Technetium
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Massachusetts
I've been reading a bit about this and well, I have had my phone number on the National Do Not Call registry for years, yet I get a couple telemarketing calls every day. My previous solution had been to just install a call blocking app on my phone that has a blacklist of known spam numbers. But why do that if I can just sue them and make some money from it? There are numerous articles out there by people who are doing this practically full-time.
What I have read is basically (and correct me if I'm wrong about anything):
1. If I'm on the National Do Not Call list and have been for more than a month, it is their responsibility to know not to call me. I do not have to have told them before.
2. It's a $500 fine per violation. If the judge determines that the company willfully ignored removal of my number when they knew I did not want to be called, it can be tripled. The filing fee is $40 at that level, and doesn't increase much beyond that.
3. I will need to get the name of the business, their phone number, and their mailing address in order to complete the form to file with the Small Claims Court.
4. I don't need a lawyer for small claims, so the $40 fee is basically it for my own expenses.
My question is this... how do I get the information I need if they just hang up when I ask? The number is not usually a problem (although it should be noted that you can spoof phone numbers and if it's a scammer they may well be doing that).
I had a call earlier today that evaded my call blocker, trying to sell small business loans. The guy on the phone gave me a name of the business (sounded pretty generic and might be made-up) and his name, and I was able to get the phone number from my caller ID, but I neglected to ask where his business address was. I googled the phone number location and got it as specific as being in Augusta, NC. So I probably messed this one up, but in all likelihood he would not have given me the address. As it was, I told him that I was on the DNC list and he hung up.
I've been reading a bit about this and well, I have had my phone number on the National Do Not Call registry for years, yet I get a couple telemarketing calls every day. My previous solution had been to just install a call blocking app on my phone that has a blacklist of known spam numbers. But why do that if I can just sue them and make some money from it? There are numerous articles out there by people who are doing this practically full-time.
What I have read is basically (and correct me if I'm wrong about anything):
1. If I'm on the National Do Not Call list and have been for more than a month, it is their responsibility to know not to call me. I do not have to have told them before.
2. It's a $500 fine per violation. If the judge determines that the company willfully ignored removal of my number when they knew I did not want to be called, it can be tripled. The filing fee is $40 at that level, and doesn't increase much beyond that.
3. I will need to get the name of the business, their phone number, and their mailing address in order to complete the form to file with the Small Claims Court.
4. I don't need a lawyer for small claims, so the $40 fee is basically it for my own expenses.
My question is this... how do I get the information I need if they just hang up when I ask? The number is not usually a problem (although it should be noted that you can spoof phone numbers and if it's a scammer they may well be doing that).
I had a call earlier today that evaded my call blocker, trying to sell small business loans. The guy on the phone gave me a name of the business (sounded pretty generic and might be made-up) and his name, and I was able to get the phone number from my caller ID, but I neglected to ask where his business address was. I googled the phone number location and got it as specific as being in Augusta, NC. So I probably messed this one up, but in all likelihood he would not have given me the address. As it was, I told him that I was on the DNC list and he hung up.
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