Telemarketers drive many of us crazy. And several viewers were Curious about the effectiveness of the "Do Not Call" Registry.
Greg from East Bridgewater wrote: "My phone number is on the list, but I still get many annoying calls. Is there any way to stop these annoying telemarketing solicitations?"
And Ellen from Acton asks,"What happened to the 'Do Not Call' list? We're getting almost as many calls during dinner as before the list.
Ellen also told us, "I realize that times are tough and they need to make a buck, but I don't want them bothering me."
We spoke with Sandra Clarke from Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. She said several telemarketers are exempt from the "Do Not Call" regulations.
They include charities, political campaigns, and companies with which you may have done business in the past.
However, she admits that some companies, who are not supposed to call you, will disregard the list. So what can you do to stop the ones you are not supposed to receive?
You can file a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office or with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC is trying to crack down on violators. DIRECTV was just ordered to pay $2.3 million for disregarding the "Do Not Call" list rules. Comcast was fined $900,000.
But there is a more dramatic step you can take: you can sue telemarketers who call you after you have told them to stop. The payoff is $500 for each call.
That's what Andre Tasha LeMay did.
"They kept calling. What did I do? I sued them." So far he's made $6,000 off telemarketers.
Here's what you need to do. Start logging the calls including the dates and times. Get the company name, address and phone number. If they try to sidestep the questions, don't fall for it.
"Telemarketers are required to give that information early in the conversation," says Sandra Clarke from the office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Tell telemarketers on the phone and in an e-mail to stop calling. If they don't, you can take them to small claims court. You can pick up a form at any Massachusetts courthouse. It costs between $30 and $40 to file.
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