Telemarketing Blocking website flooded with hits!

[weatherwunder]

BISMARCK, North Dakota (AP) -- Internet users eager to join North Dakota's new "do-not-call" telemarketing list flocked to a registration Web site Thursday, causing delays for some who wanted to sign up early.

"The recognition of the citizens, that they value their privacy, and value their own private time, is something that led to the need for this," said Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who opened the Web site.

Its effect will not be immediate. A state law that imposes new restrictions on telemarketers does not take effect until August 1, and sales callers who ignore it will not face penalties until November 1.

Thousands already on list
Internet users who visit the attorney general's Web page will see a link advertising the registration process. The list is for residential and wireless telephone numbers. Registrants are required only to list phone numbers, not names, and the process is encrypted to help ensure privacy.

Early Friday, more than 9,200 phone numbers had been put on the list, said Liz Brocker, a spokeswoman for Stenehjem. System difficulties caused delays for some North Dakotans who wanted to sign up on Thursday, but Brocker said she believed those had been resolved.

"It was a combination of huge amounts of security, and the number of people who were trying to get on at once," she said.

Stenehjem said a toll-free number will be available within the next three weeks for North Dakotans who want to register by telephone. The list is exempt from the state's open records law.

Lists growing
More than two dozen states have similar "do-not-call" lists, including Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the Direct Marketing Association, a trade group based in New York City. The Federal Trade Commission is establishing a national list, and intends to begin taking registrations in early July.

Stenehjem said North Dakotans who sign up for the state list will automatically have their phone numbers put on the federal list.

However, North Dakota law, instead of FTC rules, will prevail for telephone customers in the state, the attorney general said. He believes that is an advantage for North Dakotans, because the state law has fewer exceptions for telemarketers.

Having one's phone number on the no-call list does not bar any type of sales call. North Dakota law exempts charities that use their own employees to solicit, and companies that have had a business relationship with the customer being called within the previous two years.

Political parties, organizations and candidates are exempt, as are public opinion pollsters. However, the law does ban the use of automated, prerecorded sales calls -- which have been used in some political campaigns -- unless the call is introduced by a live operator.

The FTC rules have more exemptions, allowing unsolicited calls from banks, insurers and long-distance telephone companies.

Taking offenders to court
Stenehjem said North Dakotans who get unwanted calls after they put themselves on the list should try to get information from the callers. The information could be used to take the telemarketer to court.

The law gives customers the option of suing telemarketing scofflaws for up to $2,000 in damages for each errant call. The attorney general also may seek civil penalties of up to $2,000 per incident.

"It doesn't help us too much if somebody will call and say, 'I just got called by a telemarketer. Go get 'em.' We need to know who it was that called," Stenehjem said. "We will provide some information on our Web site ... to alert people that when you do get a call, you need to get a certain amount of information."

[weatherlover427]

I will be signing up for this asap.

[David]

I've BEEN signed up for a while on the Kansas State No-Call List.

[Guest]

I sure hope they get this law here in Ohio and in De because i will be the first to sign up for it...............Its about time......

[ColdFront77]

Haven't heard of having telemarketer calls being blocked in Florida, either. I am sure a lot of people would take advantage of this. I don't see how this can't put telemarketers out of business.

[Guest]

Thats for sure Tom.............They still have snail mail and other avenues like here on the internet................Either way i surely wouldnt miss the Ten calles atleast on average i get on my phone a day from them people and i know my wife wouldnt seeing how she answers it the most...............

[breeze]

I have Privacy Director on my BellSouth phone service.
It's $5.95/month added to my phone bill. It requires the party
with their number blocked to identify themselves and wait for
me to accept, and, fortunately, most telemarkers don't have
time for that - it's been a blessing - peace and quiet!

[Aslkahuna]

telemarketer calls anymore for two reasons, first off, I'm usually online and using the phone frequently during their prime calling hours (I eat a late supper) so they can't get through and secondly, when they do I am deliberately and extremely rude to them and cut them off before they can even start their spiel.

Steve

[stormy]

with calller id its easy not to answer the phone. i am so tried of ppl (telemarketers) calling up to 930 at night. its just plan rude, and they always call around dinner time. i wish alabama had this law.

[ColdFront77]

Caller ID here. It says "Unknown Caller" when a telemarketer calls, we let it ring and they may leave a message/give their spiel.

[weatherlover427]

I get some calls where my answering machine will pick up and I will hear some clicking noises, then it will disconnect and hang up. I am so annoyed by these (3 on Saturday ALONE while I was at my mom's) that I might get my phone number changed. :o