How to Stop Robocalls

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By Jeanne Grunert
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Robocalls are those annoying telemarketing phone calls that are completely automated. If you've ever received a recorded phone call alerting you that your car warranty has expired, that's a robocall. Other typical pitches include offers to reduce your debt, refinance credit cards, or change the insurance or warranty on your car. Consumers have long complained that it is difficult, if not impossible, to contact a live human being to be removed from the telemarketing call list, and the calls border on harassment. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has put into place a new rule on September 1, 2009 that prohibits pre-recorded telemarketing phone calls for most companies without written permission from the consumer. Here's how to stop robocalls AND avoid accidentally giving your permission to receive them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Notebook or paper
Pen
Computer
Phone

Step 1

To stop getting robocalls, first you must record and note the information associated with any calls you are currently receiving. Keep a notebook and paper and pen by the telephone. When a telemarketing call comes in that is completely recorded, with no human interaction, note the day, time, company name, and offer (extended warranty, etc). If you have caller ID, write down the name of the company or phone number it displays.
Step 2

Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the violation. You can telephone them at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). They also have a website, the National Do Not Call Registry. The URL is in the article resources section. Visit the website and put your name down to stop all telemarketing calls.
Step 3

After September 1, 2009, you must give permission to receive robocalls or automated telemarketing calls. While you may think that you'd never do that, you may accidentally agree to it! Companies offer sweepstakes, contests, and free items online. In the fine print on the "Terms and Conditions" there is a clause to agree to receive telemarketing calls. ALWAYS read the fine print on Terms and Conditions and do not sign!
Step 4

Another way companies harvest permission and sneak it by consumers is in the checkout instructions on various retail websites. While most major consumer websites don't do this, some discounters might. Again, read the terms and conditions.
Step 5

It's important to note that not all automated, recorded phone calls are banned. The following are still legal (so don't report them!): political calls, automated confirmation messages, automated calls from charities. Automated confirmation messages are the type of automated call backs you get from airports and airlines confirming flights, hospitals confirming surgeries or admittance, and drug stores or pharmacies confirming or alerting you that prescription medications are ready. These types of automated calls are still permitted.

Comments

JeanneGrunert said

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on 11/9/2009 I'd be interested in learning more, Cheri. We get calls all the time looking for someone who doesn't live here and who we don't know, and we have asked repeatedly to be taken off their list. If you learn something, please post it!

cheri52 said

on 10/23/2009 There is a gray area where collection agencies use robocalls using just a name like "Bill Jones" and a generic message to call them back at a number about "personal business." This kind of message is often used to contact a third party that does not owe a debt but may know something about a person who does. I think this type of call is illegal as it does not give the true name of the company calling or the real reason of the phone call. All contact from collection agencies are supposed to include their name according to my reading of the Fair Debt Practices of 2006. Have retained a lawyer to see if a class action suit is warranted.

mvalora said

on 9/28/2009 Good tips on how to stop robocalls.