Remember how glad you were when the 'Do Not Call' list was introduced, knowing you could enjoy dinner in peace without having someone ask you whether you were satisfied with your long distance provider? Well, it turns out that feeling of calm may soon be coming to an end.
In Pennsylvania, the law expires on September 15, according to Newsweek, which says the five-year limit was put in place to purge the list of people who move or change numbers. [Update: the Federal 'Do Not Call' list reaches its five-year point next summer, meaning those who signed up early will begin to be dropped from the list in mid-2008.] Most people who signed up for the list, including myself, probably have no idea that there is a time limit, and that creates a big opportunity for telemarketers.
Tim Searcy, CEO of the American Teleservices Association, told Newsweek, "Will we attempt to touch people no longer on the list? Of course." This is truly frightening. I do not want telemarketers 'touching' me during dinner -- or any time, really.
Though hanging up on a telemarketer feels good, it's more effective to put your name the 'Do Not Call' list, which you can access here. Some states also operate their own lists.
If you act now, you can avoid the annoyance later.
Other BloggingStocks writers take on the 'Do Not Call' news:
- Sheldon Liber -- Don't call me, I'll call you










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
9-10-2007 @ 12:39PM
Jdl said...
The "Don-Not-Call list is killing the economy!
9-10-2007 @ 12:44PM
JDL said...
The "Do-Not-Call" list needs to be revamped to allow marketers to call people between the hours of 7PM to 9PM. The DNC has been hurting business for 5 years now! It's okay for politicians to telemarket, why not business!
9-10-2007 @ 12:44PM
Jean said...
Did you read the whole article in Newsweek? The PENNSYLVANIA do-not-call registry expires Sept. 15, 2007. The NATIONAL do-not-call registry didn't start until 2003.
9-10-2007 @ 1:00PM
Cathy said...
Most telemarketers are rude and obnoxious. I'm glad there's a DNC list, It has helped to substantially cut down the number of phone calls I get. I just wish I could stop every unwanted phone call from coming into my house, including the political ones. If I want to talk to you, I'll call you.
9-10-2007 @ 1:08PM
BobGrumbine said...
criminal trespass for the purpose of "marketing" often fraudulent products was never acceptable, especially not for the kind of invasive demanding of instant response thing that the telephone is. The National Do Not Call list has been very helpful in reducing the frequency of such criminal trespassers and I shall be renewing prior to the expiry of my own original five year term. There is no "business" involved in criminal trespass, only violation of the homes and offices of American citizens by frauds and thieves of time and energy. Nor is there any "freedom of speech" as that bought judge in Denver unCoolorado wanted to pretend on the basis of his local phoney company being one of the most abusive sellers of criminal trespass automated devices. Speech is free only if one is doing it from one's own soap box, or one provided voluntarily by others, not for strictly commercial trespass into private homes and businesses.
9-10-2007 @ 1:10PM
Ruthann Boutell said...
My "do not call" rules would be:
1. Anyone issued a telephone number, land-line or cell,
would automatically be on the list, unless they "opt out".
2. No calls would be exempt including political and non-profit.
Now THAT would be privacy.
I have actually received sales calls masquerading as surveys to circumvent the law, and they are always nasty when I challenge them. If our economy depends on telephone harassment then our economy is a farce.
9-10-2007 @ 1:12PM
APF said...
The hours of 7-9 pm are the most annoying times to get calls. That's when I'm putting my kids to bed and spending the few minutes per day I get alone with my husband. I don't even like it when people I know call me during that time, let alone annoying people trying to sell me something I don't want.
9-10-2007 @ 1:16PM
J. McCABE said...
The do-not-call list is a joke.I have entered all my phones including my fax and still the calls come. Right up there with N.Y. LAW banning cell phone use while driving.
9-10-2007 @ 1:18PM
Tom Moore said...
How do we know that this warning isn't an attempt to gather phone numbers and names?
9-10-2007 @ 1:22PM
Joni said...
Do-Not-Call means just that - do not call. All of our phone numbers (landline and cell) are registered. Pity the poor fool who does call (automated or not) and has me answer because I'm not nice when my peace at home is disturbed. I've started asking for their own personal home phone number so that I can call them back at my convenience and that puts a quick end to the phone call as they are so dumbfounded and unsure of what to do when asked for their personal information they hang up. I can't stand telemarketers and never will.
9-10-2007 @ 1:27PM
wvrev54 said...
