Is Mr. Strap there, first name Jacques? I'm trying to talk to a Jacques Strap about my very important Baie-Comeau business matter, is it possible Mr. Jacques Strap can drop everything and talk to me?
Sales Calls
Many times telemarketers call just when you are ready sit down to eat dinner. What can you do about all these ads that waste your time and hassle you? Actually, there is a lot you can do:
- Tell companies you do business with to remove your name from customer lists that they rent or sell to others. Look for information on how to opt out of marketing lists on sales materials, order forms and web sites
- Contact the three free services provided by the Direct Marketing Association to remove you from most national telemarketing, mail and e-mail lists
- Call the credit reporting agencies' notification system at 1-888-567-8688. This will reduce the number of unsolicited credit and insurance offers you get. All three major credit bureaus participate in this program
The federal government's Do Not Call Registry is a free and easy way to reduce telemarketing calls to your home. To register, visit DoNotCall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. If you get restricted telemarketing calls after your number has been in the national registry for three months, you can file a complaint using the same web site and toll-free number.
Some states have their own Do Not Call lists for residents. Contact your state consumer protection office to find out if your state has such a list and how you can be added.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a Telemarketing Sales Rule that tells telemarketers what they can and cannot do when making a sales call. You may wish to file a complaint with the FTC by calling them at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or by using their Online Complaint Assistant.
Prerecorded Messages
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates calls using artificial or prerecorded voice messages. They may not be made to residential telephone numbers except in the following cases:
- Emergency calls needed to ensure your health and safety
- Non-commercial calls
- Calls which do not include any unsolicited advertisements
- Calls by, or on behalf of, tax-exempt nonprofit organizations
- Calls you have given prior consent for
- Calls from entities with which you have an established business relationship
You may wish to file a complaint about prerecorded messages with the FCC by e-mail or online on the complaints web page.
Effective December 1, 2008, any telemarketing call that delivers a prerecorded message must include a quick and easy way to opt-out of receiving future calls. The opt-out must work both for consumers who answer these calls in person and for those whose answering machines or voicemail services receive the calls. You may wish to view more information regarding the opt-out for recorded messages.
Junk Faxes
Unsolicited advertisements faxed to you without your prior written permission are also prohibited by the FCC. If you have received such a fax, file a complaint with the FCC. For more information, please visit the Federal Citizen Information Center's (FCIC) publication on stopping unsolicited mail, telemarketing and e-mail.
Prescreened Offers of Credit and Insurance
Many companies that solicit new credit card accounts and insurance policies use prescreening to identify potential customers for the products they offer. Prescreened offers-- sometimes called "preapproved" offers-- are based on information in your credit report that indicates you meet certain criteria. Please visit the FTC web site more information, including how to opt out of prescreened offers of credit and insurance.
Pivacy Notices from Banks and Financial Institutions
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provides information about privacy choices for personal financial information. On their web site you can learn about your rights when dealing specifically with financial institutions. Please visit the privacy choices web page.
Text Messages and Wireless E-mail
The FCC rules also prohibit sending unwanted text messages to your wireless phone number if they are sent using an auto-dialer, or if you have placed that number on the national Do Not Call list. You may wish to view additional information on text message and wireless e-mail spam.