Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Robo-Calls MUST END!

Do you get phone calls where you pick up the line and there's a pre-recorded message trying to sell you some ridiculous product you don't need or want? I get these all the time.


Did you know they're illegal? At least they are in California. Here's the law that covers them:

Automatic dialing-announcing devices (ADAD) are specifically covered by CPUC sections 2871-2876. The definition includes “any automatic equipment which incorporates a storage capability of telephone numbers to be called . . . to disseminate a prerecorded message to the telephone number called.”
“(c) No person shall operate an automatic dialing-announcing device in this state to place a call that is received by a telephone in
this state during the hours between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. California time.”
Section 2873 states that an ADAD system can only be used to call Californians when “pursuant to a prior agreement between
the persons involved.” Section 2874 demands that “the device may be operated only after an unrecorded, natural voice announcement has been made to the person called by the person calling. The announcement shall do all of the following:
(1) State the nature of the call and the name, address, andtelephone number of the business or organization being represented, if any.
(2) Inquire as to whether the person called consents to hear the prerecorded message of the person calling.”
Section 2875 requires that the company seeking to use an ADAD first gets approval from the California PUC. The application must among other things describe “the time of day such telephone calls are proposed to be placed using such device, the anticipated number of calls proposed to be placed during the specified calling period, the average length of a completed call”
Finally section 2876 allows for the PUC to levy a $500 fine for each violation and for disconnection of service for a time mandated by the commission.

I did some research and I found the telephone number you can call and complain about companies that do this. Now this part is hard to believe, an actual human being answered, and she actually contacted ATT and instructed them to take action against the robocaller right there while I was on the phone! I couldn't believe it!

The number to call is: Toll-free, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 1-800-649-7570

California, I'm proud of you!

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