Dec 1, 2010
recording about some health insurance offer, already rattling on before phone was answered. I thought that robo-dialers that deliver a telemarketing recorded message were illegal. If so, the business behind this illegal operation is (to me) an illigitimate operation. It would have been nice to know what company to forever refuse to do business with.
The only (slightly) useful information I heard was: "Press 1 to talk to a representative, or 2 to be removed"
Well, at this point, my blacklist will "remove" any further 406-931-3xxx callers. Second robo call from this NPA-NXX-Xxxx this morning. (other was from 406-931-3487) Caller-ID NAME was blank on both calls.
OCN/Carrier: 913F/Pacific Telecomm on the Billings Montana BLNGMT233MD switch, who apparently cater to such callers. This adds to an existing problem "in Montana", making my leading-7-digit default-to-refuse-call blocking this carrier as follows:
406-219-2xxx
406-224-9xxx
406-290-3xxx
406-351-4xxx
406-426-3xxx
406-478-2xxx
406-530-5xxx
406-623-3xxx
406-715-0xxx
406-852-8xxx
406-931-3xxx
406-948-8xxx
So, I do NOT YET include in default-to-refuse calls (from this carrier):
406-640-8xxx West Yellowstone
406-720-2xxx Colstrip
406-942-5xxx Glasgow
but with the above track record, it's just a matter of time. This is becoming very like blocking bad mailservers who cater to e-mail spammers.
Checking http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html we can find
[QUOTE]
The FCC has specific rules for automatic telephone dialing systems, also known as “autodialers.” These devices can be particularly annoying and generate many consumer complaints. The rules regarding automatically dialed and prerecorded calls apply whether or not you have registered your home phone number(s) on the national Do-Not-Call list.
...
Calls using artificial or prerecorded voice messages – including those that do not use autodialers – may not be made to home phone numbers except for:
* emergency calls needed to ensure the consumer’s health and safety;
* calls for which you have given prior express consent;
* non-commercial calls;
* calls that don’t include or introduce any unsolicited advertisements or constitute telephone solicitations;
* calls by, or on behalf of, tax-exempt non-profit organizations; or
* calls from entities with which you have an EBR.
...
Telemarketers must ensure that predictive dialers abandon no more than three percent of all calls placed and answered by a person. A call will be considered "abandoned" if it is not transferred to a live sales agent within two seconds of the recipient's greeting.
If you have caller ID, a telemarketer is required to transmit or display its phone number and, if available, its name or the name and phone number of the company for which it is selling products. The display must include a phone number that you can call during regular business hours to ask that the company no longer call you.
...
Some states permit you to file law suits in state court against persons or entities violating the do-not-call rules. You may be awarded $500 in damages or actual monetary loss, whichever is greater. The amount may be tripled if you are able to show that the caller violated the rules willfully and knowingly. Filing a complaint with the FCC does not prevent you from also bringing a suit in state court.
[END QUOTE]