Telemarketing and the "do not call" service

13 years ago

I don't do telemarketing myself, but as a business owner, I wouldn't be interested in getting sales calls if I'd put myself on a do-not-call list.

Whatever you find out here on this, just remember that business owners are *busy folks* and if they're trying to reject calls because they registered on some list (personally or professionally), then they won't appreciate your call.

I know that's not the answer to your question. I'd be interested in knowing too.

I'm just using the common sense approach here, combined with my personal opinion.

Oh, and one tidbit I did hear from a pro sales friend of mine. NEVER call a business customer service or sales line to prospect. They are often using that to generate revenue for themselves or keep customers happy and they HATE it when solicitors clog the lines and use up their people resources. Plus you won't get a good lead contact that way anyway.

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Maddmula

13 years ago

I have heard it is illegal, but I get a ton of marketing calls. Also with telemarketing you would have to deal with all the upset people who keep getting annoying calls.

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sam770

13 years ago

thanks folks, however I am still looking for an answer to my question:
Does anyone know if its really legal to call ANY business in the US without checking first if the business number appear in the "do not call" list?
Or I should check also before calling a business?

Thanks
1 reply

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jtlucas2511

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sam770

thanks folks, however I am still looking for an answer to my question:
Does anyone know if its really legal to call ANY business in the US without checking first if the business number appear in the "do not call" list?
Or I should check also before calling a business?

Illegal? Probably. Has that stopped me from doing it? No. I was cold calling a few days ago, and this guys answers and is a complete dick and says "Do you have a do not call list?" I said no, he told me I was required to have one, so I just hung up. He calls right back and I pick up and say "Sir i'm on a do not call list, click." No further action was taken, so I wouldn't worry to much about it.

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2 replies

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sbucciarel

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by jtlucas2511

Illegal? Probably. Has that stopped me from doing it? No. I was cold calling a few days ago, and this guys answers and is a complete dick and says "Do you have a do not call list?" I said no, he told me I was required to have one, so I just hung up. He calls right back and I pick up and say "Sir i'm on a do not call list, click." No further action was taken, so I wouldn't worry to much about it.

lol. So with that charming approach, did you close the sale? :p

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Mwind076

13 years ago

Originally Posted by jtlucas2511

Illegal? Probably. Has that stopped me from doing it? No. I was cold calling a few days ago, and this guys answers and is a complete dick and says "Do you have a do not call list?" I said no, he told me I was required to have one, so I just hung up. He calls right back and I pick up and say "Sir i'm on a do not call list, click." No further action was taken, so I wouldn't worry to much about it.

I'm floored that people still think this way. You have outlined the precise way NOT to act as a telemarketer. You cannot expect to have any type of good reputation if these are the types of games you play with prospective customers. Not to bash you, but how old are you?

You should have a DNC notated on EACH person, residential or business that doesn't want you to call them back. Not so much a list, but note it just like you note VM, NI, etc.

My guess is that you carry that 2nd grade attitude with you everywhere and you get lots of people that don't want you calling them back.

What's to say that that man didn't call you back because he actually wanted your service and changed his mind? However you acted like a child and hung up on him twice. I wouldn't want you calling me back ever either.

There is a complaint form by the FCC, that I keep handy to give out. It is for harassing phone calls just like you. (FCC Consumer Complaints) Click the 3rd option, and read the sidebar - it includes businesses, then click through as if you are complaining and you'll see that calls to businesses can be reported. You should be very wary of acting in the way you described. There are some people that will take the time to ask for your information BEFORE telling you DNC. They are smart and can report you for harassment.

On a more informative note, reflect on these points:
- why would you want to play games and go back and forth with someone who doesn't want to talk to you? There is a number on that list that WANTS your service...move on and find them!
- why are you calling from a number they can dial back? You should be calling from a private/blocked number.
- never take what a NI says personal, thank them and go on. Your attitude should never show up in a B2B or B2C call. If it does, you should not be calling.

I hope you take this to heart and change your attitude about those you call. I'm fairly sure you won't and you're just going to have some colorful things to say to my advice.

