Mersavets, you realize that you’re going to hell when you die, right?
I’ve heard about a statewide “no-call list” that’s being put through many state legislatures – California has one that will take affect on Jan 1st 2003. In other states, like Missouri, about 50% of the population have already signed up…presumably, the other 50% don’t know about it yet.
What I want to know is what to do about those godawful message-marketers – meaning, it’s not a person calling you, but a machine!!! The “Do Not Call” request worked wonders for me with live callers, but how does one do that with a machine? You can’t even bitch at them or threaten to kill their children, goddammit! And worst of all, they will automatically LEAVE A MESSSAGE if you don’t pick up, one of them took up three whole minutes on my answering machine (and I have a p.o.s. machine which forces you to listen to the ENTIRE MESSAGE before you can delete it…)
It’s illegal to make solicitations to phone numbers that are charged to the recipient, such as cell phones and 800 numbers.
Telemarketers know that most people aren’t going to want to listen to a sales pitch on their cell phone, since they’re probably at work, in the car, or otherwise occupied.
(Although… when I was a telemarketer, I sold some tickets to a trucker who was on his cell phone in another state. We didn’t dial cellular prefixes, but he had forwarded his home phone to his cell phone.)
The way most firms get your number is straight out of the phone book. Sure fire way to stop people is to just answer with the name of another company. If someone calls, tell your friends that you’ll answer ABC Telemarketing. Telemarketers will say: Wrong number. Friends will say: Hey Joe.
I have Telezapper, it seems to have largely worked, but not 100%. (FYI it sends out a tone that supposedly means “phone is disconnected” to the compter, and the computer supposedly removes you frm the list.) It seems that some callers don’t interpret the tone or act on it to remove me from the list. So I still rely on the answering machine screening. I think it’s pretty sad when I can’t even answer my own phone.
There was an article about the Telezapper in the Wall Street Journal a few days ago. They say it seems to work, but they admit their tests were unscientific. One drawback: it blocks computer-dialed calls, without discrimination between telemarketers and legitimate callers. So it might block collect calls or calling-card calls.
One of the best methods to get rid of telemarketers, I read on Flyertalk. When they call, pose as an Evangelist. When they ask if you want a newspaper, sell them a subscription to the Watchtower, ask if they have been saved, etc. Gets them to hang up in a hurry.
My personal method is to immediately hang up when they say, “Good Morning, How are you today? I am not trying to sell anything…” CLICK.
Gee whiz, stockton sorry to have offended you. I did read your post (I read every thread I post to) but didn’t think “sob-story” necessarily meant turning on the water works.
Hmmmm… Promiscuous heathen wenches on the one hand as opposed to sweaty, fat, fundy gals on the other. I know where I want to be but I doubt selling newspapers will get me there.
Anyway, am I the first to notice masonite’s advocacy of serious assault against people who might annoy others? I suggest he visit Laos or Cambodia as a perspective-based remedy for his ‘total war’ hyperbole.
I still can’t believe the stuff people will say with the anonymity of the Internet sometimes.
2 suggestions (and 1 opal - yea!)
1 Lie to them - tell them you get their paper already
2 since you know when they call answer you phone with a standart business answer like “D&M how may I dirrect you call?”
3 Hi Opal
Also since you know the time I have another suggestion but takes some time to set up. Lets say you phone number is 555-1212. Find a phone number that is 555-??? that is on intercept (“this number is disconnected” message) then find a number ???-1212 that is also on intercept. Record both messages and merge the tape so it sounds like you number is on intercept - and use that on an answerign mach. I did this a long time ago when we were getting lots of prank phone calls.
Another thought I had was to subscribe (as long as you don’t have to give a CC #) and give them a phony address.
Anyone ever visit Tom Mabe’s site? It’s full of fun and useful ideas for dealing with telemarketers. Unfortunately for me I am never able to come up with anything witty or clever when they call since I’m usually too pissed that they called in the first place. After I got Privacy Plus, which requires unidentified callers to say who they are before the call goes through, this cut out about 99% of the calls. The ones who do get through are usually local outfits, such as lawn service, carpet cleaning, etc. I have been very rude and insulting to them when I am already in a bad mood, or expecting a real phone call and instead having them tie up my line. I realize afterwards that being a jerk really isn’t my usual character, and if I am expecting an important call that yelling at them only keeps my phone line occupied even longer. What I do now is give them the silent treatment. I mute the TV/stereo before picking up and then I answer. I don’t say anything. After they say “hello?” a couple of times they hang up, thinking the line went dead on them. I don’t know how effective this is to get them to remove my number, but at least it gives me some satisfaction in dealing with them without having to say nasty things to them.
Yeah, bah to that. I do realize that the war on telemarketers is a less serious war than many other wars around the globe, and honestly don’t wish to trivialize the situation in such countries as Mersavets mentioned. Still, what else has been tried? