# those wacky telemarketer

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-telemarketer/110139>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 21, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-telemarketer/110139 "2002-05-21T18:17:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cleric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@Cleric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleric)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-telemarketer/110139/1 "2002-05-21T18:17:14Z")

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Last night I got a wonderful call from AT &T and I asked to be taken off thier list.  
The lady said that she can’t remove me unless I give her my #  
I thought there was a law regarding giving your number to the telemarketer. I had a 20 min arguement and it escalated to her supervisor. I guess I was bored…hehe

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**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-telemarketer/110139/2 "2002-05-21T18:22:41Z")

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So, AT&T called you, but doesn’t know your number.

1. They are a phone company
2. They called -you-
3. Hello Opal!

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-telemarketer/110139/3 "2002-05-21T18:27:06Z")

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They do have to remove your their calling list if you utter the correct phrase. The part that I am confused about is why she wanted to know your number if she called you and she works for AT&T.

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**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-telemarketer/110139/4 "2002-05-21T22:44:07Z")

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Was the company using an auto-dialler that supressed that information to the ‘consultant’ so they couldn’t call you back and harass you if you told them to fark orf?

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**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-telemarketer/110139/5 "2002-05-22T00:53:03Z")

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Calling lists, schmalling lists. What you need is [Revenge on the Telemarketers](http://www.tommabe.com/audio/stupid.mp3)

Buy the CD and learn from the master. It’s fun!

Main page is [here](http://www.tommabe.com/home.php)

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**Author:** ![Pop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@Pop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pop)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-telemarketer/110139/6 "2002-05-22T03:13:04Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Caught@Work \*  
> \*\*Was the company using an auto-dialler that supressed that information to the ‘consultant’ so they couldn’t call you back and harass you if you told them to fark orf? \*\*

I’m sure C@W has the crux of the matter here.

By the way: Most telemarketers are outsourced reps and work for telemarketing companies that are contracted by the business in question.

I always ask telemarketers, “So, what company do you actually work for?” 😃

signed: Someone that manages outsourced telemarketers for “some big telcom company” :o