No call, that's all
By Staff
March 25, 2003
Few things in this world are as annoying as unwanted telemarketing calls that always seem to come at the wrong time just when you're settling down for dinner or just as you've finally got your baby into bed for the night.
Mississippi lawmakers, hearing complaints from their constituents, are on the verge of doing something about it. At least, says Central District Public Service Commissioner Neilsen Cochran, they are closer than at any time in the last four years to helping consumers block unwanted telemarketing calls.
The House and Senate are working to reconcile differences in do-not-call'' list legislation that has passed both chambers. A compromise must be reached by March 31 or the issue is dead for another legislative session.
Thirty-two states have some sort of no call'' laws. At least a half dozen other state legislatures are considering such bills this year. Some states are considering adding cell phone numbers to the no call'' registry.
Cochran does not believe a new federal law goes far enough. He wants the Mississippi Public Service Commission to compile and manage a "do not call" list in this state and such an effort evidently has solid public support.
Under the bills, the PSC would compile a database of telephone numbers of residential subscribers who object to being called. No telephone solicitor could operate in Mississippi unless they bought the database and must register with the PSC. Both versions provide that telemarketers could not block their identification from Caller ID services.
Senators voted to limit calls to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and ban telephone solicitations on Sunday. The House version does not specifically address that issue.
The House and Senate bills generally provide that businesses with whom a consumer has a continuing relationship such as a bank, insurance company or car dealer would be exempt. The House version goes further in exempting some charities that call consumers solely to raise money, newspapers seeking a subscription or funeral homes.
There is nothing inherently wrong with consumers being able to choose whether they want to receive telemarketing calls. Millions of people even relish the opportunity to buy a new product or service.
A well-managed "do not call" list could actually help eliminate bogus prospects and help telemarketers increase sales by focusing on people who haven't automatically said "no" to whatever they're selling.
