National Do Not Call List and Survey Takers

[Luna Baby]

I have a question that I cannot seem to find the answer to online. I've searched and searched with no real answer. My question is directed towards anyone who has worked in a call center calling to take surveys or to anyone who can direct me to a link with the answer.

We received a call this morning from a female representing the "NAR" (don't know really what it means except research is telling me it's about real estate). Wanted to speak to hubby about a survey. She quickly stated that she was not selling anything and would not be asking us to purchase anything. I told her that he was here but wouldn't answer any questions and asked her not to call again. Four hours later I get a call from the same organization, this time a male calling. I explained to him that someone else had already called, that we had refused to answer any questions and had asked not to be contacted again. His response was, "Ma'am, we're not subject to the Do Not Call List regulations" (done in a very rude tone). My response to him at that point was, "Would you rather that Mr. XXXXX tell you himself that he won't answer your ........." but the dude hung up on me. So, I am expecting another call from these people later since they wouldn't take no for an answer twice now.

Anyway, according to the FTC.gov site, survey takers are exempt as are non-profits, politicians, etc. However, my question is, once you've told them not to call back, are they bound to honor that request? Those that are subject to the dnc regulations are bound to honor the request, but I cannot find a definitive answer relating to those calling with a survey (technically, if they do not offer a service or attempt to make a sell within their survey, they are exempt). Can someone enlighten me? I don't like having to get rude, but it's getting to that point. I'd rather state that we are not interested and ask them to not call again, but it doesn't appear that those words in that combination are in their vocabulary.

[Broomjockey]

Not being in the US I can't give you a definititive answer, but if you track the times and number of calls, and maybe record a couple (if legal where you are), you could make a case for harrassment.

One thing though, is that a lot of the time, they do have to hear "I'm not interested" from the person they're asking to speak to.

[tropicsgoddess]

Tell them you're not interested. I would check if it's legal to record the conversations just as a CYA. If you have caller ID, log down the time and dates you received calls from that organization, get the rep's name(s). You could request to speak with a supervisor and inform them of the calls and/or submit a formal complaint to the organization for harassment if they continue calling you after you have specifically requested more than once.

[Luna Baby]

Thanks for the replies. I purposely do not have caller id on our landline as we really only have it just for the "just in case" stuff. We usually use our cell phones. My land line only costs about $20 a month, much cheaper than adding a 3rd line to our cellular service for the kids.

Anyways, from what I've gathered online, to make a harrassment charge stick, I'd have to 1) record the date/time 2) record the conversation to include the name of the rep and the company 3) they would have to cuss, threaten or otherwise make me feel uncomfortable (simply calling multiple times doesn't count).

I always thought that even those that were exempt from the do not call list regulations still had to remove you from the calling cue if you asked them to, but I can't find anything to back me up on that. I am going to call the number to the attorney general's office on Monday to confirm that. Years ago, a satellite company (Dish Network) kept calling with an automated system that kept telling me that I had an outstanding bill and must call immediately. I returned their calls each time telling them who I was and why I was calling. They had no record of me having an outstanding bill (even when searching by phone number) and even after I'd ask them to put me on their internal dnc list, there would be 7-8 calls per day from that danged automated system. I told them the last time I called that I was forwarding all my information to the attorney general's office. I thought that would shut them up. They called again before I could get the caller I.D. list out and the email typed to the A.G's office. I repeated my demand for removal and proceeded to send the email to the A. G.'s office. Funny how the calls were stopped immediately. I just wonder how big their fine was:D.

Anyway, I will persist in my quest for information, online as well as telling them not to call anymore (hubby is hesitant to talk to anyone like a surveyor or telemarketer since he gets really angry really quick with stuff like that). If anyone else has any information, please post it for me-I appreciate it so much.

Thnx

[edible_hat]

If it's anything like the Australian do not call list, you can still get harrassed by:

-surveys
-charities
-political parties
-companies you've had any contact with at any time in the past
-companies with overseas call centers

[Chanlin]

47 CFR 64 deals with telephone laws.

47 CFR 64.1200 specifically deals with telemarketing.

http://www.stopjunkcalls.com/64120.htm

For what I can tell reading through it Tax Exempt and Not For Profit organizations are not required to comply with the Do not Call List nor are they required to keep a list of person who have requested not to be called.

However with the other advice given here if you have repeatedly asked them not to call you can make a case for harassment.

[BookstoreEscapee]

If they are asking specifically for your husband, I would suggest letting him tell them, politely, that he is not interested. Maybe they do need to hear it from the person they are asking for (if not by law, perhaps by the rules of the organization that employs them). If after that, they continue to call, you might have to take things further.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

If you tell them you aren't interested, they can keep calling.

