Lately, I have been receiving so many telephone solicitations and survey calls, which I don’t understand because my number is registered on the federal “do not call” registry.
Lately, the polls have really gotten to me. I am getting at least one or two each week! These so-called polls are really push polls because there is no way to answer it except in a manner that drives the pollsters to get the answer they want!
Today’s call from 503-468-5008 took these calls to a whole new level – especially in rainy fall Vermont with winter on its way. This survey from CFPP Research offered me a 2-day get-away to the Bahamas if I would just answer their survey about our country’s debt crisis! Luckily, right now it is sunny and warm out or I might have been tempted. Instead I just hit the button to have me removed from their call list.
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When I did some research to determine who CFPP is, I found this note from them:
All –
CFPP Research Group is the political action arm of Political Boost LLC (www.politicalboost.org). If you receive a call to do the survey, do it (or don’t). As far as the sponsor’s offer, do it (or don’t). If you would like to be removed from the list, press 9 – or you can call us directly at 202-552-1228 and speak with Political Boost directly.
Our goal is to increase participation in the surveys to get and report the pulse of the nation. Not to annoy or anger anyone. If our system mistakenly calls you more than once, we anxiously await your notification and request to be removed from consideration. Below is all of our information should you need to reach us for any reason:
Political Boost LLC
c/o Committee for Political Progress
P.O. Box 65307
Baltimore, MD 21209
Ph: 202-552-1228
fax: 202-747-5822
www.politicalboost.orgThank you,
Political Boost Team
I checked out politicalboost.org, but was unable to find out any other information about their political leanings or agenda. Maybe they are what they really purport to be, a survey group, but then why dangle the carrot of a two-day jaunt to the Bahamas if what you are really seeking is honest opinions about the country’s fiscal crisis?
— and decided to forego the tempting chance to vacation in the Bahamas, because, well — call me cynical, but I don’t think anyone is giving away trips like that just for answering a question.
But a) I recent calls that ignore the do-not-call registry, and b) I find it ludicrous that I should need to call them if their “system” mistakenly calls me twice. No, CFPP, if you call me after the first time, then I can sue you for violating the federal do-not-call rules, and I will not hesitate to do so.
There are several key exemptions to the Do Not Call list. Chief among them are political candidates and organizations, charities, and surveys.
They would lose their exemption if they were attempting to sell something using the pretense of survey, but if they are actually conducting a survey, they are exempt.
… if you ask to be included on it, you have to ask again every five years. If you don’t, your number goes off the Registry and you’re fair game for phone solicitations of any stripe.
I fell victim to this little time trap myself. I noticed a sharp uptick in solicitations last year, and found out that my number’s listing had expired. I renewed my request, and the quantity of solicitations went down significantly.