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Should carriers do more to stop the rise of telemarketing calls?
Jun 15, 2025
Since 2007, a Canadian company called Primus Technologieshas offeredfree blocking of telemarketing calls. In fact, two thirds of Primus customers say they like the telemarketing program, while 87 percent of those customers say that the drop in telemarketing calls is why they stay with Primus.
AsBangor Daily News reports, those in the U.S. would love such a program but will likely not see such a consumer-friendly service in their lifetime. While the Federal Trade Commission has tried to crack down on telemarketing abuse, they still receive almost 200,000 complaints a month.
One reason for the large amount of monthly complaints can be found by just reading the Federal Do Not Call restrictions. Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act passed by Congress in 1991, it’sillegalfor almost any business to solicit consumers by phone if they’ve registered on the Federal Trade Commission’s national “do not call” list. But these rulesdon’t applyto charities, poll takers, political groups or any business that you have made a purchase/delivery/payment at within 18 months. Therefore, telemarketing companies are now turning to nonprofits to solicit calls.
Some believe that wireless carriers are to blame for allowing telemarketing companies to continue harassing customers.
Others believe that the federal government is not allowing wireless carriers to properly address the issue.
Now, attorney generals from 38 states are asking the FTC to update and change federal rules about telemarketing rules. Specifically, they are asking, amongst other things,that the FTC:
According to theresults of a Harris Poll, the primary reason that wireless customers block calls on their smartphones is to avoid telemarketers. Second place is to avoid an ex-girlfriend.
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