NEWS: Consumer advocates ring alarm over robocalls to cellphones

Post by John Navas
New legislation expands automated dialing to mobile phones
November 10, 2011|By Gregory Karp, Chicago Tribune reporter
Consumer advocates, including the Illinois and Indiana attorneys
general, are sounding the alarm over proposed federal legislation that
would allow companies to place robotic calls - using automated dialers
to call and play recorded messages - to consumers' wireless mobile
phones.
"It would open the floodgates to telemarketers and debt collectors to
call at all hours of the day," said Illinois Attorney General Lisa
Madigan.
<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocall-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>
or <http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

Hilarious. In one room legislators are forming a new consumer protection
agency, and next door a different group of leigislators and/or bureauocrats
are tearing it down. Too funny.

--- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to ***@netfront.net ---

Percival P. Cassidy

2011-11-15 19:35:36 UTC

Hilarious. In one room legislators are forming a new consumer protection
agency, and next door a different group of leigislators and/or
bureauocrats are tearing it down. Too funny.
--- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to

Different legislators are getting contributions from different interest
groups. Different bureaucrats are crafting regulations to favor the
companies for which they used to work or are hoping to work in future.

Perce

(PeteCresswell)

2011-11-15 22:23:23 UTC

Post by stevev
Hilarious. In one room legislators are forming a new consumer protection
agency, and next door a different group of leigislators and/or bureauocrats
are tearing it down. Too funny.

"The best government that money can buy"

--
PeteCresswell

Ashton Crusher

2011-11-24 03:41:33 UTC

Post by stevev

Hilarious. In one room legislators are forming a new consumer protection
agency, and next door a different group of leigislators and/or bureauocrats
are tearing it down. Too funny.

Funny isn't teh word that comes to my mind. I wish all of them could
be taken out and shot. This shouldn't even be an item for discussion.
NO ONE but an idiot or someone who stands to make money from it would
think it's a good idea to let any commercial, non-profit or other
business entity call mobile phones uninvited.

tlvp

2011-11-24 21:04:47 UTC

Post by Ashton Crusher

Post by stevev

Hilarious. In one room legislators are forming a new consumer protection
agency, and next door a different group of leigislators and/or bureauocrats
are tearing it down. Too funny.

It might be a different story if, as in many
other parts of the world, incoming calls were
*not* chargeable to the recipient :-) . Until
then, though, ... .

Cheers, -- tlvp

--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

D. Stussy

2011-11-15 19:50:31 UTC

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or <http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Richard B. Gilbert

2011-11-15 21:02:10 UTC

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Has it worked for you? My landline number is on the "Do Not Call List"
and I still get junk calls. I don't get as many as I used to but I
still get opportunities to be rude to complete strangers with something
to sell!

Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller
make his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!

I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were
any good, people would be standing in line to get them.

tycho

2011-11-15 21:59:00 UTC

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Has it worked for you? My landline number is on the "Do Not Call List"
and I still get junk calls. I don't get as many as I used to but I still
get opportunities to be rude to complete strangers with something to sell!
Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller make
his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!
I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were any
good, people would be standing in line to get them.

The Do Not Call list works well for me. I never get junk calls.

Even better, I recently moved to a VoIP service with an interface that
easily allows me to block any number, or even create a Whitelist if I
choose. So if I do get a junk call that's their only one shot.

Elmo P. Shagnasty

2011-11-15 22:13:10 UTC

Post by tycho
The Do Not Call list works well for me. I never get junk calls.
Even better, I recently moved to a VoIP service with an interface that
easily allows me to block any number, or even create a Whitelist if I
choose. So if I do get a junk call that's their only one shot.

...except for the "legally reduce your debt now!" spammer who
continually, every few weeks, changes his caller ID.

Like you, I have the same VoIP system. Most of the calls went away
after I blocked anything from area code 401. But some still sneak
through now and again.

What's great is that they don't change their caller ID every time.
They'll use one for awhile, then move to another one. They get one shot
of me answering the phone (although by now I can tell just by looking if
it's them or not--the name they pass through with caller ID, while
different every time, combined with the phone number I don't recognize
tells all).

After that, I simply forward that number to my US senator's office.

I check my call logs now and again; yes, they've called again and yes,
they've been forwarded to my senator's office.

The ball's in his court now. I hope his people enjoy answering those
calls.

