Telemarketers and robocallers are the bane of secretaries and decision-makers alike. While some calls are decent enough that they lead to good deals, most are persistent hard-sellers that would call during business hours to either set appointments for a deal closer, profile a company or directly sell a product or service.
Last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received more than 215,000 complaints regarding unwanted calls and texts, which stands as the biggest complaint category within the agency.
In response to the multitude of complaints filed against the unwanted callers and texters, the FCC plans to release a weekly summary of phone numbers that are used by telemarketers and robocallers. The list will be based on the complaints filed by affected parties.
The first pusblished list compiles numbers from the informal consumer complaints filed by Oct. 1, 2015. According to the FCC, it does not verify every alleged fact stated in the complaints.
With the regular publication of the list, the FCC hopes to help app developers and existing "do-not-disturb" technologies create a more compelling and extensive database of numbers that can be blocked if consumers choose to.
"Consumers want and deserve effective tools to empower them to choose the calls and texts they receive," notes officer-in-charge of consumer complaints and FCC Chief for Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Alison Kutler. "As we encourage providers to offer these services, and as the Commission recently made clear that there are no legal barriers to doing so, we continue to look for ways to help facilitate important consumer tools."
The said legal barriers were cleared in June when the FCC approved the "do-not-disturb" technologies to be implemented by service providers. However, the Commission also notes that while "do-not-disturb" services can be offered as apps for most modern phones and on VoIP phone systems, much still needs to be accomplished for the services to be implemented on conventional landline setups.
For decision-makers that keep their landlines open, the best alternative at the moment is to hire a secretary, which telemarketers refer to as the "dreaded gatekeepers" to filter the calls. In fact, hire the grumpiest and most skeptical one you can find.
