topic Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld in Community Chat

Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

Spurt — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 23:50:37 GMT

Finally some GOOD NEWS

A Federal ban on robocalls to cell phones was upheld today, 7/6/20. There had been a bid by political consultants to open the floodgates for solicitations for campaign contributions and campaign ads and other communications.

"Americans passionately disagree about many things. But they are largely united in their disdain for robocalls," Kavanaugh writes. "The FTC receives a staggering number of complaints about robocalls ... The States likewise field a constant barrage of complaints." Robocalls to cell phones were banned under the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which limits the use of automatic dialing systems and pre-recorded voice messages in order to protect Americans from intrusion. The law imposes liability of up to $1,500 for any call or text message made or sent without prior express consent. An exception was added to the law in 2015 that exempts government debt collection services from that law.

As the court was hearing oral arguments remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, lawyer Roman Martinez, representing the challengers, was speaking when the distinct sound of a toilet flushing came over the speakers. Martinez was unfazed by the distraction, and the court has not identified the culprit. 😄

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

SandySparkles — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 23:53:33 GMT

This is great news! I routinely receive robocalls, because they are becoming quite clever at disguising themselves. I never answer numbers I am not familiar with, but they keep coming. Hopefully, this will help in efforts to combat those annoying unsolicited calls. I was going to try one of the apps designed to prevent it, but read that they were fraught with glitches.😞

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

lovesrecess — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 00:09:47 GMT

I have been getting lots of these obnoxious robocalls recently. They are all from the same sales scam.,,auto warranty extension. The phone numbers are always different, so blocking them doesn’t make them go away...and they leave voicemails! I hope this SCOTUS ruling has enough teeth in it to actually put these hucksters out of business permanently.

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

rms1954 — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 00:40:27 GMT

I don't get how they would enforce it?

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

Spurt — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 01:05:55 GMT

@lovesrecess wrote:
I have been getting lots of these obnoxious robocalls recently. They are all from the same sales scam.,,auto warranty extension. The phone numbers are always different, so blocking them doesn’t make them go away...and they leave voicemails! I hope this SCOTUS ruling has enough teeth in it to actually put these hucksters out of business permanently.

@lovesrecess

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

Spurt — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 01:06:45 GMT

@rms1954 wrote:
I don't get how they would enforce it?

@rms1954

If you file a complaint with the FTC online, they will follow up on it and administer the fine...

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

lovesrecess — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 01:08:09 GMT

LOL it could happen! Robo birds!

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

RespectLife — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:12:58 GMT

@Spurt wrote:
@rms1954 wrote:
I don't get how they would enforce it?
@rms1954

If you file a complaint with the FTC online, they will follow up on it and administer the fine...

I think the majority of these scam calls come from overseas. The phone numbers listed are rigged often to look like they come from your area code with similiar numbers.

It's a nice law, but IMHO, it won't stop them in the least. You could have a task force the size of an army and never effectively find/locate or fine/collect on these.

Just like you can't totally block spam from your email. Those "Uncle in Nigeria' emails will find a way.

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

riley1 — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:31:21 GMT

I keep getting those car warranty calls on my business phone for a car I have not owned in 2 years.

My cell phone gets a lot of spam calls, and the ones where it uses the first 6 digits of my cell #.

If you go to Settings>Phone> there is spot called Silence Unknown Callers. Slide the button over to right to to this function on. This stops the phone from ringing with unknown numbers. You will see the number listed in your Recent Calls section where you can block it.

It's nice not to have the phone ringing from so many unknown numbers. I also use Hiya which alerts to potential spam, etc. It's a free app.

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

NickNack — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:43:18 GMT

I don't get many robo calls on my cell phone. I wouldn't block unknown numbers, though, because I have one doctor's office that shows up as an unknown number when they call. I'm often expecting it, though, and will answer.

I get the calls to renew my auto insurance on my home phone. I do block those.

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

Still Raining — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:45:00 GMT

Hope they let my phone know. Those folks are relentless.

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

Spurt — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 14:59:31 GMT

@RespectLife wrote:
@Spurt wrote:
@rms1954 wrote:
I don't get how they would enforce it?
@rms1954

If you file a complaint with the FTC online, they will follow up on it and administer the fine...

I think the majority of these scam calls come from overseas. The phone numbers listed are rigged often to look like they come from your area code with similiar numbers.

It's a nice law, but IMHO, it won't stop them in the least. You could have a task force the size of an army and never effectively find/locate or fine/collect on these.

Just like you can't totally block spam from your email. Those "Uncle in Nigeria' emails will find a way.

@RespectLife

You are 100% right about the calls originating from overseas, but think of this....if this ban did not stand just think of the tons of additional calls on top of the overseas calls.......

Re: Ban On Robo Calls To Mobile Phones Upheld

Spurt — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 21:00:03 GMT

@NickNack wrote:
I don't get many robo calls on my cell phone. I wouldn't block unknown numbers, though, because I have one doctor's office that shows up as an unknown number when they call. I'm often expecting it, though, and will answer.

I get the calls to renew my auto insurance on my home phone. I do block those.

@NickNack

Thats a great point about being careful about blocking calls....A Medical Assistant may use a different number to call out on from the regular doctor's office....And one time I almost blocked my Instacart Shopper's number...LOL!!!