Why isn't telemarketing (a thinly veilled form of harrasment) illegal?

Answer 1

because though u may be getting 20 calls a day and feel harrassed it is 20 different people and each person can say "well i only called them once and that isnt harrassing them." You can tell them to put them on their do not call list and they cannot call u for a year.

In response to the answer that mentioned junk mail, if you look at a lot of that junk mail they come with pre-paid response envelopes. if you feel like sticking it back to them fill them envelopes with heavy stuff and mail it back because they have to pay for the extra weight.

Answer 2

You have the option to 'opt-out'.

There is a number that you can call to opt out of telemarketing calls with companies that you have not done business with in the past year. In other words, if you've even expressed interest towards a company in the past year, you'll keep getting calls.

I don't have the number. But since you have the internet, search for DO NOT CALL LIST on google. But you'll still keep getting mail. Each company that sends you solicitations via mail will also include a number that you should call to quit getting these letters.

If you don't call to stop these letters in the mail, a criminal or stalker can grab these documents out of the garbage, and use them to steal your identity. It's a good idea to stop all unsolicited snail mail PRONTO (now.)

Answer 3

Actually it is illegal if they call after 8:30 or 9:00 o'clock depending on the province or state you are in.
Otherwise it's perfectly normal to contact people by phone to solicit a product.
You receive junk mail right? Same difference except it fills up the mail box as opposed to calling you at home. If you don't want the product simply say thanks very much but no thank you. Or you could string them along and then they will stop calling.
Some people have caller id and when they see an 800 number they just don't pick up.

Answer 4

In fact telemarketing is to you is illegal if you have signed up on the Federal Trade Commission's DO NOT CALL. go to www.ftc.gov. on the home page, down at the bottom is a place to sign up.

If telemarketers call you, just tell them you are on the FTC do not call list. Fines on telemarketers can range up to $10,000 PER CALL!

If you have done business with a company you may have given consent for them to call you, even if the business you did was to receive a free sample of their product or service.

Answer 5

It is, if you choose to make it so. The USA and your state both have a "Do Not Call List". I advise you to get on it. Sometimes there is a small fee involved. I even managed to get an elderly relative's phone number removed from a local political party's phone base because their politicians were using bogus non-working call-backing numbers which I thought was a fraudulent political practice.

The main point: you have to be pro-active, just like with junk mail.

Answer 6

Because of that thin veil you spoke of. There are some cases where the boundaries are crossed, and then falls into harassment...ANOTHER thing to realize is that many HUGE telemarketing corporations are based outside of the US, so are not constrained by ALL the same rules. And last of all, they PURCHASE your information from companies that collect it from YOU, so for all intents and purposes they can do with it as they please. I KNOW, I HATE THEM TOO!!!

Answer 7

Good question. They invade my house incessantly, uninvited. I have caller ID, so I don't answer the phone when, for example, "Dial America" calls, but they are so gosh darn persistent. It is a nuisance to have to check the caller ID so much to avoid these annoying calls.

Answer 8

Ok...why isn't mailing you unsolicited postal ads illegal? Don't you care about the wasted paper?

Answer 9

Because in America, money is more important than decency.

Answer 10

It makes money and pays taxes!