From: Mary Bowman-Kruhm I do not feel that the current regulations protect the public from unethical telemarketing practices. I resent getting calls from people who tell me they are not selling me anything, just taking a survey or providing information, when in fact I know full well they are not. My worst example is a recent call. The message was, "Hi, this message is for Mary. This is Jeffrey Colwall (sp?) with the National Consumer Council, 800-555-3991. I'm calling in regard to your consumer credit cards and the high interest rates that they carry. Your record is now in our database and we would be happy to assist and recommend consolidation, cutting your monthly payments in half in most cases. I encourage you to call us here at the NCC. We are a non-profit organization formed to help home owners just like yourself." He went on to add/repeat to this to encourage me to call. My husband and I pay off our credit cards each month and, except for a house loan, are debt-free. When I called to ask what was in their database regarding my record, I found that I had reached a loan service (non-profit?). Jeffrey was on another line and the chap with whom I talked said that they did not, in fact, have my record in a database but, unless they make that statement, people do not return their calls. I indicated my displeasure at their calling and at their tactics and hung up. To me, this is extremely fraudulent and I resent the telephone service for which I pay being used in this manner. Mary Bowman-Kruhm CC: "Kruhm, Carl" |