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PROTECTION AGAINST OFFENSIVE JUNK MAIL/JUNK CALLS You may obtain a U.S. Postal Service "Prohibitory Order" on sexually offensive mail advertisements coming to your home. You also have the right to tell commercial telephone and direct mail marketers to stop calling you, and to sue in Small Claims Court if they continue to call. If you request it, the Direct Marketing Association—through its Mail or Telephone Preference Services—will ask subscribing companies to take your name off their lists.
Here is how to register with the Direct Marketing Association: Mail a letter requesting removal from mailing or telemarketing lists to the two addresses below. Include your name, address, city, state, zip code, and phone number.
Telephone Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008 If companies you now do business with also remove your name, you can contact them directly to have your name reinstated. Keep records. If the marketer calls again, you can sue. You may have additional legal rights under state or local law.
TIP: If you receive unordered merchandise in the mail, consider it a gift and be free of pressure to pay for it.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com
Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Thanks for that info, Wayne - those pesky telemarketers tie up my phone all the time, day and night. I even get Chinese faxes sent during the night. Makes me crazy.
Posts: 1859 | From: / | Registered: Nov 1998
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yeah.....I kinda like messing with those telemarketers. Just turn it around and try to sell them signs. (shuts them up real fast)
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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On the face of it this sounds like a good thing-- but-- having gone this route a long time ago on the phone thing I can tell you all that it takes forever for the telemarketers to get the message.
If you are fortunate enough, in your state there should be a "do not call" registry. Here in NY it can--or could-- be done on-line. With this setup the telemarketers get the message a lot quicker.
A couple of caveats, though-- registration is for a limited time-- a year I think, then it has to be done again. There are also exceptions/exemptions to the rule of "do not call". Charitable organizations and companies one has done business with among them.
The state program has so far done a good job for me in getting rid of a lot of nuisance calls, particularly the ones that use multiple dialing and when you answer, no one is on the other end.
Just my .02 FWIW
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA
Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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I got a Telezapper and get much less of those kinds of calls. It zaps the autodialing type calls, which most national marketers use, and tells their computers that its a dead number. Ever get instant hangups ? That's an autodialer connecting with you and no available scumbag, I mean telemarketer, to take the call, but the number is then saved as a good contact for later use. I just wish this thing would render them blind, deaf, mute or something more appropriate.
-------------------- Jim Upchurch Artworks Olympia WA Posts: 797 | From: Olympia, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Jim, I believe you are correct on those hangups...only problem is my parents are old and get these regularly..they worry constantly, even imagining it's my ex husband calling long distance to harrass them....imagine how old people who are prone to worrying are needlessly upset. My Mom used to call me several times a day "I got another one of those calls just now..." She was driving me nuts!!! I finally blocked thier phone number.... (just kidding)
One time I got a call...I was real friendly, and enthusiasticly asked the caller if they would hold a sec while I changed phones...I put it down on the table walked away and forgot about it......
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I think telemarketers are my wife's favorite form of entertainment. She loves playing mindgames with them.
If you really want to get rid of a telemarketer, just ask them if they know Jesus.
Wanda got a call from Chase Bank the other day offering credit cards. She played like she had never heard of Visa or MasterCard. After a while, they just hang up and Wanda has a good laugh.
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