Clark can’t stand telemarketing calls. The idea itself upsets him. So, he was ecstatic over the federal “Do Not Call” list. But apparently some companies are still disobeying the law and calling you and me. The FTC has already gotten 300,000 complaints from people who are getting calls when they’re not supposed to. Many of these telemarketers claim they are doing surveys, which are exempt from the law. They still give you the same pitch, but it’s in the form of a “survey.” If you’re getting these regular calls, go to the
FTC site and complain. Or, you can do what some of Clark’s callers have done, and tape the calls. Then, you’ve got proof to sue the companies.
In other telecommunications news, Clark told you in March about a cell phone registry of numbers that companies were putting together to list your cell phone number. It would mean you would receive spam text messages on your cell phone that you have to pay for. Not to mention the fact that any company can buy this directory, get your number and call you. One of the benefits of having a cell phone is that you only give out your number to those people you want to have it. So, Clark is outraged over this directory. Clark talked with Travis Larson, a spokesperson for the CTIA, and he claimed that people would only be included in the registry if they “opted in.” Larson also said people should not have to pay for those messages. Several cell phone companies also called to rebut the story that was originally published in The Baltimore Sun. But a story published today in the L.A. Times reiterated what the Sun said. People will be included secretly and people will have to pay for text messages, according to the Times. The only company that is not participating is Verizon. T-Mobile has even changed the language of its contract to say that people will automatically be included in this directory. The “Do Not Call” list protects you from being contacted by a telemarketer, but it doesn’t protect you from getting spammed by text messages. We need to voice our opinions about this, and stop it!
