"Me" posted on Sept 2007 research companies are exempt from the do not call list.
That's NOT true. Those companies will tell you the same thing, too. Look CLOSELY at the FTC code, and it does NOT say "research" companies are exempt. If you want to get specific - they'r soliciting for information. But in fact... government surveys and non-profit research are the ONLY exempt! I went head to head with a research CEO, and finally conceded I was correct.
Mine said MKT strategies, but I got a number of calls from Flake Wilkerson in th past. It's annoying, but I never pick up. I filed a complaint here
https://www.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx
They are exempt from the DNC rules as they are a survey company and are not selling anything, so it does no good to threaten them with that. I just don't answer and hope they stop calling. It looks like their 'internal' do not call list doesn't exist or doesn't work either.