# So to hell with the No Call List? (Solar telemarketing) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888 "2015-07-11T21:08:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/21 "2015-07-12T08:42:15Z")
30 years ago, I put an answering machine on the line. Many robocalls seem to recognize a machine and hang up. “Thanks for calling - please leave a message”. About 3 seconds and you have my ear. Of course, I’m exceedingly anti-social so the only calls I get are junk or medical. Yeah, I know I shouldn’t have taken that left at Albuquerque… ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/22 "2015-07-12T14:15:09Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > They are an octopus with their **testicles** spread into every nook and cranny… Bolding mine. Was this deliberate? Because it made me laugh really hard. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/23 "2015-07-12T15:20:37Z")
dropdad was a lawyer for Greyhound, the largest US bus company and highly successful in the days before cheap airfares. They were constantly being sued for supposed monopolistic practices, so dinners were filled with talk of anti-trust cases and how much he hated Stevie Nicks’ father. In one case a fellow described The Dog that way. In court. It went down in family history. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/24 "2015-07-12T15:31:10Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Every so often I get a barrage of calls suggesting I could do better by paying a fee to get on the top of the list of on a Google search. just yesterday I got three such calls from different states as it shows up on my call display. Now I think Google provides great services but they still are assholes. > > ETA > top of the list for my business Those calls aren’t actually from Google. It’s a company trying to get you to pay them to improve your ranking in a Google search. Fucking bastards. If you’re getting the calls on an android phone, I’ve found the Truecaller app gets rid of most of them. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/25 "2015-07-12T15:40:07Z")
I wish they’d put charities and political parties on that list, I don’t like them contacting me. Also the do not call list isn’t foolproof, when I was getting telemarketing calls and reported it to the state attorney general I got a form letter back about how the company in question was abusing some loophole in the law. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/26 "2015-07-12T15:44:04Z")
The one I hate are the people who are trying to get me to add athat warrenty to my car. The fun part is its a car that I sold 6 months ago and tell them that doesn’t stop the calls. I’ve tried everything and they won’t stop calling me. Luckily they always seem to call during business hours so I normally spend half an hour jerking them around. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/27 "2015-07-12T20:49:12Z")
The only use for our land line is to snare calls from telemarketers who “have a working relationship” with us, and other DNC loopholes. Any time I have to put a phone number in a box, I use the land line number. Then we just ignore it because no one we want to talk to calls there. Since it’s part of my bundle with the wifi and TV, it doesn’t cost us anything to have it there and very occasionally I’ll use it to fax something. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/28 "2015-07-12T21:43:35Z")
There was a recent Reddit AMA by a lawyer named Jeremy Glapion who sues companies that violate the Do Not Call Registry. He mentioned a recent news story where a woman received over $200,000 for her suit. He talked about the “Telephone Consumer Protection Act” or “TCPA” (that applies to faxes as well). He reports that to protect people from unwanted telephone calls, the TCPA provides for an award of between $500-$1500 per call, but that the fines were different for land lines, cell, VOIP and fax. He said “If you receive two or more telemarketing calls in a 12-month period to your cell or landline and your cell or landline number is on the Do Not Call list, that’s a separate violation, and potentially an additional $500-$1500 per call (meaning up to $3000 per call).” He said there is nothing you can do about the scam and spoof calls. Those guys change their numbers too frequently to get to them. Blocking the number doesn’t help either for the same reason. Of course, being Reddit, somewhere in the long thread there was also some talk about a (mythical?) guy in the midwest who makes a living suing DNC violaters and there was also some talk about how to trick companies into making violations… for which one can then sue. The attorney, of course, advised against that as unethical. He also said he doesn’t sue Mom and Pop establishments because he’s a small business owner himself and understands how hard it can be to find new business. I had a post here at the SDMB years ago about being phone harassed by the Texas State Fraternal Order of Police. That was one weird episode- apparently calling me was very personal for some guy who worked for their fund raiser. Now I almost wish they would call me! I could use the spare change. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/29 "2015-07-12T21:47:06Z")
