I was enjoying the Do-Not-Call respite from phone-spam until about a week ago. That's when SBC, my phone and DSL company, began abusing the "own customers" exception of the Do-Not-Call law. Over the past week, I've gotten 2 or 3 calls a day from SBC-empowered boiler-room contractors, all offering me SBC products that I either already have (e.g. DSL) or don't want (e.g. 9-way voice message forwarding with remote callback or somesuch blather). I imagine that if I was home all the time, I'd get more.
Soon, the LA Times will start calling to offer me the paper that I've subscribed to for 35 years running, the Gas Company will be offering internet over gas lines, the bank will call me to offer their latest mortgage rate, and the local grocery store will be calling to tell me about their new special on Kleenex. All through 300 contractors, each armed with the same list. And we haven't even touched upon the political push-polling and "important message[s] for all seniors" that the election season brings.
Enough.
I suggest that all these DNC exceptions be limited to calls by company employees, and then only once per month. And if I hang up on that monthly call, TFB.
I usually say "hey, buddy, didn't they tell you there was a do not call list?" So far, not one telemarketer has had the stones to invoke the loophole; it's always "I'm sorry sir, we didn't know you were on that list."
Posted by: Xrlq at February 23, 2004 05:59 PM