# Phone Rage At "Extended Auto Warranty" Scammer **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 21, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777 "2009-07-21T20:45:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/81 "2009-07-24T12:05:27Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Don’t be silly. EVERYONE knows they’re shit out of the asses of the elder telemarketers. Young telemarketers are what happens when anal sex goes horribly, horribly wrong. I thought that was how lawyrers were made. 😕 And lawyers are the larval form of politicians. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/82 "2009-07-24T14:38:51Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > Does anyone know if any of the people who actually bought an extended car warranty from these people got a legitimate warranty out of it or was it the equivalent of sending the cash overage back to someone who paid you by money order? My suspicion is that they are ‘legal’. However, any money paid by them to you for a car issue would only happen if they planned to use you in a commercial. That is my suspicion. SOmething like the life insurance with no doctor checkup…they can do it because they don’t acually cover/pay out for your death for x years…after which you’ve paid more in premiums then they would pay out in your death. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/83 "2009-07-25T15:54:57Z")
I get so many calls from extended warranty people ,that i do not answer a call with a number I do not recognize. There must be huge profit in health insurance for cars. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/84 "2009-07-25T16:58:36Z")
I have a perfect solution for this. 1-900 numbers for all. You can call me at the rate of $5.00 per minute. I have a code I punch in at the end of the call if I choose to refund your money. You better hope the call is as important to me as it apparently was to you. I would wager that this would be surprisingly cost effective to initiate. The telephone companies already keep track of who called who, and for how long, and billing is completely automated these days. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/85 "2009-07-25T17:02:47Z")
Now _that_ is a plan i could get behind. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/86 "2009-07-25T22:24:10Z")
> [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > I just treat all the ones that call me like shit. Because I’m on the DNC. Any telemarketer calling me is already violating the provisions of the DNC, and most definitely deserves whatever they get on the other end of the line. Not entirely true. From the FTC’s website, Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/87 "2009-07-25T22:43:49Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > I have a perfect solution for this. 1-900 numbers for all. You can call me at the rate of $5.00 per minute. I have a code I punch in at the end of the call if I choose to refund your money. You better hope the call is as important to me as it apparently was to you. I would wager that this would be surprisingly cost effective to initiate. The telephone companies already keep track of who called who, and for how long, and billing is completely automated these days. The problem with this is that spammers already spoof their numbers. How can you be sure the spammer is actually being billed and how do you collect? Double hard as a lot of these are overseas. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/88 "2009-07-25T23:07:44Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Not entirely true. From the FTC’s website, > > Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls. Though I suppose the FTC labels these kinds of calls as telemarketing by definition, I don’t consider them to be that. Political organizers, charities, and telephone surveyors aren’t trying to sell me something; and any company with whom I have an existing business relationship is generally one I don’t mind talking to. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/89 "2009-07-26T00:11:03Z")
Try this: The next time one of them calls you, say “You know, I was just wondering if my warranty was about to expire. Hang on - let me see if I can find my documentation.” Then wait for long enough that you think they’ll still be on the line, and say “I’m sorry, it’s not the car I thought it was. I have several. Which car is about to run out of warranty?” The spammer won’t know, because it’s a random cold call. So he’ll give you some BS song and dance. Interrupt him, and say “Never mind, I’ll go check the other documentation. Please wait.” Then just never go back to the phone. If you really want to make sure you waste the maximum amount of his time, you’ve got to sound like you’re really interested. Here in Canada, the government set up a ‘do not call’ registry. They then made the ‘do not call’ list available to telemarketers, who universally responded with, “Hey! List of valid phone numbers! Sweet!” And everyone who put their names on the do not call list had their spam calls increase dramatically. D’oh! Anyone with half a brain should have seen that coming. Which is why the government didn’t, of course. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/90 "2009-07-26T00:20:53Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Here in Canada, the government set up a ‘do not call’ registry. They then made the ‘do not call’ list available to telemarketers, who universally responded with, “Hey! List of valid phone numbers! Sweet!” And everyone who put their names on the do not call list had their spam calls increase dramatically. D’oh! > > Anyone with half a brain should have seen that coming. Which is why the government didn’t, of course. Huh? How the fuck are the telemarketers supposed to know which numbers they’re not allowed to call if they don’t have access to the list? Are they just supposed to guess? From the US [Q&A for Telemarketers and Sellers About the Do Not Call Provisions of the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule](http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/alerts/alt129.shtm): > [@](#): > > **11. Who can access the national registry?** > > Access to the national registry is limited to sellers, telemarketers and other service providers. Sellers are companies that provide, offer to provide, or arrange for others to provide goods or services to a customer in return for some type of payment as part of a telemarketing transaction. Telemarketers are companies that make telephone calls to consumers on behalf of sellers. Service providers are companies that offer services to sellers engaged in telemarketing transactions, such as providing lists of telephone numbers to call, or removing telephone numbers from the sellers’ lists. > > Some sellers are exempt from the FTC’s rules, but are required to access the registry under the FCC’s rules. As explained above, some entities (Exempt Organizations) are exempt from accessing the national registry under both agencies’ rules (see “10. What is an Exempt Organization?”). These Exempt Organizations still may access the registry voluntarily, and do not have to pay a fee for that access. They must, however, submit appropriate certification information to gain access to the registry. > > **12. Can I use numbers on the registry for any purpose other than preventing telemarketing calls?** > > No. The registry may not be used for any purpose other than preventing telemarketing calls to the telephone numbers on the registry. Any entity that accesses the national registry will be required to certify, under penalty of law, that it is accessing the registry solely to comply with the TSR or to prevent calls to numbers on the registry. Use of the registry for purposes other than those set forth in the certificate could subject you to legal action. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/91 "2009-07-26T00:47:15Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Not entirely true. From the FTC’s website, > > Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls. I’d love to see the DNC list expanded to include calls from all these folks, except the ones that I’ve given express written agreement to call me. No, I DON’T want Sears to call me about my vacuum cleaner’s warranty. They know my address, they can send me a postcard. I really doubt that we’ll ever see a DNC list that political organizations have to take heed of. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/92 "2009-07-26T01:57:10Z")
