Ever had dinner interrupted by a tape-recorded telephone sales pitch that tied up the line even after you hung up the receiver? If so, you owe a vote of thanks to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
This week the court ruled that Congress accurately identified such commercial autodialing, as it is called, as a threat to privacy. The new ruling allows nationwide enforcement of a 1992 law prohibiting the use of automatic dialing machines to reach homes unless the consumer has consented to get such calls or the message is introduced by a live operator.The 1992 law had been blocked ever since a Portland, Ore. judge ruled - two days before it was to take effect - that the legislation was too broad. Now, common sense has finally prevailed and automated telemarketing firms would be wise not to appeal this week's decision.
For one thing, the automated calls do more damage than just invade privacy. They also tie up phone lines that may be needed by the home owner to make an emergency call. And they create considerable ill-will for the telemarketing firms.
So much ill-will, in fact, that a Deseret News poll last year showed only 1 percent of those contacted by a disembodied recording end up buying anything. Most people hang up right away. If they stay on the line long enough to hear the name of the company making the automated sales pitch, the experience doesn't leave a favorable impression of the firm and is unlikely to help future sales efforts through other methods.
Though this consumer indifference should have sent a pointed message, some telemarketers didn't get it. Now the appeals court has sent an even stronger one. Plenty of people have reason to be thankful for the relief it should bring.