By The Way...

Tuesday, February 13, 2007
10:43:00 AM EST
Hearing Nothing at the moment
How to sue telemarketers, and win! (maybe):

When André-Tascha Lammé was granted a judgment of $3,500 last month in a Sacramento, Calif., small claims court, he heard gasps.

“You could hear people in the courtroom saying, ‘You can sue telemarketers?’” he said. You can. In fact, you can make some decent cash for your trouble.

Lammé started getting pelted with calls from mortgage brokers last year, just as his adjustable rate mortgage was about to reset. Like many consumers, he quickly reached the boiling point over the frequent interruptions. But unlike many consumers, the computer programmer took the time to educate himself – perhaps owing to the spirit of his grandmother, a lawyer for several decades – and quickly discovered the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Be sure to read the details in the article, because it explains how this doesn't always work, and why (and how) you need to pick and choose your battles. One of the nice things here, however, if that if you successfully sue a telemarketer, I'm guessing they'll take you off their lists for good. Because, you know. You've cost them money.

The fellow featured in the article has his own Web site, too (of course!)


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This entry has 4 comments: (Add your own)

• #4 Comment from monponsett 
  2/14/07 8:35 AM | Permalink

  I just do the right thing in that instance, and turn the phone over to Gabrielle. She's 5, and she likes to talk. They rarely call back.
• #3 Comment from schoolgal040 
  2/14/07 3:33 AM | Permalink

  Thank you for sharing this article John. Very informative. I have a little trick for telemarketers: I keep a very loud whistle by my phone and when I KNOW it's a telemarketer, I let them have with my whistle. They do NOT call back...LOL I know that sounds mean but I get so tired of these calls and I am on the Do Not Call Registry. Fat lot a good that did! LOL
  
  Gayla
  http://journals.aol.com/schoolgal040/Unfussy/
• #2 Comment from tendernoggle 
  2/13/07 1:51 PM | Permalink

  Thanks John....very useful info!
  carlene
• #1 Comment from psychfun 
  2/13/07 10:52 AM | Permalink

  Very cool...I'll have to remember this!