Robocall ban: Report offenders here

Summary

Some of those annoying pre-recorded telemarketing calls are now history. The FTC has banned robocalls starting Tuesday, with a number of exceptions. Find out who can call and who can't, and how to complain.

Story Published: Sep 1, 2009 at 10:04 AM PST

Story Updated: Sep 1, 2009 at 10:03 AM PST

Robocall ban: Report offenders here

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.

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