What service does Howie Schwartz use to call people?

[Scott Ames]

I get a call from Howie periodically and I think it is designed to leave a message on voice mail only if you don't pick up. Does anyone know what he is using?

[Kevin_Hutto]

I dont know which one he uses, but there are several companies that do that. I used xmvoice with decent results about a year ago.

[Scott Ames]

Originally Posted by Kevin_Hutto

I dont know which one he uses, but there are several companies that do that. I used xmvoice with decent results about a year ago.

Thank you. That looks like a good one.

[Kevin_Hutto]

Glad to help out... Just be careful with it, I heard there is a law change coming down the pike on broadcasting recorded messages. Haven't researched it yet to know the details.

[Kirk Ward]

Originally Posted by Kevin_Hutto

Glad to help out... Just be careful with it, I heard there is a law change coming down the pike on broadcasting recorded messages. Haven't researched it yet to know the details.

It's coming fast! ... Sept. 1, 2009 if you weren't watching. That's next Tuesday. The fine, $16,000 per call, whether I am in the "do not call" registry or not.

Kathleen Pender - Net Worth Plus : FTC is putting an end to most robo calls

Cheers, and thank goodness.

Wish Howie would call me.

Kirk

[Scott Ames]

Originally Posted by Kirk Ward

It's coming fast! ... Sept. 1, 2009 if you weren't watching. That's next Tuesday. The fine, $16,000 per call, whether I am in the "do not call" registry or not.

Kathleen Pender - Net Worth Plus : FTC is putting an end to most robo calls

Cheers, and thank goodness.

Wish Howie would call me.

Kirk

Wow... I wish I could keep the fine. They can call me all they want then.

[NicholasCarter]

Voice broadcasting is great but the only thing is from what I understand I know comcast can weed those calls out. So if your calling individuals with comcast phone they will not receive your call. Also on average from what I have researched even the best message only get 1-3% conversion. Which if your broadcasting to thousands can be very good but you have to keep in mind the overhead

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by Kirk Ward

It's coming fast! ... Sept. 1, 2009 if you weren't watching. That's next Tuesday. The fine, $16,000 per call, whether I am in the "do not call" registry or not.

Kathleen Pender - Net Worth Plus : FTC is putting an end to most robo calls

Surprise! Surprise! The politicians exempted themselves from it.

[Jeremy Kelsall]

I don't really think that the new laws will affect the calls that you get from Marketers like Howie...

Calls to businesses are allowed and I'm assuming that most of us if that all of us are running a business even if it is a sole-prop.

[darrin_cooper]

Yes, it will the calls from people like Howie & any other Marketer/Telemarketer who does not get a WRITTEN permission from a consumer.

Many Telemarketers already are doing illegal things, such as calling after 9pm. Many of the "gurus" have done that as well. You are not supposed to call past 9pm in any case.

The following will be prohibited & deemed illegal:
1. prerecorded pitches
2. senseless solicitations
3. malicious marketing

Consumers will be able to go after telemarketers forcefully. The only types of calls that will be not deemed illegal is "informational" calls which can be a robocall (ie: Flight Cancellations).

Marketers think they can try & get away with it by getting permission through doing Webinars & getting phone numbers when people sign up for an "online webinar" but then receive the "REMINDER CALLS" of the Webinar (some marketers make it mandatory for you to put your phone number in). This will be illegal as well, becuase their is no way for a consumer to easily & efficiently opt out of being called or having to put their phone number in & the only option for securing a consumers rights, is to falsify their phone number just so they can get the webinar & NOT have to be called.

The TSR rulings will fine $16,000 per call of pre-recorded messages. Overall, it's any call that tries to insist or leads to a sale of goods or services.

So, yes, this law definitely affects marketers like Howie.

No more loud, "Hey there, Oh I must've got your voicemail. Just wanted to let you know I'm having lunch....." ---
I really hate those on my phone.

Originally Posted by Jeremy Kelsall

I don't really think that the new laws will affect the calls that you get from Marketers like Howie...

Calls to businesses are allowed and I'm assuming that most of us if that all of us are running a business even if it is a sole-prop.

