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Save when you make a domestic long distance phone
call by having a good long distance plan
The key to not having to worry about making a domestic long distance
phone call is to have a long distance plan that doesn't charge an
arm and a leg. You can make a long distance phone call from just
about anywhere, but the rate for a long distance phone call can
sometimes be outrageous. Check your current long distance plan and
see what kind of rate you get when you make a domestic long distance
phone call. You may also want to check your rates for an international
long distance phone call. Next, check look for better rates and
find discount long distance
rates to see if you can save any money. The chances are very
great that you can save money.
You can choose a domestic long distance phone call plan according
to where you live in the United States. Long distance providers
change their rates in different regions of the country. Make sure
the long distance provider you go with offers you the best rates
in your region to make a domestic long distance phone call. If you
want to compare the rates for a domestic long distance phone call
simply check out the following discount
long distance rates . Taking the time to do some basic research
can help you save money on your domestic long distance phone call
plan or international plan.
Long Distance Phone Call: Information
About Unwanted Telephone Marketing Calls
Has your evening quiet time been disrupted or your dinner been
interrupted by a call from a telemarketer? If so, you're not alone.
Consumers are increasingly complaining to the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) about unwanted and uninvited calls to their homes
from advertisers and telemarketers.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 was created
in response to consumer concerns about the growing number of unsolicited
telephone marketing calls to their homes and the increasing use
of automated and prerecorded messages. The FCC has rules to aid
consumers who wish to limit these uninvited calls.
Telephone Solicitations
A "telephone solicitation" is a telephone call that acts
as an advertisement. Even if you have an unlisted, non-listed, or
non-published telephone number, you may still receive unsolicited
telephone calls. In some cases unlisted or non-listed numbers can
be obtained from a directory assistance operator. They, along with
non-published numbers, may be sold to other organizations or people
with whom you have done business. Some sales organizations call
all numbers in numerical order for a neighborhood or area.
The FCC's rules prohibit telephone solicitation calls to your home
before 8 am or after 9 pm. Anyone making a telephone solicitation
call to your home must provide his or her name, the name of the
person or entity on whose behalf the call is being made, and a telephone
number or address at which that person or entity may be contacted.
The term "telephone solicitation" does not include calls
or messages placed with the receiver's prior consent, regarding
a tax-exempt non-profit organization, or from a person or organization
with whom the receiver has an established business relationship.
An established business relationship exists if you have made an
inquiry, application, purchase, or transaction regarding products
or services offered by the person or entity involved. Generally,
you may put an end to that relationship by telling the person or
entity not to place any more solicitation calls to your home.
Automatic Telephone Dialing Systems
And Artificial Or Pre-Recorded Voice Calls
Automatic telephone dialing systems, also known as "autodialers,"
also generate a lot of consumer complaints.
Autodialers produce, store and dial telephone numbers using a random
or sequential number generator. Autodialers are usually used to
place artificial (computerized) or prerecorded voice calls. Except
for emergency calls or calls made with the prior express consent
of the person being called, autodialers and any artificial or prerecorded
voice messages may not be used to contact numbers assigned to:
- any emergency telephone line;
- the telephone line of any guest or patient room at a hospital,
health care facility, home for the elderly, or similar establishment;
- a paging service, cellular telephone service, or other radio
common carrier service, if the person being called would be charged
for the call; or
- any other service for which the person being called would be
charged for the call.
Calls using artificial or prerecorded voice messages - including
those that do not use autodialers - may not be made to residential
telephone numbers except in the following cases:
- emergency calls needed to ensure the consumer's health and safety;
- calls for which you have given prior consent;
- non-commercial calls;
- calls which don't include any unsolicited advertisements;
- calls by, or on behalf of, tax-exempt non-profit organizations;
or
- calls from entities with which you have an established business
relationship.
Calls using autodialers or artificial or prerecorded voice messages
may be placed to businesses, although the FCC's rules prohibit the
use of autodialers in a way that ties up two or more lines of a
multi-line business at the same time.
If an autodialer is used to deliver an artificial or prerecorded
voice message, that message must state, at the beginning, the identity
of the business, individual, or other entity initiating the call.
During or after the message, the caller must give the telephone
number (other than that of the autodialer or prerecorded message
player that placed the call) or address of the business, other entity,
or individual that made the call. It may not be a 900 number or
any other number for which charges exceed local or long distance
transmission charges.
Autodialers that deliver a recorded message must release the called
party's telephone line within 5 seconds of the time that the calling
system receives notification that the called party's line has hung
up. In certain areas there might be a delay before you can get a
dial tone again. Your local telephone company can tell you if there
is a delay in your area.
How To Reduce The Number Of Telephone
Solicitation Calls Made To Your Home
The FCC requires a person or entity placing live telephone solicitations
to your home to maintain a record of your request not to receive
future telephone solicitations from that person or entity. A record
of your do-not-call request must be maintained for ten years. This
request should also stop calls from affiliated entities if you would
reasonably expect them to be included, given the identification
of the caller and the product being advertised. Each time you receive
a call from a different person or entity, though, you must request
that that person or entity not call you again. Tax-exempt non-profit
organizations are not required to keep do-not-call lists.
When you receive telephone solicitation calls, clearly state that
you want to be added to the caller's do-not-call list. You may want
to keep a list of those places that you have asked not to call you.
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) sponsors the Telephone Preference
Service (TPS) which maintains a do-no-call list. DMA members are
required to use this list. Once you register, your name stays on
file for 5 years. You may register (for free) by mailing your name,
phone number and signature in a letter to:
DMA Telephone Preference Service
Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Registering your number with the TPS should prevent sales calls
from all companies that belong to the DMA. Questions about the DMA's
registration program should be sent to the DMA at this address.
While registering with the DMA should reduce the number of unsolicited
calls you receive at your home, it probably will not stop unwanted
calls altogether.
Finally, many states now have statewide "no-call" lists
for residents in that state. Contact your state's consumer protection
office or the public utilities commission (PUC) to see if your state
has such a list.
Actions You Can Take Against Telephone
Solicitation Calls Made In Violation Of The Rules
You have recourse against entities or persons who continue to call
you after you have requested to be placed on a "do not call"
list. Some states permit you to file law suits against the violators;
you may be awarded $500 in damages or actual monetary loss, whichever
is greater. This amount may be tripled if you are able to show that
the caller willfully and knowingly violated do-not-call requirements.
States themselves may initiate a civil suit in federal district
court against any person or entity that engages in a pattern or
practice of violations of the TCPA or FCC rules. If you have questions
for your state regarding unsolicited telephone marketing, you may
contact your local or state consumer protection office or your state
Attorney General's office. These numbers should be listed in the
government section of your telephone directory, or you can obtain
them by calling directory assistance.
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