~Mel

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jtlucas2511

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Mwind076

I'm floored that people still think this way. You have outlined the precise way NOT to act as a telemarketer. You cannot expect to have any type of good reputation if these are the types of games you play with prospective customers. Not to bash you, but how old are you?

You should have a DNC notated on EACH person, residential or business that doesn't want you to call them back. Not so much a list, but note it just like you note VM, NI, etc.

My guess is that you carry that 2nd grade attitude with you everywhere and you get lots of people that don't want you calling them back.

What's to say that that man didn't call you back because he actually wanted your service and changed his mind? However you acted like a child and hung up on him twice. I wouldn't want you calling me back ever either.

There is a complaint form by the FCC, that I keep handy to give out. It is for harassing phone calls just like you. (FCC Consumer Complaints) Click the 3rd option, and read the sidebar - it includes businesses, then click through as if you are complaining and you'll see that calls to businesses can be reported. You should be very wary of acting in the way you described. There are some people that will take the time to ask for your information BEFORE telling you DNC. They are smart and can report you for harassment.

On a more informative note, reflect on these points:
- why would you want to play games and go back and forth with someone who doesn't want to talk to you? There is a number on that list that WANTS your service...move on and find them!
- why are you calling from a number they can dial back? You should be calling from a private/blocked number.
- never take what a NI says personal, thank them and go on. Your attitude should never show up in a B2B or B2C call. If it does, you should not be calling.

I hope you take this to heart and change your attitude about those you call. I'm fairly sure you won't and you're just going to have some colorful things to say to my advice.

~Mel

I don't waste time with disrespectful assholes, but I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand.

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jimbo13 13 years ago

The poster Mel hasn't asked you to waste time, she has simply insinuated that you just say something like 'sorry to have called you, I'll remove you from our database' and then hang up.

Maybe you did say someting like that but we can only go on what you have written.

I have read other posts by you so I know you are 100x better than the impression you have given in this particular thread.

Dan
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Mwind076 13 years ago

Originally Posted by jtlucas2511

I don't waste time with disrespectful assholes, but I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand.

Again, I was outlining that indeed, you don't have time since there are people out there that want your service, so why would you argue with someone and act childish?

I was also enlightening others on how the conversation you outlined is not beneficial to your own business.

If you change your attitude you may be surprised how well other people respond to you.

You get what you give.
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Tsnyder

13 years ago

Business to business calls are exempt from the
Do Not Call registry. No business owner has registered
because they can't.

Here's a link to an FTC site with a Q&A on the DNC law.

Take particular note of #14.

Q&A: The National Do Not Call Registry

To answer your question... Yes, it is legal to call businesses.

Tsnyder

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sam770

13 years ago

Thanks a lot
Sam

Originally Posted by Tsnyder

Business to business calls are exempt from the
Do Not Call registry. No business owner has registered
because they can't.

Here's a link to an FTC site with a Q&A on the DNC law.

Take particular note of #14.

Q&A: The National Do Not Call Registry

To answer your question... Yes, it is legal to call businesses.

Tsnyder

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Mwind076

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Tsnyder

Business to business calls are exempt from the
Do Not Call registry. No business owner has registered
because they can't.

Here's a link to an FTC site with a Q&A on the DNC law.

Take particular note of #14.

Q&A: The National Do Not Call Registry

To answer your question... Yes, it is legal to call businesses.

Tsnyder

Agreed, to answer the OP's original question, yes it is legal to call businesses, however, keep in mind that if someone asks you to not call them, or states they are on a DNC, thank them, and move on. There is no need, and it will do no good to point out to them that it's legal for you to call, or that there is no such thing as a business DNC list. It's not going to make them want to talk to you.

If you have a good list, then there is someone else waiting for your call! Don't waste time on those that don't want to talk.

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SirThomas

13 years ago

You can call any business you want. If they tell you to stop, you must add their
number to your private DNC list and never contact them again. That's a law. As simple as that.

Thomas

PS. If someone asks why you're calling them when hey are on DNC list, you can try to explain or just apologize and move on as suggested above.

