Cell Phone Telemarketing is Coming to the US

Bob Russell · 08-22-2005, 02:25 PM

UPDATE: It seems like this may have been a hoax that PalmOne has passed on to us in its Treo newletter. According to About.com, it's an urban legend, as indicated by Pitcher23. I'm sure we'll get this sorted out in time, and determine whether or not the info is legitimate.

If you are like me, it may have just seemed natural that telemarketing calls don't come on your cell phone. But that's a convenience in the U.S. that seems to be short-lived.

According to a Palm Treo Newsletter from PalmOne, "[font=verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Very soon, cell phone numbers will begin being released to telemarketers. To help avoid those annoying and potentially expensive calls (yes, you will be charged for them) be sure to register your Treo smartphone number with the National Do Not Call list. Just call 888.382.1222 from your smartphone to protect your number for the next five years. Or register at their website: https://www.donotcall.gov/[/font]"

I'm on the Do Not Call list for my home phone number, and I can attest to the fact that it helps. But there are so many exemptions that I certainly am not free from sales calls. To be getting a telemarketing call that I also have to pay for is really not something I look forward to.

Some people are starting to fight back. For example, at AntiCall, where they ask people to call the telemarketers and provide numbers to do it hoping it will waster their dollars on long distance charges. Just symbolic, but reflects the growing frustration.

No doubt we will see two trends as a result...
1) People will become extremely rude toward telemarketers
2) No one is going to answer their cell phone unless caller id shows it's someone they want to talk with.

Spam, telemarketers, slogs, popups, viruses, trojans, ... where does it all end?!

Alexander Turcic · 08-22-2005, 02:42 PM

So you need to opt out in order to not be molested by telemarketers? ;( Here in Switzerland it's the way around: you need to specifically AGREE before they can ring you up. And I think this is the only right way to go.

Bob Russell · 08-22-2005, 02:46 PM

Business before pleasure!

pitcher23 · 08-22-2005, 03:28 PM

Are you sure this isn't just a recycling of a hoax that was around months ago?

http://urbanlegends.about.com/librar..._directory.htm

rlauzon · 08-22-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobR

1) People will become extremely rude toward telemarketers

Already do this. It was quite amazing (and pleasant) to find that most places stop calling when you are extremely rude to them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobR

2) No one is going to answer their cell phone unless caller id shows it's someone they want to talk with.

Do that too. I've rarely turned off the answering machine in over 6 months. The only time is when I get a really persistent telemarketer or beggar and I'm in a really bad mood (the better to be extremely rude to them).

2cents · 05-12-2008, 05:24 PM

It seems real bizzare that you would get charged for telemarketing calls. In the UK there are no such charges and at the moment a telemarketing call on a cell phone is very rare.

Ervserver · 05-12-2008, 05:33 PM

I would hope the official DO Not Call list here in the USA would suffice for this situation as well

pshrynk · 05-12-2008, 06:00 PM

Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

RWood · 05-13-2008, 03:51 PM

I have already had several telemarketing calls on my cell phone. Since I use the number for business (it is printed on my card) I often receive calls from people I do not know so the thought of answering only when I know the caller ID is impossible.

Even though it was an urban legend, I still put my cell number (as well as the home number) on the do not call list many years ago. Funny how that does not stop some groups. ("Hello, I'm calling for "Soap Opera Digest" ....)

pilotbob · 05-13-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

Even though it was an urban legend, I still put my cell number (as well as the home number) on the do not call list many years ago. Funny how that does not stop some groups. ("Hello, I'm calling for "Soap Opera Digest" ....)

There's alot of ways around that. If you have a "previous" relationship with them is the biggest one. People call on "behalf of Citibank" (for example) even though they aren't citibank... they pay for their list and charge there service to the CC which is why the credit card company is happy to lease your phone number to them.

Also, surveys, charities, etc can call. Also, people offering you something for a "free trial" which you have to pay for the next month unless you cancel it... etc.

BOb

Ervserver · 05-13-2008, 04:34 PM

I get plenty of political calls to my cell phone

08-22-2005, 02:25 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Cell Phone Telemarketing is Coming to the US UPDATE: It seems like this may have been a hoax that PalmOne has passed on to us in its Treo newletter. According to About.com, it's an urban legend, as indicated by Pitcher23. I'm sure we'll get this sorted out in time, and determine whether or not the info is legitimate. If you are like me, it may have just seemed natural that telemarketing calls don't come on your cell phone. But that's a convenience in the U.S. that seems to be short-lived. According to a Palm Treo Newsletter from PalmOne, "[font=verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Very soon, cell phone numbers will begin being released to telemarketers. To help avoid those annoying and potentially expensive calls (yes, you will be charged for them) be sure to register your Treo smartphone number with the National Do Not Call list. Just call 888.382.1222 from your smartphone to protect your number for the next five years. Or register at their website: https://www.donotcall.gov/[/font]" I'm on the Do Not Call list for my home phone number, and I can attest to the fact that it helps. But there are so many exemptions that I certainly am not free from sales calls. To be getting a telemarketing call that I also have to pay for is really not something I look forward to. Some people are starting to fight back. For example, at AntiCall, where they ask people to call the telemarketers and provide numbers to do it hoping it will waster their dollars on long distance charges. Just symbolic, but reflects the growing frustration. No doubt we will see two trends as a result... 1) People will become extremely rude toward telemarketers 2) No one is going to answer their cell phone unless caller id shows it's someone they want to talk with. Spam, telemarketers, slogs, popups, viruses, trojans, ... where does it all end?!

08-22-2005, 02:42 PM	#2
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	So you need to opt out in order to not be molested by telemarketers? ;( Here in Switzerland it's the way around: you need to specifically AGREE before they can ring you up. And I think this is the only right way to go.

08-22-2005, 02:46 PM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Business before pleasure!

08-22-2005, 03:28 PM	#4
pitcher23 Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York USA	Are you sure this isn't just a recycling of a hoax that was around months ago? http://urbanlegends.about.com/librar..._directory.htm

05-12-2008, 05:24 PM	#6
2cents Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: portable	It seems real bizzare that you would get charged for telemarketing calls. In the UK there are no such charges and at the moment a telemarketing call on a cell phone is very rare.

05-12-2008, 05:33 PM	#7
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I would hope the official DO Not Call list here in the USA would suffice for this situation as well

05-12-2008, 06:00 PM	#8
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

05-13-2008, 03:51 PM	#9
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	I have already had several telemarketing calls on my cell phone. Since I use the number for business (it is printed on my card) I often receive calls from people I do not know so the thought of answering only when I know the caller ID is impossible. Even though it was an urban legend, I still put my cell number (as well as the home number) on the do not call list many years ago. Funny how that does not stop some groups. ("Hello, I'm calling for "Soap Opera Digest" ....)

05-13-2008, 04:34 PM	#11
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I get plenty of political calls to my cell phone