Consumers swamped telephone and computer lines for Pennsylvania’s do-not-call list during its first day of existence.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, 206,000 people had signed up for the list, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, tying up special phone lines. An Internet site has drawn 5,000 hits per second.
Some callers dialed incorrectly and ended up talking to a bed-and-breakfast in Alaska, the Inquirer continued.
State Attorney General told the Inquirer that the phone and Internet systems were being upgraded to increase capacity.
The do-not-call list will be maintained by the Direct Marketing Association.
The DMA, which signed a contract with the state last week, will receive the names from the state and make them available to telemarketers. The list will be updated quarterly, and firms will have up to 30 days to update their files.
Sponsored by State Rep. Ron Raymond, House Bill 1469 became law last April.
In addition to the do-not-call measures, the law prohibits firms from intentionally blocking caller ID systems. However, it excludes charitable foundations and firms with an existing business relationship with the consumer.
“Today, Pennsylvanians have the power to hang a ‘do-not-disturb’ sign on their telephones and reclaim a piece of their privacy that has been relentlessly invaded by telemarketers,” Fisher said on Tuesday in a statement.
Network