What you have to tell them is "Do not call me again."

And yes, if they keep calling after that, it's harrassment.

[Mighty Girl]

If they are bound by such rules, then they must just ignore them as we get calls from people all the time. I used to try to be nice, but they frequently got rude with me so I just hang up. What REALLY ticks me off is the Ohio Troopers Coalition. I have told these people a million (seriously) times that I am not donating to them, and they keep calling. They even stopped saying their spiel and just say my first name so I would say that it was me and they'd start in.... Oh- and the Scholastic people!!! :mad: Those people totally infuriate me. They start in with the "but we want to send you a free no obligation gift"- guess what- no obligation my butt. They send you the first book- ok fine it's free, then the second one, and if you don't like the second one you can send it back AT YOUR EXPENSE. Well some of their books are so heavy, you're better off buying the book.....Now I just hang up on them too. Naturally they get around the "rule" because I previously bought from them and if you have a previously established relationship with a company, they're totally exempt from the rule.

[Luna Baby]

I know that anyone you've had a business relationship with can call, until you ask them not to anymore. And, survey takers aren't under the same rules as telemarketers unless they try to make a sell of something during the call. I am going to check into the link Chanlin has posted.

Thanks for all your help.

[ditchdj]

I have read that telemarketers are exploiting loopholes in the registry law by masquerading calls as "surveys".

http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2005/07/15/opinion/bare.html

[AnqeiicDemise]

AND a word of advice:

If you ask to be removed from their list and they ask what your telephone number is (say you called in) or verify whtever pertinent information so they don't pester you....


PLEASE provide said information.

Nothing pisses me off more than someone calling in to bark I remove them from our mailing/calling list but refuse to give me any information. I can't make a request to leave you alone if I don't know who the hell you are!

[draftermatt]

So let me get this straight.

They call asking your husband to take a survey, and you say he's not interested. And they get upset because "they aren't bound by DNC"

So I guess they're trying to say that you HAVE to take it since they don't HAVE to stop calling you?

[Emrld]

NAR = National Association of Realtors (to call yourself a Realtor and not just a Real Estate Sales person you must be a member)

True= survey only do not have to follow DNC list

Who knows how many times the male caller had, had people yelling at him about being on the DNC list.

Don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor to help get you off the list.

It can take 24 -48 hours for a list to update. So the second call in the same day is not surprising.

Also, on some systems if an employee pushes the correct button it will put your number back into the que for that day. As in a choice for not home/ no answer/ answering machine.
They are doing their job. They may have to speak to your Husband to remove from the list. That may be the only way to keep their job.

If you keep getting calls see if you can locate your area Realtor Association. (If you need some help PM me with your city and state and I will see what I can do)

[Luna Baby]

So far, we haven't had them call back. We did have one "blank" message on the machine yesterday, but we chose not to pay for caller ID since we only wanted the basic line anyway. I am curious as to why they (realtor type persons) would be calling us, we've not bought or sold a home in less then 3 years, almost 4.

I don't understand why it's so hard to take a no for an answer. AD, it appears from your reply that you work in some type of call center. When you get an answer of "I am not/will not participate", do you still put them back into the que for another call attempt?

I've had the calls before from police officer/fire dpt officials type trying to raise money for the families of fallen officers/fire fighters. All of those calls were either for the KY State Police, city police officers, or paid fire departments. While I did have sympathy for the fallen and their families, the persons calling had no clue as to the knowledge that I already had. Yes, their families are left to pick up the pieces and move on, but my measley $5 wasn't going to do much compared to the large sum of money that was paid out under workers' compensation, and most all of the officers/firemen/state troopers that I've ever been around were smart enough to also invest in a reasonable amount of life insurance. When the calls would start, I would politely decline. Then the pressure would pile on with each no they received. I would finally have to explain all of the above and to how I knew this (I had actually [unfortunately, as well] worked multiple claims under W.C. and knew the numbers well). By the time I was done with my speel, they were ready to move on to the next caller.

I try to be patient and polite as I do understand that these callers are just doing their jobs and trying to make a living. I just get ticked when they persist or get rude with me first. At that point I reiterate that we are on the DNC list and have now made my request to be placed on their internal list and hang up the call. Am I doing anything wrong?

[edible_hat]

So let me get this straight.

They call asking your husband to take a survey, and you say he's not interested. And they get upset because "they aren't bound by DNC"

So I guess they're trying to say that you HAVE to take it since they don't HAVE to stop calling you?

That's when it's time for this trick...

"Would you like to take a survey?"
"What are you wearing?"
[reply]
"Are you naked?"
[reply]
"I'm naked."

etc.

I bet it won't get further than your second line before they hang up.