2 posts and columns on telemarketing

Two Years and 30,000 Complaints Later, FTC Finally Busts Car Warranty Robocallers [UPDATED]

in News on May 18, 2009 at 8:46 am PT

After more than one billion unsolicited calls and some 30,000 complaints–one from Senator Charles E. Schumer–the Federal Trade Commission is finally going after companies responsible for those supremely annoying car warranty robocalls. You know the ones I’m talking about, I’m sure. They’ve been occurring since 2007 and go something like this: “This is the second notice that the factory warranty on your vehicle is about to expire.” Hang up and the machine calls you again later. Transfer to a “warranty specialist” and ask to be taken off the call list and you’re either hung up on or, in my case, given an 800 number to call that turns out to be a phone sex line.
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Voices

Verizon Wireless Hunts Wabbits

in News on February 26, 2009 at 6:27 am PT

Verizon Wireless filed a lawsuit against the film company behind “The Velveteen Rabbit,” accusing it of illegal telemarketing practices. The suit, filed late Tuesday, says Feature Films for Families made nearly 500,000 calls to Verizon Wireless customers from a 917 number. When answered, the caller played a recorded ad or read a script promoting the movie.