Hello. This is Rachel from Credit Card Services. Not really. Here is a bit more about what the Reddit AMA attorney Glapion said: "Cell phones: Prerecorded voice and calls (and texts) made using an “automatic dialer” are illegal without consent. For non-telemarketing calls, the consent required can be oral or written, and simply giving your phone number = consent. For telemarketing, consent must be in writing. Political callers and charities are not exempt. This law also includes debt collectors, even for debt you owe, as well as repeated wrong number calls. Landlines: Prerecorded telemarketing calls are illegal without express written consent. VoIP: If you pay per minute or per call, treat like cell phones. If pay monthly for unlimited (or free), treat like landline. Fax: Unsolicited fax advertisement? Illegal. Faxes also need a detailed opt out notice, even if solicited. If not there? Illegal." ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/30 "2015-07-12T22:53:41Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > There was a recent Reddit AMA by a lawyer named Jeremy Glapion who sues companies that violate the Do Not Call Registry. He mentioned a recent news story where a woman received over $200,000 for her suit. This is probably the case he was talking about: [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/07/us-twc-robocalls-idUSKCN0PH2H920150707](http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/07/us-twc-robocalls-idUSKCN0PH2H920150707) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/31 "2015-07-13T03:43:34Z")
The last time I got a political survey I told the guy I was voting for whoever wasn’t calling me non-stop. (I miss being able to slam the phone down on these assholes too. A nice big BANG! Pressing _talk_ just doesn’t quite do it) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/32 "2015-07-13T04:07:58Z")
I keep getting calls from people who want to buy my time share. I have never had a time share, I don’t know where they got my number, but they won’t stop calling. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/33 "2015-07-13T10:50:27Z")
Here in the UK, they’ve found a way around it: they call from abroad. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/34 "2015-07-13T12:42:59Z")
I used to telemarket for solar energy. We were _told_ that our auto-dialler filtered TPS numbers, but I honestly couldn’t tell you if they did. My advice: tell them that you rent. There wasn’t a button on our system for “doesn’t want to be called”, but there were several for “can’t modify building”. You could also pretend that it’s a business number. It’s not as satisfying as yelling at a minimum-wage drone who doesn’t give a fuck and will treat your eloquent tirade as the background noise of the job, but it works, at least if they still use the same systems. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/35 "2015-07-13T12:48:33Z")
The No Junkmail list is a complete waste of time, as well. We’ve started keeping the recycling bin right next to mail box. It’s such a miserable waste. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/36 "2015-07-13T13:52:46Z")
And [here’s a link directly to the AMA](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3cthh6/i_am_attorney_jeremy_glapion_and_i_sue_companies/). Good reading, particularly for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/37 "2015-07-13T15:20:32Z")
I screen and I don’t answer. I’ll google the number and almost every time, it’ll come up as some sort of scammer. I figure if it’s important, the caller will leave a message. Life’s too short to answer bad phone calls. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/38 "2015-07-13T16:52:09Z")
> [@Double\_Foolscap](#): > > I used to telemarket for solar energy. We were _told_ that our auto-dialler filtered TPS numbers, but I honestly couldn’t tell you if they did. > > My advice: tell them that you rent. > > There wasn’t a button on our system for “doesn’t want to be called”, but there were several for “can’t modify building”. You could also pretend that it’s a business number. > > It’s not as satisfying as yelling at a minimum-wage drone who doesn’t give a fuck and will treat your eloquent tirade as the background noise of the job, but it works, at least if they still use the same systems. Believe it or not, I’ve tried the “I just rent” reply. The calls are from many different sources, as if they all trade sucker lists. I’ve even denied I was the party they were calling, or that I lived at the address. They still call. I’m going to try the “It’s a business number” next and see how far that goes. If they ask for a home number, I’ll give the the local FBI landline. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/39 "2015-07-13T18:15:27Z")
I’m another who doesn’t answer calls from people I don’t know, ‘number not available’, or ‘unknown caller’ calls. My wife has a bad habit of giving out our number and email address to charities, and they, along with the DNC, are relentless in wanting you to send more money. If I want to send you money, I can decide to do that without anybody prompting me. In fact, calling me is a good way to insure that I’ll never send you a check again. One of the most persistent robocallers is Synergy Acceptance Corporation. Don’t bother looking it up: they don’t have a website and there is no way to contact them. It’s one of those car loan scammers. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888/40 "2015-07-13T23:34:59Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > We were getting calls from the same number 3 times a day. I went online into my Time Warner account, and blocked the phone number and it worked. So, using called ID, I did that every time we got a call we didn’t want. > > When they try to call they hear a recording that says “The party you are trying to reach is not receiving calls at this time”. > > The phone is blissfully quiet these days. How many numbers can you block? My company only allows me to block 32 numbers plus calls from anonymous callers. I finally went with [NoMoreRobo.Com](http://NoMoreRobo.Com) which is free. The phone rings once and the number is then cut off. We just avoid answering our phone on the first ring. I suspect that the National do not call list is actually used by the criminals as a DO CALL list since they know the numbers will be good. I have no real proof of that, but I did note that my cell phone began getting unwanted calls two days after I added the number to the list. Edit: Unfortunately, cell phone companies do not support NoMoreRobo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-to-hell-with-the-no-call-list-solar-telemarketing/724888.md?page=3)