# Are automated telemarketers legal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-automated-telemarketers-legal/305711>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 27, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-automated-telemarketers-legal/305711 "2005-05-27T03:28:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-automated-telemarketers-legal/305711/1 "2005-05-27T03:28:34Z")

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Is it legal for telemarketers to call you with a pre-recorded message instead of a live salesperson? If it’s not what can be done to stop them. I ask because I’ve been getting almost daily calls from some satellite TV company telling me to press 1 to speak to a salesperson and 2 to be removed from their list. Pressing 2 hasn’t worked.

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**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-automated-telemarketers-legal/305711/2 "2005-05-27T03:33:23Z")

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No, it’s not. Google JunkBusters for cites. The problem with pressing 1, though, is that you probably _won’t_ get a salesperson, but they’ll say “one will be in contact.” Meanwhile, you’ve given them permission to call you!