November 1, 2011
A coalition of debt collectors, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other anti-consumer groups have obtained support in Congress for a dangerous proposal (HR 3035) that would allow debt collectors and other businesses to flood cell phones with the recorded calls known as “robo-calls.” Take Action now to help stop this legislation!
A “robo-call” is when you answer your phone and hear a recording. These calls are placed by machines that store hundreds, even thousands, of telephone numbers, and then dial them automatically and play a recorded message.
HR 3035, the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011, will be the subject of a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing this Friday, Nov. 4, 2011 at 9 am. Let your elected officials know NOW that you oppose this bill.
Currently, the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA), 47 USC § 227 prohibits all prerecorded calls to cell phones, except those made with the advance express consent of the recipient or for emergency purposes.
“Currently, the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA), 47 USC § 227 prohibits all prerecorded calls to cell phones, except those made with the advance express consent of the recipient or for emergency purposes.”
Not so. I have received two robo calls on my cell phone this campaign season — one from the Joanna Rees for Mayor campaign and one from Jeff Adachi’s pension reform measure. I also received one from Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, inviting me to participate in a town hall phone meeting.
How did they get my cell phone #? When I registered to vote, I included my land line, not my cell phone. I don’t want robo calls to my cell phone — after a certain number, I will ending up PAYING for these commercial outfits to call me to get my money.
Also, I already get text messages from scammers trying to get me to invest in this, that, or the other pyramid scheme.