| Comment Number: | OL-113821 |
| Received: | 1/10/2005 2:50:40 PM |
| Organization: | Three Forks Farm |
| Commenter: | Wayne Matthews |
| State: | TX |
| Subject: | Trade Regulation Rule on Telemarketing Sales |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 310 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
1. What is the effect (including any benefits and costs), if any, on consumers? Since enactment of the current "no-call" list, I have had very few problems with individuals calling during the evening hours or when my family and I are having dinner. I do not want to receive telemarketing calls whether they are by an individual or a pre-recorded message. 1. Are ``hang-up'' calls and ``dead air''--the two harms that prompted adoption of the current call abandonment provisions--likely to arise from telemarketing calls that deliver a prerecorded message to consumers with whom the seller has an established business relationship? Yes 2. Is it likely that consumers will receive more unwanted telemarketing calls under this proposed new safe harbor? Yes 3. What are the costs and benefits of obtaining consumers' prior consent before contacting them with prerecorded telemarketing messages? The telemarketers will not obtain this consent as it would be too costly. In addition, I do not want numerous telemarketers calling me using this (obtaining a consent) as an excuse to discuss their product. 4. Is there any data as to how many consumers choose to opt out of prerecorded telemarketing calls currently? What mechanisms are used to allow consumers to opt out of prerecorded telemarketing messages? At what point in the course of the message are consumers given the opportunity to opt out? Does the industry follow a standard practice as to when in the call a consumer must be given the opportunity to opt out? I do not want to listen to a "sales pitch" before I am offered the opportunity to opt out.