   Direct TV fined $5.3 Million for violation of 'Do Not Call' Rule
  for those of you who have Direct TV or have been thinking of getting it, this will be of interest to you. Apparently, according to  CNN Money  Direct TV violated the Do Not call registry by calling people and harassing them, even though it seems it was all through 3rd parties. EEEK!   
  Unfortunately, despite having been on the "No Call" list for quite some time, I still get roughly 10-15 calls from telemarketers and other companies per week.Of course, this is down from the 7-10 *per day* that I was getting before, but the simple fact is that the "No call" list is either blatantly ignored or some companies have found a way around it.For instance, it apparently (as I was told) doesn't apply to charities and not-for-profit companies.  Also, if a company has a previous business relationship with you (or someone who used to have the same phone number, apparently) they can still call.  Case in point: Last night at 8:30pm I received a call from an autodialer, which I categorically hang up on.  5 minutes later, I get a human asking for "David Alexander".  I tell them, "I don't know who the hell sold you this phone number, but there's been no David Alexander here for the four f****** years I've lived here."  They say, "Is this (XXX) XXX-XXXX", I say "Yes it is.  You have the wrong number.  Again."  They say, "Sorry, sir, we'll take your number off the list".  It's the same damned company that still calls three times a week without fail.What crap.I, for one, am extremely glad they (DirectTV) got fined, and I believe they got off easy.  I had almost gotten to the point where I thought the "Do Not Call" rule was simply unenforced/unenforcable.;  drop your home phone service if you can and get only a cell phone. i have yet to get ANY telemarketers..then you can tell them dont call back if you do b/c they are wasting your minutes. or better yet since its the same company you could try to block the number...   ;  I screen my calls.   ;Quote:Original post by OpenGL_Gurudrop your home phone service if you can and get only a cell phone. i have yet to get ANY telemarketers..then you can tell them dont call back if you do b/c they are wasting your minutes. or better yet since its the same company you could try to block the number...I was waiting for an important call last week and I had my cell phone on "vibration" during class.  It rang, and I quickly got out of the class, only to get a telemarketer on the line.  People looked at me funny when I came back into the class.  The poor girl had a rough time with me.   ;  I have two friends who are getting several telemarketers per month (and the rate is increasing) calling their cells, who have told my friends that if they don't want this then they must register their cell phone numbers for a Do Not Call registry as well.Dunno whether they (the telemarketers) are full of crap, but they justify their calls by saying that recently enacted legislation enables them to call unregistered (not in the No Call List) cell phone numbers.I've seen the telemarketing calls as they happen, so I know that they really are happening.  What I don't know is whether my friends have any recourse.   ;Quote:Original post by SilvermystI screen my calls.Me too.  I've started answering "Unknown Caller" calls with "Who are you and what the f*** do you want?"I'm normally quite polite on the phone, but I've truly HAD ENOUGH!!!   ;  Enable call ID blocking on your phone line. Anyone who blocks their own caller ID (or has "Unknown Caller", etc.) must dial a special code and then your number, which makes their number visible to you. In effect, you've screened out all autodialers since they usually won't redial your number with the proper code.   ;Quote:Original post by OpenGL_Guruthen you can tell them dont call back if you do b/c they are wasting your minutes. You can do that with a land line, too.  Legally, they have to comply.  Of course, legally, they probably weren't supposed to be calling in the first place.  So who knows how far that'll take you.CM   ;Quote:Original post by kSquaredEnable call ID blocking on your phone line. Anyone who blocks their own caller ID (or has "Unknown Caller", etc.) must dial a special code and then your number, which makes their number visible to you. In effect, you've screened out all autodialers since they usually won't redial your number with the proper code.Off-topic:  Why is it even possible tough ?  Is there a legitimate reason for wanting to block your caller ID I'm missing ?   