So Long Telemarketers
Hate those random sales calls during dinner or on Saturday morning when you are trying to sleep? Do you wish you could stomp them out forever? Well, new rules going into effect on September 1 could pave the way to eliminate those annoying phone calls for good.
The new Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) will ban all automated phone calls selling products or services. Now these calls will be illegal unless the telemarketer has received written permission from consumers who express interest in receiving offers by phone.
Telemarketers who violate the TSR are subject to fines of up to $16,000 per call. Even if you’ve done business with a company, they can’t add you to their automated call list unless you have specifically agreed to receive calls. The down side to the new rule is that it only applies to “robocalls.” Calls placed by humans aren’t banned. However, you can still protect yourself from these intrusive sales pitches by adding your phone numbers to the federal Do Not Call registry.
Like the Do Not Call registry, the TSR excludes debt collectors, local charities, politicians, banks and telephone companies which means you can’t expect the phone to stop ringing completely. But, maybe the TSR brings us one step closer to making that dream a reality.
Until that day comes, if you are being harassed by automated calls, you can report them to the federal trade commission online or at (877) 382-4357 (877-FTC-HELP).
