Attorney General's News Release

April 29, 2002

AARP survey shows 76 percent of Missourians support closing No Call loopholes

Jefferson City, Mo. — Missourians view telemarketing calls as an invasion of their privacy, and more than three-quarters of those surveyed support closing the loopholes to the state's current No Call law, the Missouri AARP said today. A survey conducted for the AARP between March 22 and April 12 indicated that 76 percent of all Missourians are aware of the No Call program and four in 10 of those surveyed were already registered on the No Call list.

"The legislature acted wisely when they passed the No Call laws, and our survey should help them realize the public's support for going a step further and closing the loopholes," said Norma Collins of the Missouri AARP. "There is strong public support for this action."

Collins said the AARP is concerned that telemarketers often prey on the elderly and can secure banking information and credit card numbers from unsuspecting citizens. The survey shows that almost half of Missouri residents find it very or somewhat difficult to tell whether a telemarketing call is legitimate.

"We suspect that number increases dramatically with the age of the person being targeted," Collins said.

The No Call program, run by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, has been in effect since July. Nixon's office reports 948,000 phone lines signed up, representing almost 2.5 million Missourians. Nixon said lobbyists have blocked consideration of bills to close the loopholes by the full bodies of the Senate and the House.

"The report by the AARP confirms what the public has been telling me," Nixon said. "They support No Call and they want the loopholes closed. I am concerned that the legislature for the second year has not acted. This is a classic example of the will of the people being superseded by the will of the lobbyists."

Bills to close the loopholes have been introduced by state Sen. Ted House, of St. Charles, and state Rep. Rick Johnson, of High Ridge. Both lawmakers say they will use the survey to demonstrate to members of the legislative body the support for closing the loopholes.

"The AARP recognizes that this program protects its members from those who would use the telephone to rip-off senior citizens," House said. "They want us to finish the job and close the loopholes and I am committed to doing just that."

"The will of the people should be respected," Johnson said. "This survey confirms that the people want the loopholes closed."

The AARP survey shows that of the companies that have loopholes in the law, telephone companies make the most calls, with 53 percent of those surveyed noting that they have received telemarketing calls from telephone companies after their numbers were placed on the No Call list. A total of 42 percent of those responding to the survey reported that they received calls from credit card companies and other financial institutions.

Eighty-four percent of Missourians report receiving fewer calls since signing up for the No Call list, and 34 percent of those surveyed who are on the list say they have received no calls.

Speaker of the House Jim Kreider, of Nixa, has not assigned Rep. Johnson's bill, HB 1228, for a hearing or vote. An interim committee appointed by Kreider studied the issue and recommended that exemptions remain in the law at this point because the law had only been in effect a short time.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818