Telemarketers decide to sue (What fucking idiots)

[modest mouse]

Telemarketers Sue to Stop 'Do Not Call' List
Wed Jan 29, 9:55 PM ET
By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Telemarketers went to court on Wednesday in an attempt to stop the U.S. government from setting up a proposed "do not call" list that would help consumers block unwanted sales calls.

Four telemarketing companies and a trade group filed suit in federal court in Oklahoma City to stop the Federal Trade Commission from setting up a program that would allow consumers to place their names on a list of households that do not want to receive such calls.

Telemarketers who ignored the FTC's list would face fines of up to $11,000. Callers for charities and political groups would be exempt.

The FTC's proposal, which could be up and running as early as August, has won unprecedented support from consumers who have swamped the agency with more than 50,000 letters of support.

But telemarketers say 27 existing state do-not-call lists and a voluntary national list run by the Direct Marketing Association trade group should provide consumers enough protection.

In the suit, the DMA and four telemarketing firms said the FTC's effort would violate free-speech laws and discriminate against an industry that provides millions of jobs.

"The FTC is singling out this form of advertising now, what will be next?" said DMA President Robert Weintzen in a prepared statement.

The FTC should have waited to move forward with its proposal until the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the telecommunications industry, finishes its reassessment of existing telemarketing rules, the plaintiffs said.

Federal officials say the two agencies have been working closely together to make sure they do not come up with conflicting rules when the FCC finishes its work in the spring.

The proposal cleared a crucial hurdle earlier Wednesday when a House of Representatives committee voted to give the FTC the power to collect fees from telemarketers to pay for the list.

The list has already won approval in the Senate.

Rep. Billy Tauzin, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said such a move would give the FTC greater legal authority to defend itself against legal challenges from the industry.

FTC officials were not immediately available for comment.

Other plaintiffs in the suit include U.S. Security, based in Oklahoma; Chartered Benefit Services, of Illinois; and Global Contact Services and Infocision Management Corp., both based in Delaware.

 

[sunstruck]

Telemarketing is the lowest form of sales on this planet. When I was at the station we would get a dozen calls a day. Finally we just started saying "I'm sorry but we don't accept telephone solicitations" and hanging up. One woman actually called me back to yell at me for hanging up on her. lol

At home we used to either start reading porn or scripture depending on the feel of the telemarketer. We don't get the calls anymore. lol

I hope they are laughed out of court.

 

[Coca~Cola]

I hope they are laughed out of court.

Yes, what she said.

Lst week I made the mistake of changing my long distance phone company. I have only had 7 calls from my former company and that's only the ones I have been home to answer.

 

[Lancecastor]

I blame the telephone companies.

Telcos invented the call center industry.

Telcos own all or part of many of the major call center companies.

Telcos create new products on a continuous basis to enable telemarking.

Telcos also invented call display, call block, etc to charge us to try and stop the people they created.

The telephone companies are taking cash from telemarketing companies and consumers alike, to creating a never ending spiral of lining their pockets based on annoyance and intrusion.

Fuckers.