How to Stop TeleMarketers From Calling or Texting You
With the advent of caller ID, many individuals can now dread calls from pesky telemarketers. While these calls may sometimes result in the purchase of a needed product or service, in most instances, the aggressive sales tactics of telemarketers causes many individuals to stop accepting these calls. However, it is possible to stop telemarketers from calling or texting altogether.
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Instructions
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Request a stop to the calls and texts through the telemarketing company contacting you. In most instances, you can reply to the texts with a "STOP" or ask to be put on the company's own "Do Not Call" list. Try this method first, as it is the easiest way to eliminate the calls.
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Enter your phone number on the Do Not Call registry. This is a national database administered by the Federal Trade Commission. It stipulates that if your name and phone number is on the registry, telemarketers are prohibited from making telephone solicitations to your phone number, according to the FCC website. This includes text messages. You can either enter your number via phone or Internet.
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Make it clear to businesses with which you have an established relationship that you do not want them to contact you to do further business via phone, either through calls or via text. This is the loophole that many telemarketers use to get to you. The FCC stipulates that even if your number is on the Do Not Call list, if you purchased a product or service from a business in the last 18 months, they have the right to solicit you for further business. However, once the 18-month time period ends or you tell the business not to contact you, the Do Not Call rules take effect.
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File a complaint with the FCC. If telemarketers contact you despite your phone number's presence on the directory, you do have some recourse. Visit the FCC website or contact the agency via phone and file a complaint against whatever company that failed to follow your requests. The company will receive a warning against contacting you again or even incur a fine for the violation -- especially if the telemarketing company has several complaints. Your state can also bring a lawsuit against the company that violated the registry, which may happen for companies that repeatedly offend.
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References
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