Decade after do-not call registry launched, robocall complaints increasing
Sep 17, 2012, 9:11 AM | Updated: 1:15 pm
 Complaints about telemarketers are way up, especially robocalls. (123rf image) |
It’s been nearly a decade since the federal do-not call registry went into effect. But complaints to the government have increased, especially concerning those annoying pre-recorded sales pitches known as ‘robocalls.’
Telemarketers are supposed to check the list at least every 31 days for numbers they can’t call, but some are calling anyway. Complaints about phone pitches are climbing as the number of telemarketers checking the registry has dropped dramatically.
Government figures show monthly robocall complaints have climbed from about 65,000 in October 2010 to more than 212,000 this April. More general complaints from people asking a telemarketer to stop calling them also rose during that period, from about 71,000 to 182,000.
At the same time, fewer telemarketers are checking the FTC list to see which numbers are off limits. In 2007, more than 65,000 telemarketers checked the list. Last year, only about 34,000 did so, according to the Associated Press.
The calls are difficult to stop. Even though they’re illegal, fraudsters use caller-ID spoofing so that when a person tries to call back the robocaller, they get a disconnected number or something other than the source of the original call.
The best thing people can do when they get an illegal robocall is to hang up. Do not press “1” to speak to a live operator to get off the call list. If you do, the FTC says, it will probably just lead to more robocalls. The caller will know you’re there and willing to answer and may continue to call.
When it comes to live callers, KIRO producer and former telemarketer Andrew Walsh offers some sage advice to help stop the calls.
“The first thing I want you to do is remember this person doesn’t want to be a telemarketer any more than you want to be called by a telemarketer. Just don’t be mean.”
Walsh says just hanging up doesn’t work because telemarketers are trained to mark non-responders as a ‘call back’ and the calls will continue.
He says shouting at the caller also doesn’t help.
“Talk to the person like a human being. Don’t take out all of your day’s anger and frustration. If you scream at me, I’m marking you as a ‘call back.'”
Host Dave Ross says he’s found kindness works in stemming the calls.
“I had a very good discussion with a reputable organization whose name I won’t disclose, but they call me all the time. I finally said ‘look I appreciate everything you do, but these call backs are really annoying me. Could you please put me on the six month rotation instead of every other day rotation?’ And I have not gotten a call back from them since.”
To file a complaint with the FTC, people can go online to www.ftc.gov or call 888-382-1222 to report their experience for possible enforcement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
