FTC says no to prerecorded sales pitches
August 21st, 2008, 11:20 am · 5 Comments · posted by Ronald Campbell
The Federal Trade Commission is banning telemarketers from making prerecorded sales calls without customers’ written consent.
Telemarketers had lobbied the FTC to let them make prerecorded pitches. But after getting 14,000 public comments on the issue — overwhelmingly against the industry’s plan — the FTC said no.
Under the ban, companies can deliver prerecorded informational calls, for example informing people that their airline flight has been canceled or that they have an appointment. What they can’t do is sell.
The new rule further tightens the FTC’s telemarketing regulations, spokesman Mitchell Katz said. Consumers already can sign up for the national Do Not Call Registry. They also can order specific companies not to call back.
The new FTC rule exempts health-care providers. It also exempts charity telemarketers calling previous donors to or members of the charity.
The new rule also will make it easier for consumers to change their minds after agreeing to allow prerecorded calls. Beginning Dec. 1, telemarketers must include an automatic keypress or voice-activated message in prerecorded calls that will let consumers opt out of receiving future calls.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:35 am
Opt me out NOW!
August 21st, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Are they going to do something about the automated calls I get that my car warranty is expiring! Or the one for carpet cleaning!
August 21st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
You can be sneaky if you really want to. Wait and talk to a person, ask for the name of the company and then report them to the DO NOT CALL registry. If an actual phone number shows on your cell, just report the number. I’ve done it once and those calls (which I was receiving 2x a day on my cell phone) stopped immediately.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Thank All the gods!!!
I so despise the telemarketers & telescamsters that violate the privacy of my home! I always have but now that I am disabled & walking is difficult there is nothing worse then fighting to answer the phone & discovering a hated message machine! Then if you do wait to speak with a so called representative to get them to Never Ever call again you only get some belligerance & hung up on as if it is the receiver that interfered in their private life. But of course y’all know this *~*
September 6th, 2008 at 10:17 am
DoNotCall List is a FARCE.
I get half a dozen prerecorded offers for carpet cleaning a week.. usually half a message on my answering machine. How can I ‘opt out’ when I’m not around to push a button?
And the charities and politicians can also bite me. I give to whom I wish and will NEVER donate to any charity, cause, or politician who cold-calls me. All they get is a toilet flush (”Uhh, I’m kind of busy right now…”) and a reminder to never call me again. *Click*