# Recent Spate of Telemarketing Calls. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 17, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704 "2008-03-17T21:44:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/1 "2008-03-17T21:44:43Z")
I debated with myself about where to put this. It may have a specific answer, so I considered GQ. It is certainly mundane, so I considered MPSIMS. But I do want opinions if no facts are to be had, so IMHO it is. So far today, I have received four telemarketing calls at my home number, specifically asking for the former Mrs. Cee by name (first and last). She and I do not have the same first name. Furthermore, **BobPi** and the former Mrs. Cee have been divorced for 9 years, and she has not lived here or used this telephone number for nearly 10 years. Two of the calls indicated that they were requested. One was from Debt Stoppers, and they left a voice-mail saying they would send the requested information by e-mail. The other supposedly requested call was from a discount travel organization, which said information had been requested from their website, giving this number. I told all four parties (I called the Debt Stoppers guy back, since he left a toll free number) that the former Mrs. Cee was no longer at this number, and had not been for years. I’m wondering what brought this spate of activity on. Are these companies using an outdated prospect list? Or is could be someone attempting to prank us, requesting information online in her name? (Yes, despite being over 50, the former Mrs. Cee _is_ that immature, but there might be someone else who might find this amusing as well.) And yes, telemarketers are annoying enough on their own, but having someone ask me if I am she when I answer does add an extra layer of Grrr! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/2 "2008-03-18T00:00:44Z")
I dunno. I’m on the No-call list, but for some reason, I’ve recently been deluged with multiple calls _per day_ by the Lupus people, the Salvation Army and some Disabled Vets organization. They’re downright pissing me off with the frequency of calls. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/3 "2008-03-18T00:12:47Z")
[QUOTE=Chimera] I’m on the No-call list, but for some reason, I’ve recently been deluged with multiple calls _per day_ by the Lupus people, the Salvation Army and some Disabled Vets organization. [/QUOTE] Charities are exempt from the no-call list laws. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/4 "2008-03-18T03:09:11Z")
I should mention, that before today, we have received only one call for her in the past five years, and that was from a local business. So four calls in one day is highly unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/5 "2008-03-18T06:16:59Z")
[QUOTE=Chimera] I dunno. I’m on the No-call list, but for some reason, I’ve recently been deluged with multiple calls _per day_ by the Lupus people, the Salvation Army and some Disabled Vets organization. They’re downright pissing me off with the frequency of calls. [/QUOTE] What’s the matter? Don’t you wanna buy any lupus? ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/6 "2008-03-18T11:19:36Z")
Some of it is a result of the company trying to cut costs by buying a second-hand list or an older list. The problem is that they’re often 10 years or more out of date. On the upside, if the people still have the same number, it’s often a sure bet they’re more established, own a home, and have more disposable income. Much of the charity solicitation phone calls are timed to coincide with college kids home for spring break. Cheap, articulate labor is often hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/7 "2008-03-18T14:10:44Z")
[QUOTE=Chimera] I dunno. I’m on the No-call list, but for some reason, I’ve recently been deluged with multiple calls _per day_ by the Lupus people, the Salvation Army and some Disabled Vets organization. They’re downright pissing me off with the frequency of calls. [/QUOTE] Those three alone make up 95% of my unsolicited calls. They each call no less than once a week. Can you request they stop calling? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/8 "2008-03-18T14:22:57Z")
[QUOTE=Snooooopy] What’s the matter? Don’t you wanna buy any lupus? [/QUOTE] Yeah, but when they finally send it to you, it’s never lupus. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/9 "2008-03-18T14:23:35Z")
[QUOTE=Snooooopy] What’s the matter? Don’t you wanna buy any lupus? [/QUOTE] Dude, it’s never lupus. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/10 "2008-03-18T14:43:51Z")
Is it possible that the original registration for “do not call” was for a specified time period? I started getting a ton of calls in january, and I re-registered, and they seem to die down again. Worth a try. > **[National Do Not Call Registry](https://www.donotcall.gov/)** > > Register your phone number to report stop or block unwanted, annoying,telemarketing, spam calls, robocalls to the FTC one of the best laws & websites ever created. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-spate-of-telemarketing-calls-why/441704/11 "2008-03-18T19:16:56Z")
I’m just worried that, since I don’t answer, someday some Lupus infested disabled vet in a Salvation Army uniform is going to show up at my front door asking for some _Braiiiiinnnnnsssss!_