George Kerby

2011-11-15 23:49:38 UTC

On 11/15/11 4:13 PM, in article

Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty

...except for the "legally reduce your debt now!" spammer who
continually, every few weeks, changes his caller ID.
Like you, I have the same VoIP system. Most of the calls went away
after I blocked anything from area code 401. But some still sneak
through now and again.
What's great is that they don't change their caller ID every time.
They'll use one for awhile, then move to another one. They get one shot
of me answering the phone (although by now I can tell just by looking if
it's them or not--the name they pass through with caller ID, while
different every time, combined with the phone number I don't recognize
tells all).
After that, I simply forward that number to my US senator's office.
I check my call logs now and again; yes, they've called again and yes,
they've been forwarded to my senator's office.
The ball's in his court now. I hope his people enjoy answering those
calls.

This is how I handle them...

(PeteCresswell)

2011-11-15 22:25:23 UTC

Post by tycho
The Do Not Call list works well for me. I never get junk calls.

Count your blessings. Most of the calls I get on my
Do-Not-Call-Listed cell phone and home phone are telemarketing
robocalls.

Post by tycho
Even better, I recently moved to a VoIP service with an interface that
easily allows me to block any number, or even create a Whitelist if I
choose. So if I do get a junk call that's their only one shot.

Can I do that for my cell phone? Or is that your land line?

--
PeteCresswell

Gordon Burditt

2011-11-16 23:15:28 UTC

Post by (PeteCresswell)
Can I do that for my cell phone? Or is that your land line?

There are several Blackberry apps that let you block calls you don't
want. The one I have wasn't free but it cost some very nominal
amount like $3. Among other options, it lets you "block" calls by
letting the call go to voice mail without ringing the phone.
Therefore I don't worry too much about mistaken blocking - real
callers will leave messages on voice mail. I don't know of any
restrictions on the length of the block list other than phone memory.
The volume of nuisance calls is low enough I am not worried about
them chewing up my minutes. Blocking the last caller is easy,
without having to copy the number. It can also let through only
the numbers listed in your address/phone book, or block numbers
with no available caller-id.

Most of the numbers I have blocked are persistent mis-dialers who
refuse to believe they have the wrong number, not telephone solicitors.

I presume there are even better apps for Iphone and Android.

I don't know of any way to do it with a non-smart phone.
Phone-company-based blocking (which I'm not so sure is available
for cell phone service) lets you block some pitiful number of numbers
like 25, rather than a million, and it costs per month.

D. Stussy

2011-11-16 20:06:45 UTC

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal

Post by John Navas
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Under normal circumstances, yes. There have been only two repeat violators
in the past 5 years, and both were reported for harassment to my and their
states' AG's who did take action. In both of those cases, the calls were
caused by someone committing identity theft as well.

Before the national DNC list, I was on my state's list. I have reported
many more violations involving my landline, especially repeat offender AMEX
(I do not have an AMEX card). I also report SMS messages which violate the
rules too.

Post by Richard B. Gilbert
Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller
make his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!

If I don't recognize the caller ID number, they get voicemail. Why don't
you check?

Post by Richard B. Gilbert
I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were
any good, people would be standing in line to get them.

(PeteCresswell)

2011-11-16 21:31:09 UTC

Post by D. Stussy
Under normal circumstances, yes. There have been only two repeat violators
in the past 5 years, and both were reported for harassment to my and their
states' AG's who did take action. In both of those cases, the calls were
caused by someone committing identity theft as well.
Before the national DNC list, I was on my state's list. I have reported
many more violations involving my landline, especially repeat offender AMEX
(I do not have an AMEX card). I also report SMS messages which violate the
rules too.

What state do you live in?

I am in Pennsylvania and what you say applied to us until a year
or so ago. Early in the game, I even got a check for
twenty-some dollars as my share of the settlement against one of
the telemarketers I reported.

But now, after maybe a dozen lame-sounding letters from the
Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office explaining that they
cannot do anything because telemarketers are offshore and/or
using VOIP I have given up.

I've reported maybe fifty calls to the Federal agency, but never
heard anything from them... ever...

--
PeteCresswell

D. Stussy

2011-11-17 20:57:25 UTC

Post by (PeteCresswell)

What state do you live in?
I am in Pennsylvania and what you say applied to us until a year
or so ago. Early in the game, I even got a check for
twenty-some dollars as my share of the settlement against one of
the telemarketers I reported.
But now, after maybe a dozen lame-sounding letters from the
Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office explaining that they
cannot do anything because telemarketers are offshore and/or
using VOIP I have given up.
I've reported maybe fifty calls to the Federal agency, but never
heard anything from them... ever...

