Do Not Call list

[Jacob Orlove]

Blatantly copied from an email:

>This is for business as well as personal cell phones:
>
>Is your cell phone number  registered?
>JUST A REMINDER...In a few weeks, cell phone numbers are  being
>released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive  sale
>calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS...
>To prevent  this, call the following number from your cell phone:
>888/382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a
>minute of your time.  It blocks your number for five (5) years. or
>register on line at http://www.donotcall.gov.

I registered online, it took about fifteen seconds (and that counts opening the email to confirm the registration).

[Bram]

I don't know about this stuff, but it looks to me like a scam to get a large phone number database. Yes, I see it's a .gov extension, but I don't know how official that usually is.

[Vegeta2711]

The Do Not Call list is a legit way to get off the Telemarketing lists. I used to get 4-5 calls a week before I signed up and now I get zip. Thanks for the reminder Jacob, I totally forgot they would be able to call cell phones now.

[Limbo]

YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS...

How does this work (as in, how can you be charged while you are not the one actually calling)? Making money while spamming someones phone sounds quite odd to me...

[TracerBullet]

YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS...

How does this work (as in, how can you be charged while you are not the one actually calling)? Making money while spamming someones phone sounds quite odd to me...

Even now, you're charged for every minute you use, even if you are not the one calling.  That's the way wireless service works (there are a few plans where you don't pay for incoming calls).  Thus, you will be charged for the calls that are incoming by your wireless provider.


Interestingly enough, I wonder if you're gonna start recieving calls from proxies for your wireless provider in an attempt to drive up rates...?

[Limbo]

Even now, you're charged for every minute you use, even if you are not the one calling.  That's the way wireless service works (there are a few plans where you don't pay for incoming calls).  Thus, you will be charged for the calls that are incoming by your wireless provider.

Hmm, it's different over here in Dutchieland. Here you don't pay for incoming calls. There are even a few providers that actually PAY you for incoming calls...

[Jacob Orlove]

Oh, I should mention that this is US-only. Crazy europeans need not apply. :p

[Limbo]

Oh, I should mention that this is US-only. Crazy europeans need not apply. :p

Well, I figured the "Do Not Call List" only applied to Americans, but I didn't know that in America it is normal to pay for receiving phone calls on your mobile.

[Bram]

Yeah, that IS kinda weird.

Mind you, it's the same for us if we go to a foreign country, though. If you go to Franceland and your mom calls you to check up on you, you pick up the tab for the traffic from the Dutch boundary to France and back.

Also, remember that SMS services work the same way, here. You can get charged for incoming text messages.

[Limbo]

Mind you, it's the same for us if we go to a foreign country, though. If you go to Franceland and your mom calls you to check up on you, you pick up the tab for the traffic from the Dutch boundary to France and back.

I know this and it makes perfect sense. If you call somebody on his mobile, it is safe to assume he hasn't left the country. So when calling, you just pay national rates. Any added cost is for the person travelling to another country.

I heard a story of a teacher of some sort that went on vacation to the Caribbean. Children back home send her loads of SMS's, and all the added cost was for her. Cost her quite a penny when she got the bill...

Also, remember that SMS services work the same way, here. You can get charged for incoming text messages.

As long as it isn't a scam from some sort of semi-legal criminals, you registered for such SMS's, so you know you will be charged for the return messages as well.

[Outlaw]

Thanks Jacob, its ridiculously annoying when I get phoned in class and I answer to it being a recording or someone trying to sell me a trip from "cheap tips dot com".   

[Dr. Sylvan]

Interestingly, I've heard a number of anecdotes where if you say to a telemarketer "DUDE, this is my CELL phone!" they will quickly apologize, hang up, and not call you again.

Sprint and some other companies decided not to get involved in a wireless number registry, see here:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

[Bram]

There is a grain of truth in the message making it believable, but it's wrong on two counts: Not all cell phone numbers will be listed in the national directory planned for 2006. And telemarketers will not have access to the directory. It is illegal for marketers using auto-dialers — and most do — to call wireless phone numbers.

Here's the truth:

A national directory will be compiled, but numbers will be included on an opt-in basis. If a cell phone subscriber does nothing, the number will not be listed. When the directory is ready, it will be available only as part of the existing 411 directory service, accessed by calling in and asking for a specific number. It will not be published in a book or on the Internet. And it will not be sold to telemarketers.

Cell phone subscribers can list their numbers on the do-not-call registry if they choose, but there is no deadline to get on the list, as the e-mail messages now circulating suggest

(...)sign(ing) up with the The National Do Not Call Registry (...) will not keep wireless customer listings out of the proposed Wireless 411 database — it will only add their phone numbers to a list of numbers off-limits to most telemarketers, a step which is premature (because the Wireless 411 directory has not yet been implemented) and largely unnecessary (because the Wireless 411 directory information is not supposed to be supplied to telemarketers, and because FCC regulations already in place block the bulk of telemarketing calls to cell phones).

So in other words, don't bother, you guys.

[dandan]

So in other words, don't bother, you guys.

Such sexism from Bram, suggesting that female TMDers should bother. Seeing as about half of them (Brittany) is in France, I can't help but think that it is poor advice.

[Bram]

I kinda meant that to be a unisex term.

Like Rachel said to Joey once: 'You. And. I. Sex.'

[dandan]

I feel your membership of TOPIC slipping, although the thought of Rachel suggesting sex is one that I think we can allow, however off topic.