Klarinet Archive - Posting 000392.txt from 2003/01

From: "Andy Raibeck" <cactus@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] [Off Topic] Telemarketers
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 18:48:55 -0500

> I used to demand their correct name and home phone number so I could call
> them at inconvenient times. Needless to say, they'd hang up. (I still do
> that with religious nuts, by phone or at the door.)

You need to explicitly tell them to put you on their "do not call" list (or
else they'll just call you back later). It is my understanding that by
federal law they are required to do so, and keep you there for 10 years. You
can also demand that they mail you a copy of their "do not call" policy. If
enough people did this, then maybe the expense of all those mailings would
help put a stop to telemarketing. Unfortunately it is my feeling that
telemarketing must, overall, be successful, or else they wouldn't do it.

The worst of the worst are the automated/pre-recorded telemarketing calls
(thinly disguised as "surveys" since pre-recorded telemarketing messages
are, of course, illegal). Since you don't have a live body, you can't tell
them to put you on their "do not call" list, and just hanging up doesn't
mean they won't try you at a later date.

The national (U.S.) do-not-call list
(http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/donotcall/index.html) sounds
promising. Better yet, I wish they'd just outlaw telemarketing altogether.
Violators would be subject to life in prison with a permanently attached
telephone headset that rings several times, picks up, and plays a random
telemarketing message. Repeat all day, every day. Truly a punishment that
fits the crime. ;-)

Check out http://www.bidstrup.com/phone.htm for some interesting information
about telemarketing.

> Now I have a computer adapter that if the call fails to provide a complete
> caller ID (name & number) the call is authomatically disconnected after
the
> second ring. When one gets through, I pick up a tuning fork, bang it on
my
> knee, and hold the end against the mouthpiece. That usually gets rid of
> them. (It's a high C)
>
> I hear there's a guy who is supposedly working on a computer program that
> will reverse zap any telemarketers that use computers to call, and destroy
> the FAT on their computer. Probably illegal, but fun to contemplate.

I think it's a great idea. Would certainly help to level the playing field.
:-)

> And yes, I dispise telemarketers. We have five land lines that come into
> this house/office. It is a constant irritant. We have a state
do-not-call
> list, but it's just a $500 fine, so it's not that much of an incentive.
I'd
> personally like to reserve a place in hell for telemarketers with child
> molesters and people who illegally use handicap parking spaces.

You forgot to include spammers in that list! :-)

Regards,

Andy

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