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Mwind076

13 years ago

Originally Posted by SirThomas

You can call any business you want. If they tell you to stop, you must add their
number to your private DNC list and never contact them again. That's a law. As simple as that.

Thomas

PS. If someone asks why you're calling them when hey are on DNC list, you can try to explain or just apologize and move on as suggested above.

I found that FCC Complaint link after helping a business owner a few years ago. He thanked me for being nice when he asked how I could call him since he thought he was on a DNC call list. I explained that there was no DNC business list, but told him that "normal" callers will just put you on their personal list and not call you again.

I still don't know that it's a "law" that you can't call them back. However they can report you as I outlined a few responses up. I agree it should be illegal, but I don't know that the gov't has joined into that for businesses yet.

It does help to be kind, to anyone you're calling. I've had maybe 3 memorable people in 6 years of cold calling that have gone off on me cursing or being rude, that were unprovoked. I chalk that up to them just having a bad day or being ass'. I could have been the bank calling to tell them there was an error in their favor and they still would have been mad! Most people are good, and generally if you act with sense, they will too.

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Charles Jones 13 years ago

jtlucas2511 -

From your responses, it is "business" people doing things like what you described as why people called for a do not call list.

The guy wasn't asking for anything other than for you not to solicit him....and in many cases I can agree with him. The fact you were rude and hung up on him after he reminded you to use the do not call list, shows you maturity. That coupled with the responses that you gave in your posts shows why there are fines for violating the do not call list.

Yes, the do not call list is a consumer and not a business list, BUT if someone asks you to not solicit them, then you should respectfully do as they asked. If you had hung up on me, I would have taken the reverse phone info and found out your business (assuming you bothered to get a license). By calling back, he was being clear that your rudeness was not to be tolerated. If you continued to be rude like you described, I would have just made sure all my friends in the business arena made complaints to the better business bureau and possibly city hall (who issues you the business license). You DON'T have to be polite and do as a business person asks, BUT you do get to suffer the consequences of being an asshat.

Everyone else should take the example given here and the attitude along with it and do the complete opposite. Do what a business owner asks on calling them, be polite and apologize, remove them and don't call again....it is not that hard.

You reap what you sow...in this case, I would make sure you didn't get any business from the people I know.
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- Mwind076 13 years ago
  
  jtlucas2511 -
  
  Not to keep picking here...and just to find out if you truly have an idea of how not helpful it is to lose it with a customer. I'm wondering if you are having trouble talking to customers since you emailed me asking for my rates and help with cold calling? I love calling and don't find it nerve wracking at all like most people do. No's don't bother me.
  
  I'm always up for helping, so I invite you to outsource your calling and allow us to do it if you don't like it or find it hard to do it successfully. We should be here to help each other. This goes to anyone else that's in the "I hate cold calling" boat...let's talk.
  
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Alex Makarski

13 years ago

Sam, if you're a business, wouldn't you want people to call you? Wouldn't you advertise your phone number somewhere? You can't advertise your phone number and at the same time be on a do-not-call list. That's why there is no such thing as a do-not-call list for businesses.

To the folks who don't "appreciate" getting calls on their business line, here's a 2-step action plan for you: 1) grow up 2) get someone else to screen your calls or let all calls go to voice mail and then return them at a specific time every day.

Cold calling is more effective now than it was even a few years ago because the new sales people entering the profession no longer have the sales culture. They feel that just because they sent out a tweet or an email they have accomplished something. If you learn how to work the phone and teach your people how to do that, there is very little competition out there.

Here are some books I recommend:
- David Sandler (You Can't Teach A Kid How To Ride A Bike At A Seminar) - it's a must have, however, it's out of print and is likely to cost you the upwards of a $100 but is well worth it.
- Bill Good (Prospecting Your Way and Hot Prospects) - if you can get over Bill's claims that he has invented most of the modern-English idioms, these books are the best at teaching you the mechanics of prospecting.

Here's one book to stay away from:
- How to Make HOT Cold Calls by Stephen Schwarts - brilliant title, crappy book. I doubt the author has made a single cold call in his life.

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Telemarketing and the "do not call" service

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