| Comment Number: | OL-113782 |
| Received: | 1/10/2005 2:25:29 PM |
| Organization: | |
| Commenter: | Michael Mackenzie |
| State: | FL |
| Subject: | Trade Regulation Rule on Telemarketing Sales |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 310 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
To Whom This May Concern: Millions of people, myself included, took the effort to add their telephone numbers to the Do Not Call Registry when it was intruduced. Though I do not agree with the scope of the Registry (it's too lenient in that it allows political groups, etc. to call), I did determine that it was better than nothing because it includes penalties for violators and it is centralized. Prior to the introduction of the Registry, I took great efforts to have my name, address, and telephone number removed from mailing and telephone lists, with sporadic success. I am happy to say that most telephone calls I now receive are from people with whom I care to speak. This is why it troubles me that there is now a petition to allow (more) prerecorded telemarketing calls to consumers. If these prerecorded telemarketing calls are allowed, then it would be up to consumers to contact each company individually in order to have his or her name and telephone number removed. How is this not different than before the national Do Not Call Registry came into existence? In an article that appeared on the bankrate.com Web site on 1/10/05, Jesse Crowe, president of Voice Mail Broadcasting Corp., who is petitioning the rule change, states that the opt-out rate for his company is only .2 percent, adding, "Actually, customers really like these messages." I will not allow the president of a company who has a great deal at stake in the outcome of this petition, to speak on my behalf. To say I detest prerecorded telemarketing pitches (or any form of telemarketing) would be an understatement. I'm not going to argue with his statement that the opt-out rate for his company is only .2 percent (I cannot supply any figure), I will ask this: Have you ever tried to opt-out of a company's prerecorded telemarketing calls? It is enormously frustrating, at best. The fact that millions of people have added their telephone numbers to the national Do Not Call Registry should be evidence that these people do not want to receive unwanted telephone calls. Yet, according the the aforementioned bankrate.com article, your "agency stated it had no proof that its rules placed a burden on consumers." This position baffles me but, in the interest of clarity, allow me to tell you it does place a burden on me, and I'm sure I'm not alone. I urge you to deny the petition by Voice Mail Broadcasting Corp. (and any similar petitions that may be placed in the future) in order to maintain the integrity of the Do Not Call Registry. Do not weaken the power of the Registry by regulating downward; instead, regulate upward. If this commission still does not believe that its position places a burden on consumers, and you are still considering granting this petition, may I have all of my telephone calls forwarded to your office? Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Michael Mackenzie