Path: utzoo!utgpu!bnr-vpa!bnr-fos!atreus!keithh
From: keithh@atreus.uucp (Keith Hanlan)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Computer phone soliciters
Summary: Restrictions on use of automatic dialing-announcing devices
Keywords: telephone solicitation
Message-ID: <246@bnr-fos.UUCP>
Date: 16 Jan 89 20:24:48 GMT
References: <3366@sdsu.UUCP>
Sender: news@bnr-fos.UUCP
Reply-To: keithh@atreus.UUCP (Keith Hanlan)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada
Lines: 60
Cc: bnr-vpa!utgpu!ai.toronto.edu!pyramid!sri-unix!hercules!risks

In article <3366@sdsu.UUCP> roetzhei@sdsu.UCSD.EDU (William Roetzheim) writes:
>
>  I hate phone solicitations of all types.
The novelty wears off very fast doesn't it?
...
>  BUT, I am totally at a lose when it comes to computers (recorded voices)
>which call me up to bother me.  I get five or six of these calls per
>week!  Any suggestions for how to wreck havoc with a computer solicitor?

	In Canada, the use of automatic dialing-announcing devices is governed
	by the CRTC General Tariff 6716, Item 4250 ("Restrictions On The Use
	Of Automatic Dialing-Announcing Devices (ADAD)")

	The salient points are as follows:

	2. In order to attach a "Restricted ADAD" to the Company's
	   facilities, the customer must so advise the Company, in writing,
	   specifying the kind of ADAD to be connected and providing
	   estimates of the volume, duration, and time distribution of calls
	   expected to be made on a daily basis.

	4. A Restricted ADAD shall not be used for sequential or random
	   dialing.

	5. A Restricted ADAD shall be disconnected within 10 seconds after
	   the called party hangs up.

	6. Calls from a Restricted ADAD shall commence with a statement
	   specifyingthe identity of the caller, the nature of the call, and
	   that the called party may terminate the call by hangin up.

	7. Calls from a Restricted ADAD may only be placed between 9:30AM
	   and 8:00PM Monday through Friday, between 10:30AM and 5:00PM on
	   Saturday and between 12:00 Noon and 5:00PM on Sunday.

	9. Telephone service to a Restricted ADAD may be discontinued 5 days
	   after notice from the Company of any violation of these or
	   restrictions or 1 day after notice of a violation of these
	   restrictions that results in network congestion or blockage.

The most interesting rule, in my view, is the stipulation that the
called party must be told that he can terminate the call by hanging up.
In my, admittedly limited, experience I have never heard this piece of
information.

After talking to Bell Canada, I learned another point. It is possible to
pick up the phone and call their business office and asked to be removed
from the list that they provide to the company which sells these lists.
There is no charge or writing required.

I would be interested to learn how the corresponding laws vary in other
places.

I have cross-posted this query to comp.risks as well. I suspect that
this issue has been hashed there before and that a suitably large body
of experience could offer other suggestions and related issues.

Keith Hanlan
Bell-Northern Research
{uunet!attcan!}utgpu!bnr-vpa!bnr-fos!bmers6!keithh <- haven't tried this yet