Cell Phone Telemarketing

[Richard]

From what I understand, in 30 days cell phone numbers are going to be released to telemarketers. You then may start to get sales pitches on your cell phone. You will be charged for the telemarketing call!

You can register to have no telemarketing calls, on your cell and regular phone, for 5 years:

www.donotcall.gov


I don't understand how they can allow your private cell phone number to be released. If I walk naked down the street..I can be arrested because you are supposed to keep your privates private. How can they allow a private cell phone number to be available to anyone?

[Corlyss_D]

It's an urban legend, Richard.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

[Richard]

It looks like you're right, Corlyss. Still, I don't trust the 411 directory from falling into the wrong hands.

[Corlyss_D]

I have put my number on the donotcall registry, and I have still gotten a few telemarketing calls. When they start their spiel, I ask 'em "Who is this again?" and when they tell me I respond with "you mean this is an unsolicited telemarketing call to a number on the donotcall registry?" and they hang up immediately. If they leave a number for a callback, I call the number and get all the details about the business and report them to the registry. I don't get a lot of such calls even so.

[Ralph]

To date calls to cell phones from telemarketers are few and far between. The Urban Legend is really making the rounds.