8 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Robocalls and Spam
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (T.C.P.A) shields consumers against unsolicited communications through robocalls, prerecorded messages, and spam SMS. According to T.C.P.A., a company should seek your consent before contacting you. It’s unfair to be charged for unsolicited communications while your caller intends to make an extra dollar via telemarketing.
If you’ve been contacted by an unknown person trying to sell you something, you can file a lawsuit for unwanted robocalls and spam and recover damages; I know it sounds unreal, but it’s true! An attorney can help you file this kind of lawsuit and make your naggers accountable for their actions. What is Punishable under T.C.P.A. Law? The T.C.P.A. law requires all telemarketers to use a Do Not Call Registry in the line of duty and a list of people who have requested not to be called. Robocallers are prohibited from engaging in any of the below-listed activities under T.C.P.A. Unknown callers shouldn’t contact you (on your mobile or home phone) between 9 PM and 8 AM. Calling numbers that are listed on the National Do Not Call Registry. Make live or prerecorded calls or text you without prior consent. Callers who don’t identify themselves or their employers can be sued.
Protecting Yourself against Unsolicited Communications
Revoking Past Consents The T.C.P.A. law states that a person shouldn’t contact you without prior consent, which should be either express or written. If consent was granted and you no longer want to receive the calls, you can revoke the consent by informing the company through a letter or a phone call. Opting Out Robocallers, mostly telemarketers, must include an opt-out feature for people who had granted consent but wish to opt-out and stop receiving the robocalls.
Listing your number on the Do Not Call Registry Listing your contacts, including mobile and home numbers, on the National Do Not Call Register is another excellent way of avoiding unsolicited communications. You can register through the National Do Not Call website or call their phone at (888) 382-1222. Telemarketers are notorious for violating this law, meaning you can file a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. If you receive a prerecorded or a live call on any of your listed numbers, you can sue for unsolicited calls and recover damages. However, there are exceptions even if your contacts are on the National Do Not Call list; certain groups and classes of people or organizations can still contact you; they include: Charity groups. Political groups. Emergency services. Healthcare providers. Debt collectors (but are only allowed non-automated calls)
Avoid Paying Bills via Gift Cards
Legitimate operators do not accept gift cards for making payments. Gift cards are meant for gifts. Period, full stop! Set a Voicemail Password Some communication service providers expose your messages and personal info to people you call on your line. However, they can’t access your stuff if you’ve secured your voicemail with a password.
Avoid Giving your Number to Everyone Your contact should be private and only available to those who need it. Activate email notifications on your mobile gadgets for unknown callers, mainly telemarketers who can range from retailers to clothing brands and much more.
Use Separate Contacts for Personal and Business Activities The trick here is to separate personal and business matters. Your business number should be set in such a way that callers must identify themselves before you answer. Otherwise, unsolicited calls should be pushed to voicemail.
Make Call-backs for Suspicious Calls
Sometimes callers will insist on being colleagues even when they don’t sound familiar. The best way to handle such calls is to disconnect and call back after a few minutes. Others will ask for personal information that should never be given before establishing your caller’s identity and whether they need such information. How to File Robocall Lawsuits According to the T.C.P.A., the main prerequisite for a legitimate robocall lawsuit is receiving unsolicited communications from a caller, whether a non-automated or automated call or a text message. Robocalls often depend on auto-dialing software to make calls without human intervention. The calls can also be prerecorded or live; either way, companies shouldn’t contact people without prior consent. Most successful robocall lawsuits are related to non-compliance to T.C.P.A. rules, and they’re rare because legitimate companies are compliant with this rule. Ensure you have the following data before taking legal action for a robocall: A record of the unsolicited calls and text messages. Recorded evidence showing the dates and times of the calls and the actual conversation. Evidence of revocation if consent had been given previously (a letter or phone recording)
You should involve a legal professional if you keep getting unsolicited calls and you believe you can file a lawsuit for unwanted robocalls and spam.
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