I am in California. The identity thief was in your state, Pennsylvania.
Both AG offices got involved as this was interstate and the debt collectors
that were harassing my # (but not looking for me by name) were in PA.

n***@nada.com

2011-11-17 11:20:19 UTC

On Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:02:10 -0500, "Richard B. Gilbert"

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Has it worked for you? My landline number is on the "Do Not Call List"
and I still get junk calls. I don't get as many as I used to but I
still get opportunities to be rude to complete strangers with something
to sell!
Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller
make his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!
I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were
any good, people would be standing in line to get them.

The do-not-call list is a joke. I still get about a dozen calls aweek
from people that know there is no penalty for violating this law.
Reporting them is a waste of time. Just another feel-good law with no
enforcement.

2011-11-17 20:21:00 UTC

Post by n***@nada.com
On Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:02:10 -0500, "Richard B. Gilbert"

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Has it worked for you? My landline number is on the "Do Not Call List"
and I still get junk calls. I don't get as many as I used to but I
still get opportunities to be rude to complete strangers with something
to sell!
Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller
make his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!
I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were
any good, people would be standing in line to get them.

I don't like getting about a dozen calls a week, mostly from "Rachel" at
"credit card services" but I have to admit that it's a lot better than the
dozen plus calls a day I used to get before the "Do Not Call" lists. The
lists aren't perfect and the enforcement is spotty but it's better than it
used to be.

Gary
Central Illinois USA
Visit our website and do the jigsaw puzzle at
www.under-1-roof.com/PuzzlePage.html

Richard B. Gilbert

2011-11-17 21:55:06 UTC

Post by n***@nada.com
On Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:02:10 -0500, "Richard B. Gilbert"

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Has it worked for you? My landline number is on the "Do Not Call List"
and I still get junk calls. I don't get as many as I used to but I
still get opportunities to be rude to complete strangers with something
to sell!
Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller
make his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!
I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were
any good, people would be standing in line to get them.

I don't like getting about a dozen calls a week, mostly from "Rachel" at
"credit card services" but I have to admit that it's a lot better than the
dozen plus calls a day I used to get before the "Do Not Call" lists. The
lists aren't perfect and the enforcement is spotty but it's better than it
used to be.
Gary
Central Illinois USA
Visit our website and do the jigsaw puzzle at
www.under-1-roof.com/PuzzlePage.html

There is, or was a few years ago, a "credit card opt out". You called
an 800 number ask to be placed on the do not call list. The credit card
issuers were supposed to cease calling you and offering yet another
credit card. It worked for me, many years ago. Whether it's still
available and whether it still works I couldn't tell you.

The number is or was 888-567-8688. I opted out many years ago! Let us
know if it's still working.

Percival P. Cassidy

2011-11-17 22:14:27 UTC

Post by n***@nada.com

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Has it worked for you? My landline number is on the "Do Not Call List"
and I still get junk calls. I don't get as many as I used to but I
still get opportunities to be rude to complete strangers with something
to sell!
Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller
make his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!
I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were
any good, people would be standing in line to get them.

I don't like getting about a dozen calls a week, mostly from "Rachel" at
"credit card services" but I have to admit that it's a lot better than the
dozen plus calls a day I used to get before the "Do Not Call" lists. The
lists aren't perfect and the enforcement is spotty but it's better than it
used to be.
Gary
Central Illinois USA
Visit our website and do the jigsaw puzzle at
www.under-1-roof.com/PuzzlePage.html

There is, or was a few years ago, a "credit card opt out". You called an
800 number ask to be placed on the do not call list. The credit card
issuers were supposed to cease calling you and offering yet another
credit card. It worked for me, many years ago. Whether it's still
available and whether it still works I couldn't tell you.
The number is or was 888-567-8688. I opted out many years ago! Let us
know if it's still working.

The calls I get every couple of weeks -- and never from the same number
-- are not from a CC company as far as I can tell: they offer to get me
a lower interest rate on my existing cards. Since we never carry a
balance on our cards, they are only guessing that we might be gullible
enough to fall for their "service." Very recently, one company offering
such a "service" has been found guilty of fraud for collecting large
amounts of money but not doing what they claimed they would do.

Perce

Justin

2011-11-17 23:05:40 UTC

Post by n***@nada.com
On Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:02:10 -0500, "Richard B. Gilbert"

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Has it worked for you? My landline number is on the "Do Not Call List"
and I still get junk calls. I don't get as many as I used to but I
still get opportunities to be rude to complete strangers with something
to sell!
Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller
make his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!
I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were
any good, people would be standing in line to get them.

