The Do-Not-Call List is a Godsend, which is why telemarketers are doing their dangdest to find ways around it. The newest twist is establishing a business relationship in the fine print when you go to a “free prizes” website:
A reader recently pointed out some interesting language in the privacy policy of a “free sweepstakes” website that a friend of his had been foolish enough to join. By registering with the site, the privacy policy stated that one was agreeing that “such act constitutes an inquiry and/or application for purposes of the Amended Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 CFR §310 et seq. (the “Rule”). Notwithstanding that your telephone number may be listed on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do-Not-Call List, … (the sweepstakes company) retains the right to contact you via telemarketing in accordance with the Rule.”
There is that loophole, of course, and it makes sense. If you’ve applied for something with a company, or done business with them, they should be able to call you without worrying that the Feds are going to bust their behind.
By slipstreaming that relationship into fine print, though, these “free sweepstakes” and “free prizes” sites are using that loophole to their own advantage.
Remember: there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. And nobody’s going to let you enter a prize drawing without getting something in return.
If one unwittingly establishes a business relationship with a marketing company, does the loophole allow them to market to you on behalf of many of their clients? If so, that would be really nasty.
I’m not sure of the “degrees of separation” the Rule allows, though I imagine the fine print might actually influence that. Eek.