We just need more people like you to report these people to the DNC, and FTC first, last FCC if it's fraud. Each section handles different complaints. FTC handles any call that hasn't been determined to be fraud. FCC only handles FRAUD, and the DNC registry only handles people trying to sell something unsolicited over the phone, which is illegal, and therefore also fraud. Many companies do this under the guise of a contest, which appears to be free, and non-profit. Anyone who follows up on the number and determines that they *ARE* trying to sell something, and that you recieved nothing for free, then call the FCC. This includes if they 'give' you an Alarm system; but, then want Money (for installation or any other reason), information about neighbors, which you shouldn't do, due to privacy act violations.
Instead, if there is ANY stipulation for the "FREE" item, it is fraud and should be reported to the FCC, who as I said, handles fraud, as well as the DNC Registry, who will also contact FCC, if it is fraud, and assit FTC if it is a code violation.
Never ASSuMe no one is doing anything, just because they didn't inform you of what they were doing. Many people haven't learned to report these to the appropriate agency, let alone inappropriate ones, or even know they can report them.
We need to increase exposure to the appropriate reporting sites, rather than blame people for something that one hasn't a clue about that for which one is speaking.
Like Obama's famous speech where he said, "Dont BOO, vote!" the case here is similar. Don't just Hang UP! Report!" If everyone took a minute from their day to report these things, the problem would eventually get legislated out of existance because it costs too much... and basically, we need to legislate phone companies to be responsible not just for SELLING these lines to abusers; but, taking their CUSTOMERS into consideration and police abuse themselves, with heavy penalties for failure. This would end the problem immediately.
Right now the phone company has a conflict of interest: the abusers, and we hte customer, are both the same person to them. We're both their customer. Those people pay a lot of money (to the phone company) to abuse us. And, we pay a lot of money (to the phone company) for the priviledge of allowing them to abuse us. The phone company could fix this, and the whole thing would sort out. All we need is a law that states you can't Pay Homage to Mammon, and God, in so many other words. The problem will end. Yes, corporations have the ethics and morals of a psychopath. Sometimes, YOU MUST legislate morality; but, let us just apply that to the headless body of a CORPORAT-ion.
Corporate \Cor"po*rate\ (k?r"p?-r?t), a. [L. corporatus, p. p.
of corporare to shape into a body, fr. corpus body. See
Corpse.]
1. Formed into a body by legal enactment; united in an
association, and endowed by law with the rights and
liabilities of an individual