Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 / ST 1.0; site saber.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!nsc!saber!msc From: msc@saber.UUCP (Mark Callow) Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Re: (Autodialing) Telephone advertising Message-ID: <1854@saber.UUCP> Date: Wed, 6-Nov-85 19:00:55 EST Article-I.D.: saber.1854 Posted: Wed Nov 6 19:00:55 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 06:40:56 EST References: <328@aoa.UUCP> <76@birtch.UUCP> <204@opus.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Saber Technology, San Jose, CA Lines: 38 > > > ... > > > These machines are especially obnoxious since they refuse to release your > > > phone line until they are done with you. I recently received two calls from these machines for two different advertisers. On the first call, after I discovered it hadn't released the line, I listened to the whole spiel to get the company's name but the name wasn't given only a request to leave my phone number for them to get back to me--fat chance. The second call, though it was for a different advertiser, was recorded by the same person as the first. After discovering that, yet again, the machine held the line, again I listened. This time the company's name was given--a local travel agent. I called the California PUC to confirm that, as I already suspected, the machines are by CA law supposed to release the line when you hang up. The recordings had stated that the machine would hang up even though it didn't. I then called the travel agent and spoke to the manager. I told her that the machine was breaking the law and that I'd heard of a lawsuit on the East Coast where someone was trying to call the paramedics for her baby. I also told her that I would boycott any company using this advertising technique. She told me that they had bought this "service" from another company who had made the recording and was operating the equipment. That company had claimed to her compliance with all applicable laws. She apologized and said she would contact said company. I haven't had anymore calls. -- From the TARDIS of Mark Callow msc@saber.UUCP, sun!saber!msc@decwrl.dec.com ...{decwrl,ucbvax}!sun!saber!msc, ...{amdcad,ihnp4}!saber!msc