"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.
I got a call from this Flake Wilkerson company which is a survey company. They say on their automated call that they are EXEMPT from the Do Not Call list since they BENEFIT the consumer. Then the message says if you want to be added to the INTERNAL DO NOT CALL LIST do so after the beep, well the beep never comes instead it says I am sorry we cannot do that at this time. Then it tells you to do some other things..and I get a beep and you are supposed to leave your name and company name then all of a sudden it tries to transfer you. ALthough, this never works either and you keep getting the same repeated msg on leaving your name and company name.
They called and said they were doing a survey for Qwest regarding calls that we supposedly made to the Qwest Customer Service Center.
We are a Qwest (Old Northwestern Bell & Pacific Bell) customer. They may be exempt on this call because of our relationship with Qwest and the fact that they are surveying.