It seems like every time there is an impending election, there is a spike in robocalls.
I don’t think that I know of anyone who enjoys those kinds of phone calls.
What you need to know about those Robocalls
Robocalls are those phone calls that are pre-recorded phone calls that call your phone.
They are usually hooked up, or dialed, to your phone by a computer. Technology has made this kind of ‘marketing’ easy and cheap to do.
Did you know that there are some kinds of robocalls that are okay to make?
The FTC says that there are some robocalls that are perfectly legal to make.
It’s probably no shock that many of these ‘legal’ phone calls are legal thanks to the folks who voted that they can be and are using them to sway our votes or even opinions.
You’ve probably gotten robocalls about candidates running for office, or charities asking for donations. The FTC says that these robocalls are allowed.
When robocalls are not allowed is when you receive a call that is a recorded sales message. And if that sales message is from someone who you haven’t given your written permission to get calls from it is illegal. The FTC also says that in addition to the phone calls being illegal, their pitch most likely is a scam.
Why are we still getting robocalls? What we need to know....
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Here is what is new with regulations on these robocalls.
The FTC says that scammers want our money
These scammers don’t want to get caught taking what is ours.
That’s why fraudulent telemarketers ask people to pay with systems that deliver a quick, anonymous cash payout like cash-to-cash transfers or cash reload card PINs.
It’s now illegal for telemarketers to ask for payment by:
cash-to-cash money transfers — like those from MoneyGram and Western Union
PINs from cash reload cards like MoneyPak and Vanilla Reload
If a telemarketer asks you to use one of these payment methods, he’s breaking the law.
This also bans telemarketers from calling to ask for your bank account information and using it to create a ‘remotely created check’ that you never see, or sign. If a telemarketer you haven’t done business with calls to ask for your bank account number for any purpose, say ‘No’ and hang up.
You have other protections under the Rule, including:
limits on when telemarketers can call and what they must tell you
limits on “hang-up” calls and rules about transmitting caller ID
limits on robocalls
the National Do Not Call Registry
If you hear from telemarketers who don’t follow the rules, hang up and report them to the FTC.
What to do if you get a robocall:
Hang up the phone. The FTC warns to not press 1 to speak to a live operator and don’t press any other number to get your number off the list. If you respond by pressing any number, it will probably just lead to more robocalls.
Can you block that number? Consider contacting your phone provider and asking them to block the number, and whether they charge for that service. Remember that telemarketers change Caller ID information easily and often, so it might not be worth paying a fee to block a number that will change.
Report your experience to the FTC online at or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
What Prerecorded Calls Are Allowed?
Some prerecorded messages are permitted — for example, messages that are purely informational. That means you may receive calls to let you know your flight’s been cancelled, reminders about an appointment, or messages about a delayed school opening. But the business doing the calling isn’t allowed to promote the sale of any goods or services. Prerecorded messages from a business that is contacting you to collect a debt also are permitted, but messages offering to sell you services to reduce your debt are barred.
Other exceptions include political calls and calls from certain health care providers. For example, pharmacies are permitted to use prerecorded messages to provide prescription refill reminders. Prerecorded messages from banks, telephone carriers and charities also are exempt from these rules if the banks, carriers or charities make the calls themselves.
Are you on the “Do Not Call” registry?
You can register online at donotcall.gov, provided you have a working email address, or by phone, by calling toll-free 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the number you wish to register. Registration is free.
Sometimes companies that use the robocall technology don’t bother to screen for numbers on the national Do Not Call Registry.
The law requires telemarketers to search the registry every 31 days and avoid calling any phone numbers that are on the registry. If you receive telemarketing calls after you have registered your telephone number and it has been in the registry for 31 days, you can file a complaint at donotcall.gov or by calling toll-free 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). You will have to know the date of the call and the company’s name or phone number to file a do not call complaint. A telemarketer who disregards the National Do Not Call Registry could be fined up to $16,000 for each call.
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