It's Hard To Give Telemarketers The Slip

As the article points out, "we don't sell your name and number" is often just a question of semantics. 

In the article, AT&T appears to have clean hands and distances itself from the problem by throwing its business partner, the directory-assistance company, under the bus.  Verizon doesn't come off much better either.  One would suppose that it has enough leverage with its business partners to insist that the information be protected and used appropriately as promised.

Whoever is at fault, it is the consumer whose wishes are not respected and who loses his privacy.  My simple solution (which may not work for everyone) is to simply not answer calls to my landline or cell from unfamiliar numbers.  

I love 'caller ID'.

How about an idea:

When you get a new phone number, list it under a fake name and tell anyone that calls that that person no longer is at that phone number.  Or if pushed, say "Mr. Smith does not exist...he is a fake or died x years ago".  Saves money from the phone company asking for an unlisted number fee.  How about a name: 'DN Call".  Stand for Do Not Call.  So you know when they ask for DN Call they got the number from either the phone book or directory assistance.  I would limit the listing to be excluded from the criss-cross directory (reverse listing from address to phone number).

OC Steve