| Comment Number: | OL-105873 |
| Received: | 12/5/2004 12:01:33 PM |
| Organization: | |
| Commenter: | Helen Seal |
| State: | CA |
| Subject: | Trade Regulation Rule on Telemarketing Sales |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 310 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I am opposed to loosening restrictions in a way that will increase the number of pre-recorded messages received by the general public. <p> Pre-recorded messages are more disruptive and annoying than calls by live individuals. They are an abuse of the two way process that is a general expectation of a phone conversation, and their are other methods (such as the mail) for delivering a one way message. They are more annoying than regualr abandoned calls because it takes longer to realize the nature of the call. And they are more annoying because it is a more outrageous abuse of the telephone. <p> Pre-recorded messages provide a very restircted version of information and do not allow the listener to clarify that information, or provide him/her with the ability to return to information that is of may be critical to his/her understanding of the message. <p> Companies abuse this one sided nature. I have received calls from companies that transfer the time burden for getting in touch from them to me. By requesting for instance, that I call back the company only to be placed into call management queues and reach a representative who is unsure why I was called. Generally there has been no indication about the nature of the call or its relationship to any current transactionsI have with the company. <p> Unlike companies, I cannot post business hours on my home phone. Or screen calls for the type of call I'm interested in. Every call I receive uses up my time, often taking me away from other tasks. <p> Comapnies' use of phones for marketing purposes unrelated to a business transaction I have committed to, makes me reluctant to use my phone for the purpose of communicating with others. <p> There are many more appropriate ways to market materials to individuals. Telephones are instruments designed for two way communication. Companies should not be allowed to exploit this for their own benefit to the detriment of society as a whole. <p> Please do not loosen restrictions on companies using pre-recorded messages. Thank you, Helen Seal