Cell Phone Directory Coming Soon 219
applemasker writes "According to this story on Yahoo News via the L.A. Times, an upcoming cell phone directory which supposedly includes 75% of all cell users is in the works. Some people are already receiving cell phone spam and telemarketing calls. Worse yet, unless you opt-out at the beginning of your contract, some carriers such as T-Mobile can gladly hand over your info (though the article says that T-Mobile is changing the contract now). Some good news though, Verizon Wireless has said that it will not share its customer lists. Still, maybe it's time to submit your cell number to the Do Not Call List if you haven't done so already." We had a related story last year.
Do Not Call List (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Do Not Call List (Score:5, Interesting)
Conversely (and perhaps slightly O/T), I've always been suspicious of the Do Not Call list, because if you consider it, on one hand it's like a free list that unscrupulous telemarketers can get and spam, and on the other hand, the "gub-mint" can link you email address to your phone number. (We can't call but we can sure spam that email account!) Of course you can get around it by using a quick free e-mail (like yahoo or hotmail) but who do you know outside of us savvy
Re:Do Not Call List (Score:3, Informative)
I believe there is a charge for the list, and they have to get the list quarterly.
Strangely enough, the Direct Marketing Association feels that it is necessary to charge people $5 to help get them off the list [dmaconsumers.org] if they do it online! What a scam. They don't link to the official site [donotcall.gov] at all.
Re:Do Not Call List (Score:3, Informative)
https://www.donotcall.gov/FAQ/FAQConsumersNew.aspx
[donotcall.gov]
Q: Can I register my cell phone number?
A: Yes.
This was true when the list was first started as well.
Re:Do Not Call List (Score:2)
Get on the national DNC list(s). Get on any local ones. If/When you get calls anyway, get on their company specific list. Put your dog on the list.
Re:Do Not Call List (Score:5, Insightful)
I still use the same old line that I used before the DNC list "I do not ever, ever respond in any way to unsolisited telephone calls of any type. Please take me off your list and I hope that you have a nice day ".
Expensive (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Expensive (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Re:Expensive (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Expensive (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Expensive (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
At the same time, like spammers, many telemarketers don't care about the law.
I never put my cell phone on the national (or state) Do Not Call list, because I'm not receiving telemarketing calls to it anyway. I've had 2-3 since I've had it, and I've had
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Good point. Well it's good for once to have a law written for the protection of the consumer, rather than the business.
Roaming (Score:5, Funny)
Sure i might have free minutes when i'm in colorado, or even the usa. But if i fly home to britain i'll be paying for every second.
Another peeve of mine is that they don't consider the time of day where your phone terminates.. as such when i was living in the UK, i'd get telemarketer calls at 1am since I found it convenient to have a 303 (Denver) number.
It should be illegal to call a phone if it's possible that it rings in a country where it's after 9pm.
Re:Roaming (Score:2)
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Re:Expensive (Score:3, Interesting)
1) Telemarketing cell phones is definately illegal while the spam laws are worthless.
2) Telemarketers can be easily traced and caught while spammers cannot.
I have gotten two telemarketing calls on my cell phone (both of which were quasi-legitimate purchase "follow-up" calls) and both times when I told them I was on a cell phone they immediately
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Its a damn good thing(tm) that bandwidth, disk storage, and my time are not wasted on other unwanted marketing ploys.
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Re:Then how come i see MSCE CISCO BOOT CAMP faxes. (Score:2)
Re:Expensive (Score:2)
Nonetheless, I have received marketing calls with the originating number blocked to my cell phone. Moreover, my cell is a company phone and offically billed as such.
When the blockhead got thru he kept repeating he was not a company - whereas I kept saying I was and did not want any unsolicited calls.
Regarding faxes: on my last assignment a very large firm was receiving unwanted faxes. Some could be easily classed as spam. There I saw nothing done to stop the practice. Hence, while illeg
Never get calls (Score:5, Interesting)
As soon as I get a telemarketer calling my cell phone, I demand their name, number, organization, address, etc. (as the DNC registry stipulates). Then I will inform them that I will be sending a bill to that address to recover the cost of the minutes that their company just used for me.
