Protecting oneself from intrusive telemarketers

Telemarketer
Originally uploaded by The Tonya Show

Following some investigation and a lot of ballooning in the size of the junk mail received it has been brought to my attention that Americans enjoy certain protections from unrestrained marketing efforts.

Here are a few tips:
If you do receive a sales call, ask the caller to "place this number on your 'Do Not Call' list." Under federal law, a company cannot call you again for a specified period of time [currently 5 years] once you make this request. If you have multiple phone lines, ask the caller to put those numbers on the company's Do Not Call list, too.

MOST PUBLIC U.S. LIBRARIES HAVE FREE INTERNET ACCESS

National Do Not Call Registration - FREE
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

STOP JUNK MAIL FOR 1$
https://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Keep a log by your phone to document the companies you have told to put you on their Do Not Call list and the date and time of these calls. If they call you again, you have a right to sue them for up to $500 per call.

If you want to make telemarketers jump through extra hoops, request a written copy of their Do Not Call policy. They are required to mail this document to you if you request it, and you can sue them for $500 if they fail to do so.

Call 1-888-5OPT-OUT to bar credit rating agencies from sharing your information for two years. You'll need to provide your social security number when you call. Financial institutions are some of the worst junk-mail offenders.

Tips on dealing with email SPAM
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs20-spam.htm

Prevent collection companies from harassing you with other peoples claims (not your own)
http://www.privacyrights.org/Letters/debt6.htm

Preparing to sue telemarketers (follow this script)
http://www.ucan.org/drupal/telecommunications/landline/anti_telemarketing_script

If this story sounds familiar it may inspire you to do something about telemarketers (http://www.panix.com/~eck/telemarket.html)

Which telemarketers you cannot sue:

• Charities
• Survey researchers
• Political campaigns
• Companies with which you have a business relationship
• Companies to which you have given written consent to remain on their calling list.

Companies with which you have an "existing business relationship" as well as their affiliates can call you within an 18-month window. And when you inquire about or apply for a service or product, that company can contact you within three months.

Script to halt telemarketing
1. What is your name?
2. What is the name and address of the company you represent?
3. What is the company number?
(company is subject to $500 fine if the answer to the first three questions are refused)

4. Are you an employee of this company, or do you work for a telemarketing service? (get the name, address, phone of telemarketing service)


5. Does your company have a pre-existing business relationship with me?
(if answer to number 5 then skip to question 7)

6. Do you conduct business or have other customers in my city?
(if the answer is yes this will help your case)

7. Does your company have a written call policy?
(company is subject to $500 fine if the answer is No)

8. Will you send me a copy of your "Do Not Call" policy?
(company subject to $500 fine if the answer is No)

9. Does your company maintain a "Do Not Call" list?
(company subject to $500 fine if the answer is No)

10. Will you put my name on your "Do Not Call" list?
(company subject to $500 fine if the answer is No)

11. May I have your supervisor's name and address?
(Note this to help expedite your claim against the company later)