What telemarketer are you all working for? I have very strong doubts that blocking telemarketers is hurting the economy, and I know from personal experience that the list DOES work (although some groups, like charitable organizations, aren't covered by the list). So, I have to wonder - WHO really wants to see the list removed, hmmm, my telemarketing friends?
9-10-2007 @ 1:38PM
Ingrid Ardell Shepherd said...
I have worked as a manager in the telemarketing industry for over 20 years, and like any other occupation there are bad apples: callers, list vendors, dialing vendors, dialing applications poorly run and managed. The pause on the line with an auto dialer is a result of the user not setting up the proper pace for dialer (greed motivates this). I feel the DNC has helped to eliminated the company's that are too poor to properly run a telephone-based marketing operation. THis is real work for real people who are the labor pool: the disinfranchised, those in recovery, single mothers, handicapped, as well as the professional part timers needing the supplement to their income. Would you rather have these folks wards of the state, nation. When is dinner time: from 3:30PM - 9:30PM all in the same time zone, so when people say "they always call at dinner!" it's not plannied. It is not intruding into your personal time, it is a public airway that allows the call to come through. It's simple: say I'm not interested , or just don't pick up the phone during dinner/family time/making love/resting/asleep, etc. Why can't folks accept some personal responsiblity for that which is in their control, rather than involvling the long arem of the law?
9-10-2007 @ 1:38PM
donotrememberme said...
Thank God for caller id! If you are not programed into my phone, I do not answer it period! Too bad I can't yet program my phone to not accept calls that are not programmed into it and then I wouldn't even need to hear it ring!
9-10-2007 @ 1:41PM
Nancy said...
Why doesn't this do not call list include political phone calls?
9-10-2007 @ 1:47PM
toni said...
Thank goodness for DNC. Now when will we get Do Not Spam listings? Something like 90% of all e-mail is spam, and filters don't stop it all. Luckily, most of them still can't spell, so they are easy to spot, and delete.
9-10-2007 @ 1:47PM
tjp said...
When they call and ask is so and so there; I respond just a moment, and leave the receiver off the hook and continue with my activities.
9-10-2007 @ 1:51PM
Anonymous said...
It always amuses me that people scream and kvetch about how annoying telemarketers are, but their only response to them on the phone is to be rude and hang up. Honestly, if somebody is worth getting so worked up over, then they are worth your time, so why not make th emost out of it and practice some schadanfraude?
When the TM asks for a spouse, scream across the house, "Honey? Are the bodies buried yet?" then tell the TM they will have to call back later.
Ask them questions...little questions about the technical aspects of their product, "So, if I switch long distance providers, what is going to be the overall impact on the global economy? Well, will this at least help global warming?"
For those of you who enjoy flustering others, try to initiate phone-sex with them. Just be careful because this has been known to backfire.
Look, telemarketers are people too, and to just hang up on them or tell them "don't ever call again" is just plain rude. There is nothing wrong with that, but honestly, if you're going ot b erude, why not do it in a way that will at least make them have to think? Break up the doldrum of their day for a bit! Who knows, if you come up with a really original one, you jus tmay make somebody's year: "Did I ever tell you about when I phoned this guy to sell him a long-distance package and he asked for my shirt size so he could knit me a sweater?"
9-10-2007 @ 1:56PM
antiquern said...
I have had my number on the DNC list since the beginning. My quiet evenings lasted for maybe a year then the phone calls started back as frequently as before. Now you have to sit and listen to an automated sales pitch before you can actually talk to someone to tell them to quit calling you. What's the point of the list? It hasn't worked for me.
9-10-2007 @ 2:02PM
ClydenCora said...
While I sympathize with those who depend upon telemarketing for sales and employment, you guys are a pain. Calling three times a day, everyday is not endearing. If I am looking to buy, I'll be calling you not the other way around. Life is far too saturated with advertising and the hard sell to make me even wonder what-it-is-you-got-that-you think-I-need. Thanks to the Do Not Call List, I enjoy my privacy and having a telephone once again.
9-10-2007 @ 2:03PM
T. Traverso said...
I pay for the priveledge to have a phone number, be it home, work or cell. I pay for it to call people "I" choose to talk to and give my number to those I want to receive calls from. Telemarketers are not paying my phone bill, I have never given any of them my phone number(s), that is an indication that I do not want to be bothered by them. Why do we not have a "Please call me" listing for the people who wish to receive these calls and let the telemarketers go nuts with it?