Schumer Doesn't Want Telemarketers to Call You

Senator Charles Schumer's latest crusade? Trying to keep the national Do Not Call registry list extended so New Yorkers and other Americans won't have to deal with re-registering.

Back in 2003, the government allowed people to request their phone numbers not be used by a telemarketers for solicitation. The do-not-call period is 5 years, and people would not be able to renew their do-not-call wishes until the period is over. And Schumer says there's a flaw: "They don't tell you when your name falls off. You can call up and get your name back on, but that usually takes two to three months...you'd get a whole lot more calls again."

Schumer has co-sponsored legislation written by Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota. He says there are almost 9 million phone numbers on the Do Not Call list in New York State, with about 3 million in NYC - here's a breakdown from Newsday:

- 212 (Manhattan) 558,563
- 347 (New York City) 164,698
- 646 (Manhattan) 279,738
- 718 (NYC non-Manhattan boroughs) 1,191,369
- 917 (New York City) 799,277

If you haven't signed up, you can put your phone number(s) on the Do Not Call Registry via its website.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 1, 2007 8:21 AM

Comments [rss]

Steve in PA

Another approach to keeping telemarketers away is to sign up at myOculus.com.

The website deals with a pretty straightforward problem—most consumers don’t like telemarketers trying to sell them products that the consumer doesn’t want. The idea with MyOculus.com is that consumers get to choose who contacts them. Plus, consumers can change their choices anytime. If I am in need of siding, I can add that to my list. After I buy siding, I get to remove it. MyOculus.com is a free service. Consumers go to the website and register or re-register for the Do Not Call List. Then, the consumer is given options of more than 350 unique areas of interest from which to select. They then choose the days and times they will allow those calls to be made. They can further choose to be contacted via email or direct mail.

Through the site, consumers can also find guidance for alleviating Internet spam and junk mail. If you sign and request to receive zero marketing calls then you will not get calls. MyOculus.com was conceived in response to requests made by consumers. In August 2004, founder and CEO, Shawn Rohrer, began the process of interviewing and collecting data from consumers. The premise for the business is fairly straightforward: people won’t buy things over the phone that they don’t want. MyOculus.com allows its members to specify their unique areas of interest and the firm commits not to contact them about anything other than the things they’ve specified.

While it is almost impossible to stay invisible to telemarketing efforts, this probably gets you close.

guest

You didn't pledge a $1,000 to the New York Fraternal Order of Police? What if you get locked up and the NYPD asks you for your card?

Gringcorp

I just changed home phone providers, and in the last few days I've had an uptick in calls from telemarketers. I shouldn't think they could do this, unless Time Warner Cable or whoever submitted their list of new numbers to the telemarketers and they didn't cross reference the new ones with the do not call registry. I suspect it's a cock-up, because the gentleman from the New York Fraternal Order of police was very apologetic.

evan e

Isn't there more important shit going on? I despise telemarketers as well but Schumer needs to get his priorities in order.

Jen Chung

#2, you're way more diligent than I am. I have no idea when I registered.

guest

Let's see. Worst case scenario: Your number falls off the list. You get telemarketer calls for a few weeks. You sign back up again. It takes about a month to take effect. OH MY GOD! You get phone calls from telemarketers for six weeks!!!!

Or you could just be responsible and write down the expiration date like I did. I know mine expires next August. Wow. That was hard.