Story Published:
Sep 1, 2009 at 10:04 AM PST
Story Updated:
Sep 1, 2009 at 10:03 AM PST
To report a pre-recorded call that you believe violates the new FTC robocalls rule, file a complaint with the commission at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
Here's the back story:
Some of those annoying pre-recorded telemarketing calls are now history.
The Federal Trade Commission has banned robocalls starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, unless the telemarketer has written permission from a customer that he or she wants to receive the calls. There are, however, organizations that have received an FTC pass to keep making calls.
It is not a violation of the new rules for any of the following to make a call to your home and use a recorded message:
- Most charitable organizations
- Politicians
- Debt collectors
- Banks
- Telephone carriers and
- Purely informational recorded messages, such as those notifying recipients that "their flight has been cancelled, an appliance they ordered will be delivered at a certain time or that their child’s school opening is delayed," according to an FTC statement.
Outside of the exceptions above, those firms that violate the Sept. 1 rules face penalties of up to $16,000 per call.