Posted by Susan Fischer on 3/7/07 12:17pm
Msg #178787

Is anybody else getting unsolicited text messages?

I have received two TMs, and one cellamarketing call in the last week.

Cingular says they don't sell/rent/etc. cell numbers, and that they will credit my account, but I have to call them with each instance.

Their other suggestion was to drop TM altogether, but they would not credit my bill for losing the TM feature.

Dang. The thought of paying for TM/cell call spam just gets my goat.

Reply by ColleenCA on 3/7/07 12:26pm
Msg #178791

My husband has gotten 6 of these this week alone! They are all for male enhancement products if you know what I mean. If they are on our bill at the end of the month (we also have Cingular) I will be calling to have them removed.

Reply by ewing2surf on 3/7/07 12:31pm
Msg #178795

Been carrying that camera phone in his pocket?

Reply by Calnotary on 3/7/07 1:05pm
Msg #178814

LOL! That's a good one Joe! n/m

Reply by Stephanie_CA on 3/7/07 1:47pm
Msg #178823

Re: Is anybody else getting unsolicited text messages?...Ok.

I'm cracking up here - thank you for the laugh

Reply by ColleenCA on 3/7/07 2:07pm
Msg #178827

Re: LOL - Well if he did, they would know not to bother with

those sort of TM"s!!!!!

Reply by PAW on 3/7/07 12:28pm
Msg #178792

I too have Cingular (the one with all the bars, but no booze!) and have requested NO TEXT MESSAGES. They have that option on their cell phone plans, but you have to request it through their customer service. It will inhibit any text messages except their notifications, Amber Alerts and any other "free" message that Cingular typically provides.

Reply by Genkichan on 3/7/07 12:38pm
Msg #178798

You can and should register your cell phone number with the national do not call registry, just like your home phone. I learned a while back (can't remember where) that soon almost all cell phone providers were going to be giving up their numbers to soliciters. Apparently same rules for "do not call" also apply. If you register the number and still get text messages, you should then be able to report them to the proper authorities.

Reply by cara on 3/7/07 12:51pm
Msg #178807

Do Not Call Registry

Link for DNC is https://www.donotcall.gov/Register/Reg.aspx

Also, note new FTCFor Release: February 6, 2007, "The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry: Despite Re-Circulating E-mail, It is Still Not Necessary to Register Cell Phone Numbers" found at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/02/dnccellphones.htm.

Since telemarketers are not supposed to be making calls on cell phone, I suggest that a complaint to FTC might be inorder and registering the numbers an extra precaution.

Reply by PAW on 3/7/07 1:21pm
Msg #178817

>>> I learned a while back (can't remember where) that soon almost all cell phone providers were going to be giving up their numbers to soliciters. <<<

Urban legend. See the FTC website for info: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/04/dnc.htm and Snopes for details: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

Reply by Charles_Ca on 3/7/07 8:02pm
Msg #178909

I have complained to FTC and received a form letter back that basically said they do not investigate individual instances of annoyance calls or unsolicited commercial calls. I have listed my cell numbers on the DNC site and still get calls. I suspect that the calls I am getting however are being generated by predictive dialers and they just generate sequential phone numbers even though they are supposed to be scrubbed against the DNC lists.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 3/7/07 1:00pm
Msg #178811

Cingular just told me that calling an '800' number gives

the owner of that number permission to 'share' the calling number with "partners" [i.e., anyone they want].

The gal at Cingular said that there is a Do Not Call process online at www.donotcall.gov that apparently will block spamming numbers - from those who paid for the cell number - but not legitimate callers (like our business clients). She said the fine can be $100K for violating the list - I haven't verified that. She related a story about how out-of-control the TM spamming and cellamarketing can get. I'm going to try the Do Not Call list, and hope for the best.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 3/7/07 8:12pm
Msg #178914

Re: Cingular just told me that calling an '800' number gives

There may be a connection there (no pun intended). If you call a commercial site they can show that they have a "prior business relationship" which takes you out of the protection of the DNC lists. I have my cell numbers listed on the DNC and it is real easy to do but it takes 30 days before it takes effect and then there are companies that really do not care and it seems that while the law is on the books there appears to be little interest in enforcing it.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 3/7/07 2:17pm
Msg #178831

I don't have TM, still get unsolicited TMs. It's like email, you get them no matter how good your filters are. They will find you!

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 3/7/07 2:18pm
Msg #178832

P.S. I delete w/out reading, so no charge. n/m

Reply by Tookie on 3/7/07 4:20pm
Msg #178871

Re: P.S. I delete w/out reading, so no charge.

I have never heard that if you didn't read them they couldn't charge you for them. Is that across most carriers?

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 3/8/07 11:22am
Msg #178981

Re: P.S. I delete w/out reading, so no charge.

No, you misunderstood. I don't have text messaging in my contract, but I can use it at 50-cents per message.

I also don't have long distance in my contract, I use it on a per-minute basis.

I don't go out to signings yet, don't need to use the cell phone as much as y'all do.

Reply by NCLisa on 3/7/07 2:48pm
Msg #178843

I have Cingular also! I got 7 of those messages today. I can't cancel TM because my daughter TM's me from school during the day, and lives to TM her friends.