Kokua Line June Watanabe

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Telemarketers may not call homes at 3 a.m.

Question: At 3:12 a.m. one morning, my home phone rang. A recorded voice told me that I could get a new mortgage at a bargain if I would leave them my name and number. I am not shopping for a mortgage, and especially not at 3:12 a.m. A co-worker mentioned she, too, got a call like this at 3 a.m. There was no way to identify the company, and my caller ID just read "out of area." Is there anything short of unplugging the phone that I can do to avoid such sleep-interrupting calls?

Answer: The first step would be to register your phone with the National Do Not Call Registry, which would stop most unwanted telemarketing calls.

Call toll-free (888) 382-1222 from the number you want to register, or register online at www.donotcall.gov.

It sounds as if the caller is violating several federal regulations, foremost the ones prohibiting telemarketing calls before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. and not identifying itself in any way.

The FCC prohibits calls using prerecorded voice messages to residential telephone numbers except in specified circumstances, such as emergencies, with prior consent, noncommercial calls that do not solicit, calls on behalf of nonprofit organizations or from entities with which you have an established business relationship.

Under FCC regulations, anyone making a telephone solicitation must identify themselves and whom they represent, and provide a telephone number or address where they may be contacted.

On top of all of this, if you have caller ID, telemarketers are required to reveal their phone number, including a number that you can call during regular business hours to ask that the company stop calling you. Showing "private," "out of area" or "unavailable" is not acceptable.

If you can determine who called, you can file a complaint with the FCC by e-mailing donotcall@fcc .gov, going online at www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html, calling (888) 225-5322 (or (888) 835-5322 TTY), or writing to Federal Communications Commission, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division, 445 12th St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20554.

The FCC can issue citations or impose fines against violators.

Check www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html for more information.

Apology extended

I want to apologize to the young lady who was in her car in a handicapped parking stall at the Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kapahulu. I pulled into a parking space, not realizing that she had been waiting for that stall. When she told me, I responded very gruffly. In hindsight, I realize that I acted rudely and hope she sees this apology. -- No Name