Once, I got a telemarketer and as soon as I realized who it was I informed them that it was a cell. She apologized profusely and voluntarily put me on their do-not-call list.
I'm in Indiana, so we have a stricter DNC anyway.
Wish that worked for spam (Score:2)
Re:Never get calls (Score:2)
Re:Never get calls (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Never get calls (Score:2)
I get those from telemarketers all the time; when I come home in the evening, I check my call display, and call back #'s I don't recognize.. At least once every week I get a call from a phone # that the number is not in service.
... similar in UK (Score:2)
Clever idea though.
Re:Never get calls (Score:2)
I thought the Federal DNC law pre-empted any local laws. I thought that's why some people were upset at the federal law when their state had a perfectly good law in place already.
Re:Never get calls (Score:2)
I think a better approach would be to bill the telemarketers for a smaller amount, say $200, and if they challenge it take them to small claims court for the full $500.
Re:Never get calls (Score:2)
Maybe I'm Naive but..... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Maybe I'm Naive but..... (Score:5, Interesting)
However, I'm sure I'm not the only one who views a mobile phone as follows: The phone is for ME to call PEOPLE, not the other way around. The only people I want to receive mobile calls from (indeed, this applies to home line calls as well) are the people to whom I GIVE the number. That's why my home number is unlisted.
I can count on both hands the number of people who have my mobile number, and I like it that way. I would much rather see this directory be opt-in only.
even if you don't register (Score:3, Interesting)
*Phone rings*
Me: who's this? Them: We are calling to see how many children you have..
Me:I have registered this number in the Do not call registry
*click*
There you go
What can i say? I am a lonely guy
Re:even if you don't register (Score:3, Funny)
I love how you answer the phone. No business calls on your cell, eh?
Re:even if you don't register (Score:2)
Re:even if you don't register (Score:2)
Except that survey calls are explicitly allowed by the national DNC list (along with charities and political organizations, and anyone else not selling anything - which unfortunately includes those companies who want to schedule an appointment with you where they will THEN try to to sell you something)
Instant obsolescence? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Instant obsolescence? (Score:2)
Already on the DNC list (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Already on the DNC list (Score:3, Informative)
Great! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Great! (Score:2, Funny)
ICPTG (Shouting at a funeral): I can save how much on my long distance? Sweeeeeeeet!
Terrible!!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
"Wireless carriers say they doubt there will be widespread abuse. They point out that most mobile phones come equipped with caller ID, distinctive ring tones, call blocking and other tools to manage unwanted calls. And several carriers say they have made refunds to subscribers who have received unwanted calls. "
What they fail to understand is that, atleast with my carrier (Sprint), text messages pop up all the time. I have no options to block text messages from certain users, or only allow messages from those in my phone book. I think the biggest area won't be the unwanted calls, but rather the unwanted text messages that cost about as much as it does to send spam messages.
By far.. Worst idea EVER!
Re:Terrible!!!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Terrible!!!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Why bother go through the database? Why not just spend a message to every number possible? It doesn't cost them anything to send the message, so they don't care if it is really in use or not.
Re:Terrible!!!!! (Score:5, Informative)
whitelist sms (Score:2)
A feature to block all messages from numbers not in the phones directory. The phone should just discard them without notifying you at all.
Re:Terrible!!!!! (Score:2)
for ($i=1111111111;$i<=9999999999;$i++)
{
spam($i@most.cell.providers.(com|net));
}
old news (Score:3, Interesting)
In Europe... (Score:2, Informative)
Strange, but true.
(Have Karma, flame away...)
may not be as bad as it sounds (Score:5, Informative)
Before banning a directory... (Score:2)
Re:Before banning a directory... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Before banning a directory... (Score:3, Informative)
From this site [sover.net] (which I believe is standard across land lines):
Jerks (Score:4, Insightful)
For once I thought that something good was being done for the consumer...my mistake.
i have the opposite problem (Score:4, Interesting)
Did you know that you CANNOT get a white pages listing for your cell phone unless you get your cell phone service from your local RBOC?
