If you own a fax machine or if you have access to a fax machine, you’ve probably received a few spam faxes every once in a while. Perhaps your fax machine receives an unbearable amount of junk advertisements. This occurs because telemarketers use AutoFax programs that dial many different combinations of numbers until a valid number is found, and once a valid number is found, that number is added to a list of valid fax numbers. Learning how to stop unwanted faxes is as simple as knowing the available methods for blocking calls and discouraging spammers from calling you again.
THE JUNK FAX PREVENTION ACT
n 2005, the Junk Fax Prevention Act amended the TCPA to permit the sending of unsolicited facsimile advertisements to individuals and businesses with which the sender has an established business relationship (EBR) and to provide a process by which any sender must cease sending such advertisements upon the request of the recipient. On April 5, 2006, the FCC adopted rules to implement the Junk Fax Prevention Act. Among other things, 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200 requires the sender of fax advertisements to provide notice and contact information on the fax that allows recipients to opt out of future fax transmissions from the sender and requires senders to honor opt out requests within the shortest reasonable period of time, not to exceed 30 days.
HOW TO OPT OUT OF UNSOLICITED JUNK FAXES
- Call the sender and opt out from their list. In the United States, the 2005 Junk Fax Prevention Act requires all fax marketers to provide a way for receivers to opt out of future faxes. Usually they will provide an opt-out telephone number, but sometimes they will provide a fax number, a website or an email address. You could contact any of the channels to stop junk faxes.
- Check if your fax machine has a feature that can block certain numbers. Consult your fax machine’s user manual and search for a way to block incoming numbers. Look around on the fax to see if the sender included his sending fax number. If the sending number is not included on the fax, then you can use the *57 method to trace unwanted calls and stop junk faxes.
- Request your phone company to block unidentified fax numbers. Most phone companies will have a Privacy Director service for fax lines. Call your phone company and ask to use this service which will stop junk faxes.
- File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In the world of fax, there doesn’t exist such a thing as a master “Do Not Fax” list. If someone sends you fax advertisements and if you never gave them express permission to send advertisements, you can file a complaint with the FCC to stop junk faxes.
If you are still receiving unsolicited faxes, especially after taking the measures prescribed above, call a qualified lawyer on (877) 700-5790.
