TORRANCE TRIBUNE August 16, 2012 Page 7 Finance Stop Annoying Telemarketing Calls By Jason alderman calls at the Do Not Call website or phone When the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act number. Remember, though: Debt collectors of 2003 was passed, it was supposed to herald may continue to call you, whether or not your a new era of silence – as in, no more annoying number is registered. dinner-time telemarketing calls. Based on the Here are a few additional tips for reducing receives nearly a decade later, however, I’d Use Caller ID to screen incoming calls. By Directory of our Advertiserscall volume: number of unsolicited calls our household still say the law has been had only mixed success. law, telemarketers must use some iteration of Please support our advertisers. Shop locally. True, the sheer volume of calls did drop their business name in their onscreen ID, but significantly after we registered our home and many unscrupulous organizations will attempt 1440 bistro & bar 310-640-1070 cell phone numbers with the Federal Trade to “spoof” you by providing misleading Bank of Manhattan 310-606-8000 Commission’s National Do Not Call Registry. identifying information. Bipro Computers 310-640-0000 But because so many types of organizations If you don’t recognize the name or number Body Doc 310-546-6863 are exempt from the legislation and so many you can either take the call or let it go to Brian R. Brandlin, Attorney at Law 310-540-6000 shady companies flout the rules, everyone I voicemail. If the line goes dead, that usually California Small Business Development Center 310-973-3177 know still gets pestered relentlessly. means it was a robo-call and there was no live Centinela Feed and Pet Supplies 310-373-4437 There are steps you can take to curtail operator available. Either way, you’ll likely City ES: Recreation & Parks 310-524-2701 annoying calls; and just as important, ways to continue to receive calls unless you take action. Chevron 310-322-2614 avoid falling for telemarketing scams: If a message is left and you think the Church of Scientology 310-419-8200 First, if you haven’t already done so, register organization is legitimate, call them back to Continental Development Corporation 310-640-1520 your phone numbers with the registry, either request being taken off their own internal David Schat’s Bakery 310-524-9895 online at www.donotcall.gov or by calling Do Not Call list, which they’re required to Davis & DeRosa Physical Therapy 310-648-3167 888-382-1222 from each phone you wish to maintain by law or face steep fines. If you Douglass Mortuary 310-640-9325 enroll. Although it’s illegal for telemarketers suspect the call is a scam, go straight to filing El Segundo Catering Company 310-283-0071 to call wireless phones, you may want to a complaint. El Segundo Concert Band 424-242-3722 register them just in case. You can also use your phone carrier’s call- ESF Financial Planning Group 310-706-4123 Be aware that certain organizations are blocking function to prevent future calls from Good Stuff Restaurant 310-647-9997 exempt from the Do Not Call regulations barring that number. However, this step won’t do much Hank’s Pizza 310-335-0066 contact. Charities, political organizations, good if someone is harvesting and selling your Harry’s and McCoy’s Moving 310-329-3493 telephone surveyors and companies with which phone number to multiple telemarketers; plus, Kirby’s Pet Depot 310-322-7381 you’ve done business in the last 18 months (and many carriers limit the number of callers you Mandy’s Restaurant 310-322-7272 their affiliates and business partners) are still can block. Mattel Toy Store 310-252-3355 allowed to contact you unless you specifically And finally: You can notify specific sellers in McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant 310-416-1123 request to be removed from their lists. writing that you wish to continue receiving their Metro 323-466-3876 Telemarketers have up to 31 days to update calls. Just be aware that some marketers may Murad 310-726-0470 their lists, so if you’re not currently registered attempt to obtain such consent surreptitiously Pacific Inn 310-543-1174 it could take that long for calls to cease. After via innocent-seeming solicitations or emails. Providence Little Company of Mary Medical 310-618-9200 that, you can file complaints about unwanted See Telemarketing, page 16 Regatta Capitol 310-725-9102 Jeffrey S. Rhind, DDS 310-322-4232 St. John’s Child Development Center 310-615-0211 residents from front page St. John’s Lutheran Church 310-615-1072 Salvation Army (Torrance Corps) 310-370-4515 we get from citizens that are watching out “We have a large community, but because Sears Del Amo Fashion Center 310-214-7000 for their neighborhoods.” we bring different streets together people have Snax Burgers 310-640-9766 Walteria Neighborhood Watch Block gotten to know each other. Kids have get to Studio Antiques 310-416-1233 Captain Robin Lomas has been a part of