"Robo-Calls" and the Do Not Call List

As someone who occasionally mans the switchboard for our company, I know from first hand experience how annoying "robo-calls" can be.

What is a "robo-call"? While the term generally refers to calls placed by political candidates urging you to vote ... for THEM, of course!, Wikepedia actually defines "Robocall" as: "American pejorative jargon for an automated telemarketing phone call which uses both a computerized autodialer and a computer-delivered recorded message. The implication is that a "robocall" resembles a telephone call from a robot." Well, If you think it is irritating to receive one of these calls during the dinner hour, try receiving eight of them in a row while also trying to field legitimate calls to your business! But I do have a suggestion that will help you to reduce the number of these calls that you receive at home or at your place of employment.

You are not going to like my suggestion... I can almost GUARANTEE it!! But what I am suggesting is that you force yourself to listen to those calls when they come in the first time.

Generally speaking, there will always be an opportunity to "opt-out" of receiving any future calls by pressing a certain number. You will hear that "oh-too-friendly" voice say something like "If you would like to be added to our Do Not Call list, press # now." (I'm not putting a number in there, because each call tells you to press a different number). Do as they say! Press the "opt-out" option. Then, if you believe you have received another call from them, try pressing the "opt-out" option one more time, this time making a note of the time and date and all other relevant information. That way, if they call back again, you will have some ammunition under your belt when you either report them to the FCC (details on how to do this coming up soon!), or "press # to talk to a representative"!!

The number of "companies" (and I use the term very loosely!) who take advantage of this technology to make their sales and marketing calls seems to have skyrocketed in the past year. For months, I have slammed the phone down at the first sound of that automated robo-call "Hello!!" I knew I wasn't going to buy whatever they were selling that way, so I didn't want to waste a second more than was necessary listening to their drivel. But once I started forcing myself to listen to the message, and pressing the "opt-out" number, I started receiving fewer and fewer of these annoying calls. It really does work!

I recently read a Q&A article on this topic that asked why, when they had signed up on the Do Not Call Registry, were they were still receiving calls from telemarketers like the robo-calls we have been discussing? The AARP Bulletin advises that you should check to see if your name is still listed on the Do Not Call Registry, as this registry was only good for 5 years. You can find out this information by going to www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
(AN UPDATE: Effective February 2008, Congress passed a bill to make the Do Not Call Registry PERMANENT!!).

You can also report the names or phone numbers of companies that you believe are violating the Do Not Call Registry at the same locations. But keep in mind that some groups, such as political organizations, charities, survey-takers, and companies that you already have a relationship with, are exempt.

CITED SOURCES:

http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/ - Congress makes Do Not Call Registry Permanent - By Carole Fleck, February 2008

http://www.aarp.org/money/wise_consumer/telephones/a2003-06-27-donotcallregistry.html - Stopping Unwanted Sales Calls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robocall - Robocall, from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia