Does this violate any laws?

Now, I know there's FCC laws that prevent solicitations from toll free numbers before 8am or after 9pm. My question is if that law extends in to say religious groups. And to be more specific, if it allows fronts of the religious group to do the same.

Here's the story: A while back, a religious group was trying to recruit my friend. At the time, permission was given to that group to call after 9 pm since that's when he was available. Well for a while, they called nonstop and after about a month of failed attempts at recruiting my friend, they stopped calling.

Fast forward to now: My friend gets a call from a group of people who want to hire him, after 9pm. He hung up on them three times yet they called back each time until he finally talked to them. The people who want to hire him, it turns out, are just a front for the religious group who were trying to recruit him. So in other words, they're using a round-a-bout method to try and get him in to their group.

Now I know he gave consent to the first people, so that doesn't break any laws, but since they called under a different name and he did not give consent to those people to call after 9pm, does that make it illegal under FCC codes or any law?

2011-03-04T18:16:53Z

If it's not against the law, then what about getting them in trouble for harassment?

Any time they call, they will call three times in a row at least only leaving a message after they've finished their calling spree. Imagine if you had a close relative in an accident and someone was trying to get a hold of you to tell you. They'd call continuously and incessantly until either you picked up. That's pretty much how these people are calling my house.

I suppose I could block the number in the end, but I can't on the sole basis of one of our friends is already in the group and he calls from a similar number and I don't want to block him.

Nuff Sed2011-03-10T09:14:16Z

Favorite Answer

No, the existing federal telemarketing laws specifically exempt non-profits, including religious groups.

However, under state laws, NOBODY is allowed to call you after you have specifically told them not to. You can certainly report them to the police for harassment and you can certainly go to court for an injunction, violation of which would put them into criminal contempt of court.

chmacqueen2011-03-04T07:53:13Z

Nope, the laws are very vague with many loopholes and sounds like they used them to their advantage. Now it may be unethical but nothing one would win a suit over.