> [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > Though I suppose the FTC labels these kinds of calls as telemarketing by definition, I don’t consider them to be that. Political organizers, charities, and telephone surveyors aren’t trying to sell me something; and any company with whom I have an existing business relationship is generally one I don’t mind talking to. I see your point but just wanted to clarify your comment. I’m one of those geeks that reads up on the law and other relevent info when I take a job. Like my current job, I’m probably one of the few insurance agents in CA who has actually read AB1672 (and can quote it). It’s the law that governs the sale of health insurance to small businesses. Same when I was in telemarketing. When the national DNC came about, I read up on it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/93 "2009-07-26T08:56:30Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Huh? > > How the fuck are the telemarketers supposed to know which numbers they’re not allowed to call if they don’t have access to the list? Are they just supposed to guess? This is the catch-22: The only way to prevent telemarketers from calling you is to give them your phone number. These are the same people who have shown no hesitation in abusing the telephone numbers they already have. In the case of Canada, the numbers were collected by offshore telemarketers who couldn’t be prosecuted. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/94 "2009-07-26T10:34:53Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > In the case of Canada, the numbers were collected by offshore telemarketers who couldn’t be prosecuted. But they can be _persecuted_. If the home of the owner of a scumbag telemarketing firm burned down, and then another, and then another, it wouldn’t take long for these sociopaths to understand that they do not stand to profit from their activities. The home addresses of the world’s worst spammers are generally known and available. I have seen photos of the houses posted occasionally to the nana\* newsgroups. Far be it from me to advise anyone to commit an act of arson – that would be conspiracy – but I merely note that I am surprised these residences remain safe and unburned given all the damage these folks have done to others. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/95 "2009-07-26T15:01:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think this thread would be incomplete without a link to [an old SDMB chestnut](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=51270). (_sniffle)_ I miss Cervaise. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/96 "2009-07-26T16:54:38Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > This is the catch-22: The only way to prevent telemarketers from calling you is to give them your phone number. > > These are the same people who have shown no hesitation in abusing the telephone numbers they already have. > > In the case of Canada, the numbers were collected by offshore telemarketers who couldn’t be prosecuted. Then maybe some sort of system should have been put in place to prevent off-shore people from using the list. You took a gratuitous swipe at “government” (_quelle surprise!_) for giving out the numbers, and yet you concede that it’s the only way that such a list can actually work. I don’t know if your characterization of the Canadian experience (i.e., people actually “had their spam calls increase dramatically”) is correct, but in my experience, and in the experience of almost everyone i know, there’s little doubt that the Do Not Call registry has been a dramatic success here in the United States, despite the persistence of occasional assholes like the extended car warranty people. So the simple fact of making the list available is not, in and of itself, a guarantee that the system will fail. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/97 "2009-07-26T21:22:18Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > But they can be _persecuted_. > > If the home of the owner of a scumbag telemarketing firm burned down, and then another, and then another, it wouldn’t take long for these sociopaths to understand that they do not stand to profit from their activities. The home addresses of the world’s worst spammers are generally known and available. I have seen photos of the houses posted occasionally to the nana\* newsgroups. Far be it from me to advise anyone to commit an act of arson – that would be conspiracy – but I merely note that I am surprised these residences remain safe and unburned given all the damage these folks have done to others. Whether you are “advising anyone to commit an act of arson” or not, you sure seem to be encouraging it. That violates your the terms of the membership agreement: > [@](#): > > You agree not to post material that in our opinion encourages activity that is illegal in the U.S. [SDMB registration agreement as of 12/29/2008 - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=423183) This is an official warning. Do not do this again. **Gfactor** Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/98 "2009-07-26T22:02:04Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > You took a gratuitous swipe at “government” (_quelle surprise!_) for giving out the numbers, and yet you concede that it’s the only way that such a list can actually work. > > I don’t know if your characterization of the Canadian experience (i.e., people actually “had their spam calls increase dramatically”) is correct, but in my experience, and in the experience of almost everyone i know, there’s little doubt that the Do Not Call registry has been a dramatic success here in the United States, despite the persistence of occasional assholes like the extended car warranty people. So the simple fact of making the list available is not, in and of itself, a guarantee that the system will fail. See this [article](http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/01/23/donotcall.html) for comments about the DNC list up here. I’m not necessarily saying that it is still not working now that the dust has settled (I seem to recall seeing other news articles saying some people did see a significant drop in calls), but people were definitely complaining about it shortly after it came in to effect. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/99 "2009-07-27T07:42:53Z")
I’ve always wondered what a telemarketer would say if you answered the phone with something like “FBI Anti-Fraud Task Force, how can I help you?” ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777/100 "2009-07-27T08:04:00Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Lots of restaurants and stores want my email address for their buyer’s rewards programs. I have a couple of eddresses specifically for that sort of thing, and I check them every week or so…and mark most of the email as “spam”, unless it’s something that specifically interests me. I hope I’m not taking premature offence here - but you VOLUNTARILY provide your email address - then mark the resulting email as spam? Seriously, I hope I have parsed this wrongly. I hope that any such marking is not reflected in you ISPs listings. Otherwise words would totally fail me on what you should be called. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-rage-at-extended-auto-warranty-scammer/503777.md?page=6)