Telemarketers, Collectors Target Cells Phones w/new legislat

Boy VL is in trouble now.

I don't have any money allocated to lobby against this, so I don't understand what contacting reps will do? Don't you have to pay to play?

Science Chic wrote: www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/...nformation-call-act-
Telemarketers, Collectors Could Target Cells Under "Mobile Information Call Act": Chuck Schumer
ICYMI: Bill collectors and telemarketers would be able to robocall cell phones under legislation seeking to end 20 years of consumer protection, New York’s senior senator said.
BY Celeste Katz
November 21, 2011 5:13 PM

The innocent-sounding “Mobile Information Call Act” would allow all sorts of nuisance calls to cell phones, eating into customers’ costly minutes, Sen. Chuck Schumer warned Sunday.

Towns and the entire House Energy and Commerce Committee already got an earful at a recent hearing when consumer groups blasted the bill.

“What politician in his right mind would support this?” asked John Berigan, 44, of Park Slope, who uses his cell phone for his real estate business. “It would seem that some lobbyist in Washington has gotten to [Towns],” he said.

Current law bars telemarketing calls to cell phones unless the customer has given approval. The proposed change would allow prerecorded “informational” calls to be made to cell phones without consent.

You can sign a petition here , or call or email your representative to tell them what you think about this legislation.

It really doesn't matter if these phone calls are "legal" or not, the telemarketing companies won't obey the laws, at least not for long. It's a cat and mouse game. Just like the current federal "dnc" (do not call) list. Depending on the amount of business these telemarketers generate determines if they are going to follow the law or not. Many times the occasional fine they get from an actual complaint is simply seen as a business expense. I suspect the same thing would happen with any cell phone restrictions.

I know, I've done programming work for telemarketing firms, small and large. I'm well aware of the "business model" they follow in regards to "do not call." And I assure you, you loose. I don't like it either, but that's the facts.

I get calls from unknown numbers from out of state on my cell phone now and I'm on the gov's do not call list.