Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!masscomp!peora!tarpit!bilver!bill
From: bill@bilver.uucp (Bill Vermillion)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Retaliate against Robot salesmen (Update)
Message-ID: <1991Apr7.164924.6137@bilver.uucp>
Date: 7 Apr 91 16:49:24 GMT
References: <1991Apr1.033719.899@thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu>
Organization: W. J. Vermillion - Winter Park, FL
Lines: 43

In article <1991Apr1.033719.899@thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu> pierrer@pike.ee.mcgill.ca (Pierre Racz) writes:
>
 
>I have just been harassed for the fourth time this week by a COMPUTER
>calling me up and trying to sell me something.	As a Computer
>Professional, I take offense to this misuse of the technology I helped to
>create and maintain.
 
>Being harassed by phone is really annoying since:
....
>    3 - There is no legislation (not even in the foreseeable future)
>	to protect the citizen from this and other computer related
>	abuses of privacy.

Well if enough people will voice their opinions perhaps your state can do
something.

Here in Florida it is against the law to user computer calling unless the
calling firm has business with the called person.  eg The local Sears
system uses a computer calling and message generating system to tell you
that you repairs are done, or that a serviceman will be at your home at a
specific time.

Also exempt is the state which uses computer calling out of it's State
Revenue division.

On unsolicted calls, the caller must indentify by name and orginization at
the first of the call.   You can also be put on a "non-solicit" list by
PAYING at $10/yr fee (that I think is wrong - it should be free).

All who make unsolicted calls MUST abide by that list.  Two exceptions.
One is charitable orginizations, the others are newspapers soliciting
subscriptions.  (Guess who must have had a lobby at the capitol).

I have seen a drop in unsolicited calls since this went into effect, and in
fact virtually all of the calls I have had in the past year, at least 80%,
have been for charitable donations.   That is quite a switch from the calls
that used to be for aluminum siding, grave sites, etc.


-- 
Bill Vermillion - UUCP: uunet!tarpit!bilver!bill
                      : bill@bilver.UUCP