Posted by Mike Smith :: October 27, 2008 @ 11:00 am

As you know, companies with which you have an existing business relationship are permitted to call you even if you are on the National Do Not Call list. That’s why I still get called about switching to my cable company’s phone service. These calls are currently permitted to be made as recorded sales calls, but a change in that area is coming.

The downside of pre-recorded sales calls is that my existing business relationship allows them to occur, but the non-interactive nature of the recorded call doesn’t let me ask to opt out of receiving such calls. New rules enacted by the FCC should significantly reduce these types of calls. Full details were outlined in Herb Weisbaum’s article, Say Goodbye to Robo-Calls.

Starting in December of this year, all recorded sales calls must have a simple interactive way for you to opt out of future calls. The rules will be even stricter as of September 1, 2009. At that time, you will only receive such calls if you’ve agreed, in writing, to receive them. Having to opt-in to receive annoying calls seems to be much more consumer-friendly than having to opt-out.

There will continue to be exemptions for certain types of calls, such as those from charities or political organizations. These organizations currently are exempt from adhering to the National Do Not Call registry. The new rules will affect them, however, for calls placed through any telemarketing company they hire to help with their fund raising efforts.

Few things are more annoying than regular telemarketing calls, but automated ones are certainly on the list. Luckily, the new rules should drastically reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive. Are these types of calls a common occurrence for you?