Try getting a D&B on a number they can't verify with the RBOC!
Re:i have the opposite problem (Score:5, Interesting)
Buy A land line service (Score:2)
Call Me Paranoid... (Score:2)
Trust no one.
Re:Call Me Paranoid... (Score:2)
SprintPCS (Score:5, Interesting)
Cell phone spam (Score:4, Interesting)
FCC and Rulemaking! (Score:3, Interesting)
Verizon sucks (Score:5, Insightful)
About a month ago, I got one of those annoying automated calls offering me "great new services" through Verizon. The recording said "Push 1 for more information".
So, I pushed '1' and waded went through several levels of systems until I could talk to a human. I asked him to set all my privacy preferences to prohibit any further calls or sharing of my personal information, and he was totally lost at how to proceed. He acted as if this was an unprecedented request.. "I don't have any idea how I could do that. We don't have any settings for that in the user accounts."
After spending 30 minutes on the phone with this guy, I was pissed to have wasted so much time and just wanted to hang up. But he agreed to submit some paper form that was supposed to ensure this did not happen again.. He did not inspire a lot of confidence, but I haven't gotten another call.. yet.
Re:Verizon sucks (Score:2)
Re:Verizon sucks (Score:2)
Re:Verizon sucks (Score:2)
Oh, and the fact that the death spiral at landline won't infect the cash cow (wireless) that way!!
I love telemarketers (Score:2)
They are so much fun. As soon as I realize it is them, I put the phone down and walk away for a few minutes. Political callers are the best, as, I usually spout some anti-Capitalist, anti-Democratic stuff their way.
Hm, maybe I should un-register my home phone, I do so love messing with the telemarketers.
Now, my cell is another story. I have an international cell
What a coincidence.... (Score:2, Informative)
I have many friends with cell phones through different companies, and none of the other companies seem to be raising their prices at all because of this bill. T
T-Mobile (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:T-Mobile (Score:3, Insightful)
Let's look at the quote again:
Worse yet, unless you opt-out at the beginning of your contract, some carriers such as T-Mobile CAN gladly hand over your info
No, it does not sound like they are selling personal info. It sounds like the boiler-plate contract that their lawyers created to be as all-encompassing as possible grants them the right to do that (along with probably the right to eat your children and harvest your organs). That is not at all the same thing as actually acting up
This is a pretty pointless story... (Score:3, Informative)
do-not-call webbots (Score:3, Interesting)
src="http://g6589dcs.nyc2.aens.net/DCS000003_6D4Q
Nice of AT&T to be monitoring/logging all the traffic to that site.
I won't register because they have no business associating an IP or e-mail with a telephone number in an opt-out list.
Re:do-not-call webbots (Score:2)
Anyway, turn off javascript if it worries you... They are still gonna get your ip address of course, even w/o JS, so you can still be paranoid.
Re:do-not-call webbots (Score:2)
I wouldn't sign up for the list regardless. It's not a question of paranoia. It's a question of common sense. There are as many loopholes in the DNC system as there are creative ways the government will probably use the information beyond its original intent.
two different networks (Score:2)
Address: 63.240.16.174
Name: donotcall.gov
Address: 206.16.196.198
Aliases: www.donotcall.gov
No ethical reason for a webbot to be in that page, going to a completely separate network. Period.
sweet (Score:2)
I can see it now:
"Hello"
"Is this Paul?"
"yes"
Paul Bozo?"
"yes, who is this?"
"This is the person you just cut off. Have a nice day."
Let the paranoia begin!
75%, I think not... (Score:2)
Off topic a bit but... (Score:3, Interesting)
Telemarketing outside the USA (Score:2, Informative)
(Yes, that means you can receive all the calls you like on your cellular phone for something like $10 US per year to stay connected.)
