I guess we'll table this for now.

[blimix]

cos had asked me to provide updates on that annoying telemarketer situation. When I called the FTC back a week later with my reference number, the person I spoke to (different one) told me that they didn't pursue individual cases (which I knew), and that therefore they wouldn't have sought the trace information. (That doesn't follow: A class action suit could benefit from that trace.) She didn't think they even had the authority to request it, since they weren't a "law enforcement agency". (I would guess that Verizon would gladly hand over trace information for an FTC investigation.) I got a very clear, "I can't help you because I'm not interested in helping you" message. In all respects, this was the opposite of the response I got the first time.

I would try going back to my (likely hopeless) plan of sending the complaint to the state Attorney General, but I'm somewhat disinclined to throw any more energy at getting useless bureaucrats* to do the job of the useless police, to track down worthless scamming scumbags.

* (who do succeed in getting in my way, which is what bureaucrats are for, so maybe they're not completely useless)

...

(Reminder to self and other forgetful people: Strike begins tonight at 8:00 Eastern time.)

Comments

[corpsefairy.livejournal.com]

Weird. I don't know the details of your situation or exactly what you're trying to do, but the past several times I've complained to the FCC about telemarketers, they've sent me nice letters saying "thanks, the offenders have been fined or warned."

[blimix.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when we have a name or phone number for the telemarketers, it's easy. (Though we never get follow-up letters.) But these assholes don't give out either one. The only way I know to catch them is by tracing the call, so I did. But Verizon won't release the number to me. And I can't get any authorities at all to just pick up the damn phone, call Verizon, and get that number so it can be reported properly.

[beth_leonard]

Frequently the Attorney General is an elected position. When voters talk to elected officials the ears aren't as deaf as when you talk to buracrats. It may help the official get some action taken. IMHO it's worth writing that final letter detailing your struggles.

--Beth

[cos]

This is definitely the point at which you get a legislator's office involved. Probably your US Representative.

[blimix.livejournal.com]

Except that we haven't been getting those calls anymore, and I don't even remember when the trace was. That leaves me short of both ability and motivation (even aside from having been busier lately), but thinking that at least someone took care of it.

With the more general issue of inaction on the part of the local police, well... Inaction is about the best thing I've ever known them for. Otherwise, it's incompetence, belligerence and blatant corruption.