LEGISLATIVE REPORT; STOPPING THE TELEMARKETING HASSLE

The pace is picking up at the capitol. We are now spending mornings and afternoons on the house floor in legislative debate. We are still trying to finish committee hearings between sessions with most of the hearings being held at night.

House Bill 1750, which I introduced, was heard in the Consumer Protection Committee requiring telemarketers to identify themselves on a caller ID system when making a call. I pointed out in the hearing that I receive more complaints from constituents concerning telemarketer calls, than any other issue.

These calls are an intrusion as they come at mealtime or during other family functions. At least those who have caller ID could decide whether they wanted to be interrupted or not. I feel this situation has become worse over the past several years.

These calls use to be quite infrequent but now you might get two or three calls in one evening. I feel individuals should at least have the courtesy to know a telemarketer is calling before picking up the phone.

As in all hearings the opposition is allowed to testify. The opposition testimony came from MCI stating that identifying telemarketers on caller ID is not mechanically possible. Telemarketer calls are generated by computer and only the operator picks up after they hear a live voice. They claim these lines originate from all over the country and there is no way to identify these lines as they are only outgoing lines.

Another question arose, how would Missouri law affect those calls originating from other states? House Bill 1750 remains in the Consumer Protection Committee.

I realize this is a concern for many of you. I have received information on how you can now deal with these unwanted calls. If you receive a call from a telemarketer you can ask the operator to suppress your number from the calling list--you must wait for them to get information from you so they can suppress your number.

if you receive a call from the same telemarketer after requesting your number be suppressed, you can then call the FCC, making sure you have documented the date and time of the call from the telemarketer explaining you requested your number be suppressed.

You can request the telemarketer be fined and you will receive the $500 fine. We were told in the committee hearing these calls are logged by the telemarketers and the numbers dialed can be checked.

You can also write two addressed requesting your names be removed from the telemarketing list: Direct Marketing Association--send your name (all possibilities) and address to--Mail Preference Service D.M.A., Box 900, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9000.

Phone calls: send name and address to -- Telephone Preference SVC D.M.A., Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014. When you ask for removal of your name from their lists, there will be a two-year period of removal. There might be a time frame for all telemarketers to update their name removal list.

David Schwab is a state representative for the 157th district