FTC bans robocalls, sort of
By Cindy House 
| August 28, 2009 | 11:24 AM
Just when you thought telemarketers couldn’t be more annoying, a new menace appeared . . . robo telemarketers. Now, the Federal Trade Commission is riding to the rescue with a ban on robocalls that goes into effect Tuesday. Sort of.
The ban applies to businesses that call your home phone number with automated, unsolicited sales pitches. Fines of up to $16,000 per call can be imposed on violators.
However, the no-robocall dictum doesn’t apply to politicians, charitable organizations, banks and telephone companies. It also doesn’t apply to “informational” robocalls, such as a doctor’s office calling to remind you of a upcoming appointment.
Thus, the robocall I got from Comcast this week to inform me that my Internet speed has been doubled will sail right through. As will the robocall I got last night from my state House representative informing me of yet another town hall meeting. I also will still hear every few weeks or so from my robot friends calling on behalf of a nonprofit thrift store seeking quality used goods.
Fortunately, the ban does apply to “Rachel with Cardholder Services,” who robocalls regularly seeking my sensitive financial information. Of course, “Rachel” and her friends “Heather” and “Michelle” are most likely scam artists (or, at the very least, shady contract workers for a legitimate business), so they were calling illegally in the first place.
Good thing that ban’ll be in place soon.
federal trade commission, robocall, telemarketer
