Telemarketers & your cell phone
 

I don't know if this is just for Pennsylvania or not, but within the next few days your cell phone number(s) will be open to telemarketers. If you do not want to be on their list call 1-888-382-1222 or go to https://www.donotcall.gov/Register/Reg.aspx & register your number(s) online.

Pass this on to anyone that you think necessary.

I do not believe cell phone numbers will be published or sold. You can only get the number by calling 411.

Believe it or disregard it - I got this from a very good source, or I wouldn't have posted it. As I said, it might just be a state thing.

As with many things, it varies from state to state.

Connecticut has a do-not-call list, and you can list your cell phone as well as your landline. When the federal do-not-call list was introduced, Connecticut's list (along with several other states' lists) was included.

Now, what we really need is a do-not-text-message list. :mad:

Our fax machine at work get an average of one telemarket/junk fax a day. Sometimes more. Wastes paper and ink.

According to snopes.com (http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp), the list is being compiled but for purposes of a 411 registry of cell phones, it is not at this time going to be given to telemarketers. And, you can call your wireless company at any time and be removed from the list. Though if people do register now on the national Do Not Call list, if the 411 numbers do ever get sold to telemarketers in the future, they will be covered.

That's my summary of the snopes link...

I'm bumping this thread to the top because even though it's not about telemarketing, I wanted to let all of GC know what just happened to me right now.

I'm at work, and my phone goes off. The number's 866-448-8558. Now, I've been getting a lot of Unknown numbers and 800 numbers lately...all telemarketers, but for some reason I decided to take this call.

It was from a guy from a "law office" in Georgia, claiming that I owed money. They were persistent in trying to get my personal information (Bank info, SSN, etc. etc.) so I hung up on them. They then proceeded to call me back three times, each time leaving an obscene voicemail.

I Googled the phone number, and my trusty friend www.800notes.com showed up. Turns out, this "law office" belonged to a Gerald E. Moore and Associates, a sleazy con-man based out of Marietta. I know who I owe money to, and he's not one of them.

I know all of you know not to give out your personal information over the phone...but I just wanted to give you guys a heads up in the event you find yourselves terrorized over the phone like I was today! :mad:

DUDE. i am so glad you posted that 800notes site, I thought I was crazy, i mean, i know i have some debt out there, but they call CONSTANTLY, it starts sometimes at 7 am until 9 or 10 at time 7 days a week. I haven't done anything about it... until now.

^^^Wow, that is ridiculous, OTW! How does that guy get away with it? Did you see this link in "granny's" comment in your link? It suggests you report him to the GA Bar and send him a cease & desist letter -- http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollecto...associates.htm

From what you guys are saying, it appears that this person (or persons) could seriously be violating the Fair Debt Collection Act.

Report to bar, report to your state attorney general (most have online forms), do some reading on the internet about the laws involving debt collection. There are very specific do's and don'ts they must follow.

Right now I'm dealing with Phillips & Cohen Associates for a client, and they are horrendous to deal with.

now if only we could get a do not email list .

yes i know there is spam but not everything gets sent to the spam folder

A bit of advice for those who recieve telemarketing calls... Don't get irate, or hang up in their face. All they will do is call back. Ask politely for them to remove you from their calling list and to send you something in writing. They can not remove you from their calling list if you do not ask them to (and don't yell "don't call here again!!!" ; that doesn't count) If they contact you again after that, you can take legal action.

I get calls from some Spanish speaking company telling me that I have won some prize. How do they know I speak Spanish, I am not sure. There are a lot of Spanish speakers where I live, but it would be pretty fruitless and inefficient of them to send this to people who know nothing about this language.

Y'all need to check out Tom Mabe and Willie P. Richardson for some great ideas to use when telemarketers call.