Jun 30 2010
Automated Marketing call from 206-888-2001
It’s dinner time – 5:26pm – I get a phone call on my office phone – called ID says “Unassigned”
I did not answer, but the system left a voice message just the same.
The automated message stated they were marketing their website – the greatest bla bla bla. This is a ridiculous way to market a website. How many people want to be bothered at dinner time with a phone call for visiting a website?
I’ll never post the website, but I will post the do not call. If you get a call you can report it.
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Update 7/16/2010 - Got a phone message from the person that was listed here. They claim they never do any automated marketing and that I was I am mistaken.
First, I do not take any of this lightly and do not post crap because I need more drama in my life.
I have two choices:
Either remove the listing of the individual based on the fact they called and left a sincere message about the issue in a way that seems they are more of a victim of this nonsense automated marketing call.
Or this person is trying to cover his butt.
I am inclined to believe he was sincere, although I did get a automated call advertising his website, this could also have been a competitor trying to cause him problems as well. Who knows.. I decided to remove his contact information from this post because he sounded sincere about not using automated calling.
We did speak by phone and now realize he is a victim of this crank call.
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If you are on the do not call list – you can register a complaint:
https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx?panel=2
I think they should make it illegal to use any automated calling systems.
Unwanted Telephone Marketing Calls
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html
Congress first passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in 1991 in response to consumer concerns about the growing number of unsolicited telephone marketing calls to their homes and the increasing use of automated and prerecorded messages.
the FCC’s rules prohibit the use of autodialers in a way that ties up two or more lines of a multi-line business at the same time. All artificial or prerecorded telephone messages must state, at the beginning, the identity of the business, individual, or other entity that is responsible for initiating the call. If a business is responsible for initiating the call, the name under which the entity is registered to conduct business with the State Corporation Commission (or comparable regulatory authority) must be stated. During or after the message, the caller must give the telephone number (other than that of the autodialer or prerecorded message player that placed the call) of the business, other entity, or individual that made the call so that you can call during regular business hours to ask that the company no longer call you. The number provided may not be a 900 number or any other number for which charges exceed local or long distance charges.
The FCC can issue warning citations and impose fines against companies violating or suspected of violating the do-not-call rules, but does not award individual damages. If you receive a telephone solicitation that you think violates any of these rules, you can file a complaint with the FCC. There is no charge for filing a complaint. You can file your complaint using an on-line complaint form found at esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm.
You can also file your complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center by:
- e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov;
- calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY;
- faxing 1-866-418-0232;
- or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries & Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.
What to Include in Your Complaint
The best way to provide all the information the FCC needs to process your complaint is to complete fully the on-line complaint form. When you open the on-line complaint form, you will be asked a series of questions that will take you to the particular section of the form you need to complete. If you do not use the on-line complaint form, your complaint, at a minimum, should indicate:
- your name, address, e-mail address, and phone number where you can be reached;
- the phone number where you received the call, and whether this number is on the national Do-Not-Call list;
- the date and time of the call;
- whether the call advertised or sold any property, goods, or services;
- any information (including a caller ID number) to help identify the individual or company whose property, goods, or services were being advertised or sold, and whether any of this information was provided during the call;
- whether you or anyone else in your household gave the caller permission to call;
- whether you have an EBR (Established Business Relationship) with the caller (specifically, whether you or anyone else in your household made any purchases of property, goods, or services from the individual or company that called, or made any inquiry or filed an application with the individual or company prior to receiving the call);
- and whether you or anyone in your household previously asked the caller or individual or company whose property, goods, or services are being advertised or sold NOT to call, and when you made the request.
It is obvious to me that they do not study the guidelines nor care whether they adhere to them.
