| Comment Number: | OL-105580 |
| Received: | 12/2/2004 11:03:58 AM |
| Organization: | Lake County Children's Services |
| Commenter: | Peggy Norman |
| State: | FL |
| Subject: | Trade Regulation Rule on Telemarketing Sales |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 310 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I am EXTRAORDINARILY OPPOSED to any amendment to the TSR that would create any additional call abandonment safe harbors. Whether the calls are made by a live person or in a pre-recorded message, they represent a form of HOME INVASION, interrupting meals, waking the ill, intruding on personal gatherings, inappropriately robbing the consumer of his/her valuable time, etc. I find it absolutely INEXCUSABLE that businesses opting to utilize telemarketing tools have not more closely monitored the techniques of the telemarketers calling on their behalf. I personally have had more rude telemarketing calls than I could ever remember. One in particular was from a nationally renowned, long established company. When I told the caller I was on the Do Not Call register, she replied in a very hostile tone with the question - Do you know how much it would cost you to take us to court? Probably $10,000 or more. At the bottom line, the BUSINESSES should be responsible for calls made on their behalf. As they have chosen, and continue to choose to ignore accountability/responsibility for the ill manners of those telemarketers calling on their behalf, why on earth should we give telemarketing firms still more leeway? Advertisement, including solicitation of sales AND surveys, is best done via the US Postal Service allowing the consumer to read, review and respond or not, to material AT THEIR CONVENIENCE and not at the command of the telemarkerter. Additionally, if a consumer wishes to receive such calls or pre-recorded messages, let the firm wishing to use the telemarketing approach obtain written permission from the consumer desiring to receive such calls WITHOUT DISTURBING MILLIONS OF OTHER CITIZENS. Now, the issue of the petition: technology that ensures abandonment of no more than three (3) percent of all calls answered by a person - measured per day per calling campaign - substituting the phrase -measured over a 30-day period-. I feel rather dense because I just don't understand this section. I can, however, say for sure that if it gives any more leeway to telemarketing firms to increase HOME INVASIONS, I am vehemently opposed to it.