How to Stop Robocallers

Today we’re going to learn about how to stop robocalls and your legal rights. Everybody hates robocalls. You hate them, I hate them, everyone here on the set hates them. So, how do you get them to stop?

Let’s start with your cell phone. You can get into your app store and look at call blocking apps. Some are free, some aren’t. Take a look at the reviews and see what looks best for you and what you can afford and maybe download one. Also, talk to your carrier about call blocking services – call Verizon, call AT&T, call T-Mobile.

Now your home phone. You can install a call blocking device. Again, read the reviews. If your home phone uses voice over, VOIP, subscribe to a call blocking service kind of like I just described with respect to cell phones.

But, what if you’re really, really aggravated? Well, robocalls are illegal. There’s a federal law that makes them illegal. It’s called the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The TCPA says that without prior express consent, somebody cannot make an autodialed call or text to your cell phone, a pre-recorded call to your cell phone or landline, or send you a fax without an established business relationship. And if a company does, guess what you’re owed? $500 per call, text, or fax. Now, if you can prove that the company acted intentionally, that amount can triple up to $1500. That’s real money.

One thing I always notice, that I’m sure you do to, is that a number comes up and looks a lot like yours – the same area code, same prefix, etc. You think you may know the person or that it may be important. But, it’s really a call from across the country or across the world. That’s a process called spoofing and it’s a trick. That’s what the schemers use to make you pick up, thinking it’s an important phone call.

So, the next time any of this happens to you and you think it ought to be illegal, now you know that it is. And maybe, just maybe, the robocallers will end up paying you.

That’s your shot of legal wellness for today. If you’d like to learn more, please subscribe. Until next time, I’m Danny Karon, your Lovable Lawyer.