I don't like getting about a dozen calls a week, mostly from "Rachel" at
"credit card services" but I have to admit that it's a lot better than the
dozen plus calls a day I used to get before the "Do Not Call" lists. The
lists aren't perfect and the enforcement is spotty but it's better than it
used to be.
Gary
Central Illinois USA
Visit our website and do the jigsaw puzzle at
www.under-1-roof.com/PuzzlePage.html

credit card services has nothing to do with the issuers of credit cards

(PeteCresswell)

2011-11-18 00:20:38 UTC

Post by Justin
credit card services has nothing to do with the issuers of credit cards

I've tried to lean on them several times - to extract information
about who and where they are.

They, of course, want to know all sorts of things about me; but
as soon as the realize I'm trying to learn about them they hang
up.

If these guys were making calls threatening politicians or
big-league corporate people there's no doubt in my mind that
they'd be in jail within weeks - but stealing minutes from
thousands and thousands of little people seems tb pretty much
immune from consequences even though it is in violation of the
law.

--
PeteCresswell

Justin

2011-11-18 00:23:49 UTC

Post by (PeteCresswell)

Post by Justin
credit card services has nothing to do with the issuers of credit cards

I've tried to lean on them several times - to extract information
about who and where they are.
They, of course, want to know all sorts of things about me; but
as soon as the realize I'm trying to learn about them they hang
up.
If these guys were making calls threatening politicians or
big-league corporate people there's no doubt in my mind that
they'd be in jail within weeks - but stealing minutes from
thousands and thousands of little people seems tb pretty much
immune from consequences even though it is in violation of the
law.

I think we may find they are stealning more than just minutes

I have never got past the FOAD stage with them, but I wonder if they
need your CC number and then charge a hefty fee to the unsuspecting.

Richard B. Gilbert

2011-11-17 22:21:10 UTC

Post by n***@nada.com
On Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:02:10 -0500, "Richard B. Gilbert"

<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocal
l-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>

Post by John Navas
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

This is why I placed my cell phone # on the "do not call" list the day I
got it last decade.

Has it worked for you? My landline number is on the "Do Not Call List"
and I still get junk calls. I don't get as many as I used to but I
still get opportunities to be rude to complete strangers with something
to sell!
Sometimes I just set the handset gently on my desk and let the caller
make his pitch to the uncaring paperwork!
I can't help thinking that if the products or services being sold were
any good, people would be standing in line to get them.

I don't like getting about a dozen calls a week, mostly from "Rachel" at
"credit card services" but I have to admit that it's a lot better than the
dozen plus calls a day I used to get before the "Do Not Call" lists. The
lists aren't perfect and the enforcement is spotty but it's better than it
used to be.
Gary
Central Illinois USA
Visit our website and do the jigsaw puzzle at
www.under-1-roof.com/PuzzlePage.html

stevev

2011-11-18 03:34:05 UTC

It's been discussed previously in this forum.

"HR 3035 IH
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3035
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to permit informational calls to
mobile telephone numbers, and for other purposes."

It's the "and for other purposes" that concerns me. Based on a list
(partial) of supporters of this legislation, who's best interest do you
think it is in???
American Bankers Association
ACA International
Air Transport Association
Consumer Bankers Association
Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations
Edison Electric Institute
Education Finance Council
Financial Services Roundtable
Housing Policy Council
Mortgage Bankers Association
National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
National Council of Higher Education Loan Program
Student Loan Servicing Alliance
Student Loan Servicing Alliance Private Loan Committee
The Clearing House
U.S. Chamber of Commerce"

--- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to ***@netfront.net ---

Nate Nagel

2011-11-22 02:45:51 UTC

Post by John Navas
New legislation expands automated dialing to mobile phones
November 10, 2011|By Gregory Karp, Chicago Tribune reporter
Consumer advocates, including the Illinois and Indiana attorneys
general, are sounding the alarm over proposed federal legislation that
would allow companies to place robotic calls — using automated dialers
to call and play recorded messages — to consumers' wireless mobile
phones.
"It would open the floodgates to telemarketers and debt collectors to
call at all hours of the day," said Illinois Attorney General Lisa
Madigan.
<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-10/business/ct-biz-1110-robocall-20111110_1_cellphones-robocalls-debt-collectors>
or<http://goo.gl/OTwl5>

I dunno about you, but I've been getting them already... legal or no.
Too many to be worth my time to try to officially complain - or just
screw with the callers. I just don't answer the phone anymore unless
the caller appears in my address book... if it's someone important
they'll leave a message.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

c***@nym.hush.com

2011-11-22 18:51:43 UTC