ALBANY, N. Y. – Telemarketers have been getting around the state’s Do Not Call Law by using prerecorded “robo-calls” calls and other tactics. Now an update to the law has been approved that, among other things, extends it to cover “robo-calls” and those that only leave recorded messages, according to Mindy Bockstein of the Consumer Protection Board.
“So, if a telemarketer leaves a voice message on an answering machine of a telephone number that was registered on the Do Not Call Registry, that could be deemed a violation.”
The new provisions also say unsolicited callers have to state the material terms of their offer at the outset of the call, and they cannot call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
The Consumer Protection Board enforces the Do Not Call Law, which first took effect in 2001. Bockstein says a lot of people still don’t know how easy it is to register their numbers on the list.
“While there are more than 12 million New York telephone numbers on the registry – we are one of the leaders – we continue to inform and educate, and raise awareness about the importance of this particular protection.”
You can get on the national Do Not Call list by registering your home number – and/or your mobile phone number – online at www.donotcall.gov. Once you’re on the list, you’re on it for good, says Bockstein. You can ignore those bogus email messages that circulate, urging you to act before your cell phone number is given to telemarketers.
“Those are scams. That’s a way of trying to capture your personally-identifying information and it’s a way of possibly falling victim to identity theft.”
Gov. David Paterson says he’ll sign the law, which will take effect four months after his signature.
