. WHEN YOU OR YOUR ANSWERING MACHINE PICKS UP A CALL, the TeleZapper emits a special tone that "fools" the computer into thinking your number is disconnected. When the computer hears the tone, it hangs up before you can be connected to a telemarketer and then deletes your phone number from its database. Overtime, as your number is removed from more and more databases, you'll see a dramatic decrease in the number of annoying telemarketing calls you receive."

I get the impression I can pick up the phoneset but perhaps need to not say anything until the tone can be emitted.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Our computer is online pretty much all the time when I'm at home--even if I'm not using it. We have an internet answering machine--real people leave messages, telemarkers usually hang up. The few telemarketers that were leaving messages have now stopped because the answering machine now refuses any call with the caller ID blocked.

I wonder if you can get something like that from your phone company?

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

BK, the problem is my senile mother. None of the usual solutions work. I'll have lots of options once I'm on my own again.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

About the only other thing I can suggest is perhaps keeping the phones out of reach and providing her with a medical alert necklace? Nah. Problems with that, too.

That's a toughie. Looks like there's a market for a device like the V- chip that will limit phone use.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

She needs to be able to use the phone. For that matter I need to be able to call her occasionally from work. I did turn off the ringer in her room during the period I was expecting lots of not pleasant medical news about dad, but once that settled down, I had to reactivate everything. It's actually more of a problem if I'm there and she picks up on the call. Partly senility, partly paranoia, partly substantial deafness. Can't really explain.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Hmmmm, now if I can get these asshole e-mail spammers off my back, I can live and be free from all unwanted solicitations!

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Please use regular handles--we get nervous when we see handles we don't recognize. Thanks.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002