| Comment Number: | OL-104010 |
| Received: | 11/28/2004 7:51:03 PM |
| Organization: | |
| Commenter: | Killian |
| State: | PA |
| Subject: | Trade Regulation Rule on Telemarketing Sales |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 310 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
In the months preceding this year's presidential election, I was assailed by multiple pre-recorded telephone messages. It made me appreciate the do-not-call list and realize how little control I have over who calls me, and when. Regardless, when the phone rings, I must stop whatever I am doing and answer it. [I do not waste any more of my time at this point: If the call is of a telemarketing nature, I hang-up immediately. However, I have already been inconvenienced because I had to answer the phone to find out it was someone (or in the case of a recording, something) I had no interest in listening to.] Why would I NOT mind that it's a recording (not even a real person whom I can express my frustration to) that called me away from what I was doing. Why allow this type of call--the end result to me is the same: My phone rings, I stop what I am doing to answer it, and (a) a telemarketer tries to interest me in a product or service or (b) a recording tries to interest me in a product or service. To me, the less irritating of the two scenarios is actually (a). Regardless, I want neither to have access to my time via my private telephone number. I am their captive audience for I have no control over whether they come into my home, whenever they like, via my telephone. As for the ''opt out'' option, why should I have to opt out of something I have not agreed to in the first place? The companies that want access to me through my telephone should be the ones who require MY permission to call ME, not vice versa. How convoluted to require me to take steps to stop the use of MY telephone number from being used by others to conduct THEIR business.