Are robotic phonecalls legal?

Probably are; wish they weren't. I've actually had calls like "Please hold for an important message." Now, you don't sell anything by calling a business to put them on hold. I have held till I got a live "representative" and unloaded about that that particular tactic.

Legal or not I hate getting them... Have you ever gotten one that says this message is for "Jane Smith" and it is a very important message about a meeting with there attorney..... How will they know that Jane gave them the wrong number and she will never get her important message?? That always happens to me!

Whether the calls are legally permitted or not depends on the relationship between the caller and called as well as the tax status of the caller.

Tax exempt charitable groups can use automated calling but a live body is supposed to pick up any answered line within a time limit (I believe it's 30 seconds).

Ant company that is calling customers that they already have an established relationship can also use them (these can't be 2nd hand relationships either. You have a relationship with your bank for example. An Insurance company that also has a relationship with your bank doens't necessarily have a relationship with you so they can't.)

People who are cold calling are prohibited from using automated callers. They can use an automated system that dials the numbers but it has to be a live body giving you the sales pitch.

If you want to file a complaint you can complain to the FCC and/or your state utilities commission (in some state's the State Atty. General takes all consumer complaints). Check their WWW sites.

Here's the basics of the law btw:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html

You state may have some additional laws as well.

Unless I've had some business dealings in the past that I don't recall, there is no relationship whatsoever between the company (ADT security) and I. This was a call to my private residential phoneline (though the number is listed).

Thankyou for the information, by the sounds of it the pitch was of at least dubious legality so I'll be contacting the FCC to clarify the issue and potentially make a complaint.