Comment Number: 525547-00000
Received: 10/5/2006 7:54:17 AM
Organization:
Commenter: Eileen S. Harlach
State: OH
Subject: Telemarketing Sales Rule
Title: Request for Public Comment
CFR Citation: 16 CFR Part 310
No Attachments

Comments:

I am somewhat disappointed that your new language in regard to the creation of a safe harbor in telemarketing did not go far enough in protecting the rights of the consumer. In specific, I read where the new language applies only to calls answered by a consumer; not calls answered by voicemail or an answering machine. This again limits my choices doesn't it. I have an I.D. caller service on my telephone, which I am paying for by the way, and use this alot in order to avoid answering unwanted telemarketing calls. There have been many instances where the telemarketer leaves the message on my voice mail; or they hang up leaving no message at all only to call again the same day; sometimes within the same hour. They keep calling until a consumer, like me finally gets up, picks up the receiver to say hello and then hang up immediately to avoid the sales pitch. I should have the right to not have to get up and answer at all; the I.D. caller service lets me know who is calling and I shouldn't have to physically get up and answer in order to stop them from calling. That's why the majority people have an answering service--so that we can screen our calls and talk to the people we want. Although I am on the Do Not Call List, I still get calls; especially from charities of which I have specially requested many, many times not to call my anymore but they still do--leaving their messages on my machine. I have even stayed on the line long enough when a telemarketer calls thinking once he or she is done identifying their company or charity that I can request they no longer call--but as soon as I say I am not interested--they hang up on me without providing a name of the telemarketer or phone numer. A few weeks ago then this happened again, I got mad and dialed star 69 and was able to reach the same lady who just hung up on me and told her how upset I was that she hung up on me without giving me the courtesy of saying what I wanted to say. This didn't help at all as I am still getting calls from this same charity!!! Enough already! Quit leaning toward the businesses and start helping the consumer. We deserve the right to have more control over our phones, our privacy, and peace which is continuously dwindling away because not enough is being done to curtail numerous uninvited interruptions. Even when I follow the rules, I still get no satisfaction. I want to be left alone and when my phone rings it's because I am expecting that call or it's someone I would like to hear from. It really is as simple as that. A Do Not Call List should really mean Do Not Call!; which means someone made a choice, is taking their right to say leave me alone! Thank you for this opportunity to voice my opinion. Eileen Harlach