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There needs to be postage imposed on connecting calls between systems, payable to the person called, and potentially refundable upon lack of complaint for being

There needs to be postage imposed on connecting calls between systems, payable to the person called, and potentially refundable upon lack of complaint for being unsolicited. This could work for email spam, as well. Bonus if people get to set their own postage rates.

chrsstrm 7y ago
Sure, because that totally would never be abused to facilitate illegal payments or to launder funds.
- beerandt 7y ago
  It would obviously all have a paper trail. I don't see how it would have any advantages over check, money order, wired funds, etc.
NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Well there was a guy in the UK who set up a premium number after getting sick of cold sales calls. All companies get his 10p/minute number as contact (he gets 7p of that). Only friends and family get the real underlying number. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23869462 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23869462
- beerandt 7y ago
  I like the idea, but it doesn't solve the problem of when your real number makes it onto call lists. But I do like the idea of giving out a 1-900 number to people. It would certainly get some interesting reactions, depending on context.
  - mattkrause 7y ago
    Is there even a list? I had assumed they were just umm...enumerating all the numbers.
  - dredmorbius 7y ago
    There are few available phone numbers which aren't already on numerous telemarketing / robospam systems. Exhaustive wardialing is highly tractable. I've had numerous recent mobile and/or office numbers beseiged by dunning and marketing calls, apparently aimed at earlier holders (if even targeted at all).
nikanj 7y ago
It's called a termination fee, and it already exists. Alas, it's payable to the receiving operator, not the receiving person - meaning that your telco actually makes money on every single spam call you get. Talk about perverse incentives! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_rates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_rates
- beerandt 7y ago
  What I'm describing would need to be large enough to be a deterrent, in regards to being truthful or not (or solicited vs unsolicited). That's why I like the idea of something pre-paid but refundable. There might also be something of value in only refunding the fee to the CNAM entity, which would at least offer some incentive to not lie about being associated.

chrsstrm 7y ago

Sure, because that totally would never be abused to facilitate illegal payments or to launder funds.

beerandt 7y ago
It would obviously all have a paper trail. I don't see how it would have any advantages over check, money order, wired funds, etc.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago

Well there was a guy in the UK who set up a premium number after getting sick of cold sales calls. All companies get his 10p/minute number as contact (he gets 7p of that). Only friends and family get the real underlying number. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23869462 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23869462

beerandt 7y ago
I like the idea, but it doesn't solve the problem of when your real number makes it onto call lists. But I do like the idea of giving out a 1-900 number to people. It would certainly get some interesting reactions, depending on context.
- mattkrause 7y ago
  Is there even a list? I had assumed they were just umm...enumerating all the numbers.
- dredmorbius 7y ago
  There are few available phone numbers which aren't already on numerous telemarketing / robospam systems. Exhaustive wardialing is highly tractable. I've had numerous recent mobile and/or office numbers beseiged by dunning and marketing calls, apparently aimed at earlier holders (if even targeted at all).

nikanj 7y ago

It's called a termination fee, and it already exists. Alas, it's payable to the receiving operator, not the receiving person - meaning that your telco actually makes money on every single spam call you get. Talk about perverse incentives! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_rates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_rates

beerandt 7y ago
What I'm describing would need to be large enough to be a deterrent, in regards to being truthful or not (or solicited vs unsolicited). That's why I like the idea of something pre-paid but refundable. There might also be something of value in only refunding the fee to the CNAM entity, which would at least offer some incentive to not lie about being associated.