The FCC Considers Ramping Up Crusade Against “Robo Callers”

[Purveyor]

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) already has regulations concerning the use of automated (predictive) dialers to cellular phone numbers. The FCC has proposed several new regulations that would curtail the use of automated pre-recorded message dialers and automated dialing systems.

If adopted, the changes to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act would limit the use of prerecorded calls and automatic telephone dialing systems.

The stricter guidelines proposed by the FCC on Jan. 20 have debt-collection companies in an uproar. Right now, non-sellers can make “autodialed” or prerecorded calls to wireless numbers. The ARM or “account receivable management” professionals claim they had consumers’ “prior express consent” for those calls when the customer provided a cell phone number on a credit application.

Debt collectors have expressed outrage about the plan on insider Web sites. A few suggested suing debtors as a way to get even for the new restrictions. Some blamed voting in liberal Democrats when Republicans have been “traditionally better for the ARM (Accounts Receivable Management) industry.” ~ source Delco Times

If adopted debt collectors are suggesting they will sue consumers in retribution if the new guidelines are approved, even though it is the US Government taking the action.

This is exactly why I (Allen Harkleroad) wrote the book, “Stick it to Sue Happy Debt Collectors”. I say let them sue and then the consumer can beat them in court. It is a sad fact that only one out of ten consumers respond to a debt lawsuit, and 90 percent (or more) the debt collector had not physical proof that a debt is owed. It is time for the bad lawsuits to go away, consumers must fight for their rights.

http://www.statesboro.biz/News/436/The-FCC-Considers-Ramping-Up-Crusade-Against-Robo-Callers.aspx

[wtmusic]

1. In CA there's virtually a summary judgement against junk faxers

My BIL lawyer makes a very good living shutting them down.

[aquart]

3. Just thinking of that brightens my day.

[cbdo2007]

2. We need to get laws implemented for Robo-calls from politicians.

I don't need 3-4 per day during election season from people I know i'm voting against.

The trick about robo-calls is that it's impossible to ever get taken off of their calling list. At least is a debt collector calls my number for someone who use to have my number, I can tell them, "Look, I just got this phone number a week ago. My name is ___ _____ and I have no idea who the person is you're looking for. Don't call again or I'll report you to the attorney general." You can't do that with a robo-call.

[Lasher]

4. Reminds me of the time I kept getting robocall voice mail messages on my cell phone.

It was a collection agency acting on behalf of GMAC. The only way to get them to stop was, you have to call them. And push buttons galore to get through. And wait. I had to enter my account number. I didn't have one. At length I figured out a way to get through to a human being. Someone else had furnished my cell phone number, apparently at random, when they filled out a credit application with GMAC.

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. SC rules Robo-callers people on 5-4 judgement.