WASHINGTON – Telemarketers will soon find it more difficult to bother you on your landline or mobile phone.
Starting Oct. 16, the Federal Communications Commission prohibits callers from using a prerecorded message to reach customers without their written consent. The policy falls under tightened rules in the , which now requires that all businesses have your signed written agreement before they can contact you through an auto-dial.
Businesses caught violating new policies could face hefty penalties per call.
The FCC revisions are analogous to a Federal Trade Commission rule that went into effect on Sept. 1, 2009.
Tired of too many robocalls? The FTC suggests you hang up and tell authorities. Find more information on . You may report the robocalls to the FTC at 1-888-382-1222.
This article has been amended to correctly identify the federal agency involved as the FCC.
草莓传媒’s Rosemary Frisino-Toohey contributed to this report. Follow on Twitter.