the know each other and friendships have been Tanners Sewing and Vacuum Repairs 310-670-2429 neighborhood watch for seven years and has made,” Trelease said. “It really has made our The Law Offices of CR Abrams 877-322-9778 seen the benefits of being a part of such an community so tight that there is this sense The Jewelry Source 310-322-7110 organization and participating in this national of trust and calm knowing that we know The Soup Bar 855-768-7227 event. “We feel that it is good for community people three blocks away.” The Tavern on Main 310-322-3645 because in this day and age, people don’t Lomas added, “The kids are so happy Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation 310-378-8100 know who their neighbors are, people don’t and we also have the police here--and there Torrance Farmer’s Market 310-781-7520 get out and talk,” Lomas said. “This is a is no fear for the police, so the kids know Torrance Memorial Medical Center 310-325-9110 way for us block captains to make sure that that the police are here to keep them safe. Torrance Memorial Urgent Care (Manhattan Beach) 310-939-7873 people are on our e-mail train, which goes This is also about letting neighbors know Torrance Memorial Urgent Care (Torrance) 310-921-7100 out to let people know if anything happens that calling 9-1-1 and being aware of what’s Torrance Unified School District 310-972-6500 in the neighborhood. It is a good way for happening is important. If something does Valentino’s Pizza 310-426-9494 us to meet our neighbors, and once a year not look right, it does not matter if you’re Very Important Pet 310-513-4095 it’s just a fabulous way to meet everyone. not sure. Just make the phone call. An officer Vinny’s Pizza 310-322-5464 We have about 350 neighbors that show up can drive by and check it out. It’s about not Vistamar School 310-643-7377 to the block party. We get to meet people, being afraid of the police and knowing that VMX Gym 310-607-9121 we get to see faces and get to know their they are here to support us.” Liz Worden, Wells Fargo Mortgage 310-487-8957 names. It isn’t hard for people to meet the Organizing a neighborhood watch group REALTORS people that live around them.” is not difficult and the process simply Alex Abad 310-877-6488 For Neighborhood Watch Block Captain requires organizing a few neighbors willing Zeke Aceves 310-951-8679 Maureen Trelease, the benefits of being a to be a part of the group. At that point, the Kirk Brown 310-322-2726 part of such an organization that participates process can be facilitated by contacting the Kirk Brown Jr. 310-322-0066 in these events include public safety as well Torrance Police Department Community Kelly Burner 310-941-2994 as networking with the officers responsible Affairs Division. “The police department Shane Falkenstein 310-678-0578 for patrolling the streets. is so responsive and helpful in coming out Charles Fisher 310-902-7214 “What I have taken away is that we have to these events,” Trelease said. “Ten years Shiela Fowler 310-529-9922 just one of the most amazing, proactive police ago it was a bit different, but now they go Elisa Gans 310-245-1201 departments around,” Trelease said. “We door to door to help people. If you call the Roger Hart 310-781-2000 have so many good police officers. A lot of department, officers will come out and guide Janine Maples 310-385-3143 them live in Torrance and they just really you through your first neighborhood watch Jim Marak 310-322-1900 care about the community and they want meeting.” Eloise Mendez 310-322-9761 to do a good job. The really do want to get Lomas concluded, “We do have Lynn O’Neil 310-261-0798 to know the community and really want to neighborhood watch meetings with the Bill Ruane 310-877-2374 be in partnership with us, and get to know police officers that come talk to us and Ken Schofield 310-322-4660 who lives in the neighborhood. I just think let us know who the people in charge Karen Sellers 310-968-6375 that it’s amazing.” of our area are. As a block captain, we John Skulick 310-350-4240 Also involved with organizing the block have gotten to know a lot of the officers Rose Van Hook 310-350-5920 party were several local businesses that in charge of our area. It is definitely nice donated raffle prizes and other items to help having that relationship with the police Listing enhancements: make the event possible. Trelease believes and letting them know that if we call in Listing bolded $1.00 per week that part of the efforts behind National Night and say that we have seen something, we Address $1.00 per week Out include the safety and well-being of just say we are from the neighborhood Website $5.00 per week the business community, which is strongly watch and it catches their attention. They Free listings are available for advertisers that run ads at least twelve times a year. connected to the residents. know it’s not just a random call.” •
Torrance 8.16.12
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