How to sue telemarketers and win

[Renew Deal]

When was the last time you ran to answer the phone, discovered it was a telemarketer, and said to yourself, "Excellent! The call I've been waiting for."

That's what I thought -- and it's why I jumped at the opportunity recently to talk to Steve Ostrow, author of "How to Sue a Telemarketer -- A Guide to Creating Peace on Earth One Telephone Call at a Time." This lawyer/comedian (he moonlights as a Kramer impersonator, from the TV series "Seinfeld") has made it his mission to turn that annoying dinner interruption into a moment of avarice-tinged, devilish glee.

His book is funny -- or so he tells me -- but telemarketing calls aren't, at least for most people. Fortunately, the law is on the side of consumers in this matter. Though most people feel helpless to do anything about this annoyance, a few key pieces of information can eliminate that sense of victimization.

"Suing telemarketers can be a hobby," says Ostrow. And like collecting stamps or antiques, it can occasionally pay a hefty cash reward. "I make more money suing telemarketers than I did from this book," he offers.

His book details what information you need to gather when you receive a telemarking call (the caller's phone number, business name, mailing address) and what to say to bolster your case (ask for the company's do-not-call manual, for one thing).

If you've listed your phone number with the national Do No Call registry, asked the company not to call you, asked to be put on that company's internal do-not-call list, and requested that company's do-not-call manual, yet the outfit ignores your wishes and calls you anyway, you might feel helpless. Ostrow suggests, instead, that it's high time you cashed in on this company's willful disregard of the law and your rights. It's not that hard -- and it's very satisfying.
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http://www.infoworld.com/d/adventures-in-it/how-sue-telemarketers-and-win-843