It has become common knowledge that robocalls are illegal, yet and still, companies continue to place them at an alarming rate. For those unaware, a robocall is call placed using an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS). The technology used can also send out mass text messages to targeted consumers. It was originally used by doctors’ offices and pharmacies to send friendly reminders; however, they’re increasingly being used by telemarketers and scammers to contact millions of consumers nationwide illegally.
Robocalls played a major role in the birth of the National Do Not Call Registry (DNC) in 2003. It was the height of the technological boom and cell phones had officially become commonplace. Although not as sleek or functional as they are now, they were convenient and allowed individuals to stay in contact on the go. They also served as a direct channel to consumers for telemarketers that had never before existed.
The Do Not Call Registry was enacted to protect individuals against unwanted telemarketing calls and texts. The list has over 230 million phone numbers signed up, but that has not slowed the frequency of robocalls, especially in recent years. The Federal Trades Commission (FTC) released these stats regarding telemarketing and scamming complaints in the past five years:
The statistics show that telemarketing calls have increased as a whole, but it’s clear that robocalls are the constant leading cause for FTC complaints year after year. It also doesn’t seem like that will change anytime soon. Robocalls are increasing at such an alarming rate due to the extremely low cost at which they can be made. One South Florida man, Adrian Abramovich, placed nearly 100 million illegal robocalls single-handedly pitching the sale of timeshares.
As the calls and texts continue to flood in, consumers remain concerned as to whether there will ever be a time when harassing telemarketing and scam calls will end. If that day is to come, it is nowhere near; however, there are actions you can take to stop these calls. In addition to adding your phone number to the DNC, you can rely on the actions of state legislators.
Despite your best efforts, you may continue to receive intrusive telemarketing calls, but there is a way you can put an end to them while getting telemarketers to pay you. Acquire the legal services of a Florida TCPA lawyer at The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi. Under the TCPA you are entitled to between $500 and $1500 PER CALL and we can help you collect every penny you’re owed. Contact us today at 1-844-JIBRAEL for a free case evaluation and to discuss your legal options. There are no fees until Jibrael wins for you!