[Jeremy Kelsall]

Originally Posted by darrin_cooper

Yes, it will the calls from people like Howie & any other Marketer/Telemarketer who does not get a WRITTEN permission from a consumer.

.

It doesn't say anything about written permission. It says that the calls will be allowed to businesses. I'm assuming that a majority of people here are either a business in the sense that they are doing business as a sole proprietor or because they are organized in some way.

If you as a business buy a product from a marketer to use for your business and provide them your contact information - It looks like it will be legal for that business to contact your business.

[Lance K]

I just wish Howie would let me know how to remove my # from his list. As it is, every time I get a message from him, it's wasted money on his part.

[darrin_cooper]

Actually, it does say "Written permission." Read the actual FTC bill drafted by the government.

No, & it's not true if you "buy a product." The bill states that you need to get written permission to be contacted. And those "contacts" must be human contacts & not robotic calls. It's pretty clear in the FTC bill that was drafted.

Originally Posted by Jeremy Kelsall

It doesn't say anything about written permission. It says that the calls will be allowed to businesses. I'm assuming that a majority of people here are either a business in the sense that they are doing business as a sole proprietor or because they are organized in some way.

If you as a business buy a product from a marketer to use for your business and provide them your contact information - It looks like it will be legal for that business to contact your business.

[darrin_cooper]

He also isn't complying with law that was past in Dec. 2008.

The rule states that telemarketing robocall messages by businesses covered by the TSR must tell consumers how to opt-out of further calls at the start of the message, and provide an automated opt-out mechanism that is voice or keypress-activated. Prerecorded messages left on answering machines must also provide a toll-free number that connects to the automated opt-out mechanism.

So, as of now, any automated calls by Howie is technically illegal.

Originally Posted by Lance K

I just wish Howie would let me know how to remove my # from his list. As it is, every time I get a message from him, it's wasted money on his part.

[Jeremy Kelsall]

Originally Posted by darrin_cooper

He also isn't complying with law that was past in Dec. 2008.

The rule states that telemarketing robocall messages by businesses covered by the TSR must tell consumers how to opt-out of further calls at the start of the message, and provide an automated opt-out mechanism that is voice or keypress-activated. Prerecorded messages left on answering machines must also provide a toll-free number that connects to the automated opt-out mechanism.

So, as of now, any automated calls by Howie is technically illegal.

If you dig deep enough you are bound to find something I guess

The new rule does not outlaw recorded calls to businesses, only consumers.

[darrin_cooper]

Yeah, the problem is that you can't "assume" that an individual's phone number will be listed as a "business phone" number.

Even though everyone may consider themselves in "business" that can only be officially verified via a 2-way or 3-way match. Meaning your business EIN matching to your Business Phone Number. It's possibly not going to go that deep on the surface, however, from a legal prosecution -if there was a complaint, that's the only way out of it safely.

HOWEVER,

The author is not fully accurate in her statement regarding businesses.
Businesses who receive robocalls will continue to receive them for a period of 12 months only after Sept. 1. It will be a phase-in approach to be outlawed after 12 months. She left the 12 month phase-in issue out...

Originally Posted by Jeremy Kelsall

If you dig deep enough you are bound to find something I guess

The new rule does not outlaw recorded calls to businesses, only consumers.

[Scott Ames]

Last day to call folks. Better pick up the 3,000,000 broadcast message deal at xmvoice and call everyone before this ends today.

[yourreviewer]

Is there a way I can opt out of these calls? I get calls from Howie all the time and they are ridiculously annoying.

[Scott Ames]

Originally Posted by yourreviewer

Is there a way I can opt out of these calls? I get calls from Howie all the time and they are ridiculously annoying.

According to FTC rules, there will be tomorrow.

New Rule Prohibiting Unwanted "Robocalls" to Take Effect on September 1

Under a previous rule that took effect on December 1, 2008, telemarketing robocall messages by businesses covered by the TSR must tell consumers how to opt-out of further calls at the start of the message, and provide an automated opt-out mechanism that is voice or keypress-activated. Prerecorded messages left on answering machines must also provide a toll-free number that connects to the automated opt-out mechanism.