Junk faxes

[Relztrah]

Does anybody know how I can PERMANENTLY get off these junk fax lists? I get about one a day and it's using up my paper and toner, not to mention wear-and-tear on my fax machine plus a busy signal for whoever might be faxing me something I actually want to receive. I dial the removal number, but it doesn't seem to help. (In fact, I suspect that it has the same effect as clicking the removal link on a junk e-mail.) For a while I was sending them on to Fax Police, but I continue to get them. Any suggestions?

Relztrah

[PrntRhd]

There is a law stating you cannot send faxes to someone you do not have a business relationship with but getting someone to enforce it is a difficult thing. They will claim you accepted faxes previously so you have an ongoing business relationship.

[classicsoftware]

Start calling the 800 number and run up their phone bills.

[PrntRhd]

You can return the fax taped together in a loop and run out their paper.
:D

[Relztrah]

I suspect that the 800 removal number does NOT connect to the company sending the fax--usually for a vacation, stock purchase suggestion, buy back and purchase of a new copier, etc., etc., etc. My guess is that it goes to an operator service or fulfullment company and in fact the removal number always has the same recording: "Your fax number has been removed from the database." I don't know WHICH database because the following day I receive another fax for yet another vacation.

I would attempt the tape and loop trick, but there is not a fax number on the sheet. Nor is it printed on top of the page where normally you see the outgoing fax number. (These folks have thought of everything.)

Of course the other option is to just start calling these people and acting like I'm interested in taking their dream vacation and then telling them to get me off their stupid list. But I suspect that I would be told to call the removal number. Furthermore this is happening at work and I don't have time to spend the day calling and waiting. In fact the faxes I constantly receive to purchase stock don't even have a number to call to contact a broker or anything. It's just a sales pitch for some stock that supposedly I'm getting inside information about and I should rush out and buy shares before the price skyrockets.

But these are all good suggestions. I've even thought of getting a new fax number, but all of our printed material (business cards, brochures, letterhead, etc.) has our current fax and this is not really a solution.

But keep thinking...there's got to be a solution.

Relztrah

[Abbadon]

couldn't you somehow get the senders faxnumber from the phone-company and then have it blocked?

[Donn]

>I suspect that the 800 removal number does NOT connect to the company >sending the fax--


No, but it probably does connect to a recording device that they use to #1 verify that you are there, and that you have 'established a business relationship' with them, and #2 contributes to the list of numbers they sell to other senders


>I would attempt the tape and loop trick, but there is not a fax number >on the sheet. Nor is it printed on top of the page where normally you >see the outgoing fax number. (These folks have thought of everything.)

Very long shot...try star 69 as soon as the fax comes in

>Of course the other option is to just start calling these people and >acting like I'm interested in taking their dream vacation and then >telling them to get me off their stupid list.


Ah, no, that would establish the relationship and etc. as above. Try get in touch with one of the "stop telemarketing" groups and see if they have anything, but, uhmmm, probably NOT a good idea to let them fax you anything...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=%22stop+telemarketing%22


It's amzing to me that there isn't an FCC provision that prevents sending business faxes without a return number printed on them.

Good luck, I know how you feel, I had to turn my automatic fax receiving function off for 6 months to get rid of the Disney World solicitations. They finally gave up. . . 3 AM I used to hear them coming into my home number.

It is also REALLY amazing to me that someone hasn't invented a little box to disconnect from numbers that do not send a return fax number. I have heard that "Telezapper" does something like this and that it works, but I do not know that first hand.

Edit: Stop faxes:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=%22stop+faxes%22

[John0904]

Not sure if this works for a fax number, but worth a try.

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

I signed up 3 months before they started and have not yet received any calls. (regular home phone)

[PrntRhd]

but there is not a fax number on the sheet. Nor is it printed on top of the page where normally you see the outgoing fax number. (These folks have thought of everything.)
That is a violation of FCC regulations by itself. Send the received fax to FCC with an explanation and ask for investigation. Your telecom might also be able to help if you show them the violation.

[Donn]

Actually I'd bet you'd get better faster results if you sent a copy of it to your Senator and your Rep in Washington, and your state rep., with the explanation, and if you can site the law it makes it easier on them.


:D

[Relztrah]

In case you're interested, here's the law requiring some kind of identification on the fax:

US Code Title 47, chapter 5, Subchapter II, Part I, Sec. 227, paragraph (d)(1)(B) which reads as follows:

It shall be unlawful for any person within the United States--

(B) to use a computer or other electronic device to send any
message via a telephone facsimile machine unless such person
clearly marks, in a margin at the top or bottom of each
transmitted page of the message or on the first page of the
transmission, the date and time it is sent and an identification
of the business, other entity, or individual sending the message
and the telephone number of the sending machine or of such
business, other entity, or individual.


I wrote to the company that the junk fax is trying to get me to buy stock in--not the same people sending the fax--explaining to them that they are in voilation of US law. Hopefully this will get some response. I also mentioned in my correspondence that the toll-free removal number is worthless.

I'm going to stop calling the removal number since I suspect that it only registers my fax number in some database for yet another junk faxer to start sending me trash.


Relztrah

[Donn]

Hey, good work, thanks, that'll come in handy :)