There are schemes like call-diversion that send calls to (e.g.) your home phone line to your cellphone. In these cases the cellphone user pays because they ma
Cell phone been registered (Score:3, Informative)
However, there are a lot of ways for telemarketers to get around it. First off, they claim its not a sales call, when it fact it damn sure is. Second, they make it look like it was something I requested.
I got 5 calls total from a local (same state) car dealer. They claim I submitted a request via car.com and couldn't verify anything beyond that. They also claimed all of this was via E-Mail and I was talking to a rep for 2 weeks about a car.
a) They couldn't verify my E-Mail address, opps sorry, its listed as unknown or invaild.
b) Its a car I never would buy to begin with.
c) I called there managment each time telling them to stop calling me before I file a complaint.
Needless to say, not only did I file a complaint with the FTC, I also filed a complaint with the BBB and the local police. They are looking into changes being pressed for harrasment.
This is the only problem I have had so far with cell phones and telemarketers. Eitherway, I would be VERY pissed if they called my phone, if I didn't have an unlimited package through nextel, so for me its not a big deal.
I just hope if they are building a directory of cell phone numbers, they include some sort of feature to allow customers to request there names and numbers NOT be included.
If you paid for your calls ... (Score:3, Interesting)
After all, if you want a service (eg. to talk to someone) it seems only fair that you should pay for it and not someone else - when I go to get my hair cut, it's not as if the barber pays me for the privilidge of me coming to him.
Because of this, cold calling by companies to mobile phone users is virtually non-existant.
Re:The solution? (Score:5, Funny)
You should get rid of your computer. Not only will you not get those annoying spams, but you also won't be one of the lucky recipients to get skin cancer 20 years from now because you didn't switch to LCD soon enough. Oh, you know it's coming....
Re:Most cell phone plans have free nights and week (Score:3, Interesting)
The law still applies, as does the one that telemarketers cannot call you on Sunday.
Re:Verizon (Score:2, Informative)
Of course another great reason is that at the rate technology is improving, in a year or two the contract will become a noose. How about when the new plans include unlimited data transfer for less than you're paying for voice only now?
Try one of the prepaid plans. At AT&T for example it's 25 cents/minute (which is high if you use it a lot so it's not suitable for everyone), but there is no contract, no hidden fees like t
Re:Verizon (Score:2)
Also most compaines let you start a new contract with a new plan without penalty even if you are in the middle of a current contract. The contract is just to stay a customer of that carrier, not to make you hate that carrier!
Most prepaid also don't have data, pictures, games, ringtones, and all the other "features" that many people want.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Verizon (Score:2)
"Slashdot, where saying something everyone hates turns you into a Troll even if it makes a point."
You don't seem to truly grok what the purpose of moderation is. Properly understood, it is not a 'reward' or 'penalty'. It is to be ultimately used by readers so that they can read what they find interesting, and block out the "things everyone hates".
Re:Verizon (Score:2)
Plus, it's handy. Pretty soon you will be able to take a picture of something, send it to a supplier, and say "You got any of these?"
It will also be intersting as more and more people have with cameras in everything. Prety soon any event that happens will have dozens of pictures from dozens of angles.
Re:Verizon (Score:2)
> to take pictures?
What about people who don't want to carry around anything that takes pictures? It's getting damn hard to find a new cell phone that doesn't have one of those stupid cameras in it. I can only hope it's a short-lived fad.
Re:illegal??? (Score:5, Informative)
No, it's not. Telemarketing to cell phones is already illegal and has been for some time.
The FCC has information on their website [fcc.gov].
Alternatively (Score:2)
I've gone through 5 different plans in the past 3 years (pay as you go, 1 year plan, etc).
My phone got deactivated once and I had to get a new number.
This book might be horribly inaccurate at some points.
Re:Do not call list doesn't Work Outside of IE (Score:2)
Re:My contract... (Score:2)
Look elsewhere for information about the TCPA, especially the messages here modded up as Informative.