The Do Not Call List: As Effective as the Missile Defense Shield

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

2 Comment(s)

Remember the tests for the U.S. Missile Defense Shield and how it is supposed to protect North America from ballistic missiles? Remember how the tests never really work and the interceptors usually miss the incoming missiles by hundred of miles? I think this is a pretty apt metaphor for the new national Do Not Call List.

The Do No Not Call Legislation comes into affect today which means that in an ideal world that we will never have to worry about spitting out or supper in order to hang up on someone asking our business over the phone. How flawed is this legislation? Is it going to miss incoming calls by a few hundred miles?

First of all do not expect telemarketers to stop calling ASAP as there is a grace period of 31 days from the time telephone customers register for the telemarketers to update their lists. So let's Hulk out at the next telemarketer that calls us tomorrow morning. Wait until November... but even then...

Secondly, the exemptions to who can still call pretty much represent the usual suspects that we do not want to talk to anyway. You will still be getting solicitations over your peas and carrots from polling companies, political parties, newspaper subscriptions sales, any company that you deal with and charities. What is the definition of existing business relationship?

Anyway, this seems to be a pretty weak form of legislation and I can see a lot of people becoming even more irate than usual when they get calls from the exempted groups and leaving us wanting a more comprehensive form of legislation. Perhaps the telecommunications equivalent of the Beware of Dog sign that was so effective at scaring away the vacuum cleaners salesmen is in order.

If you want to give the list a shot you can register at www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca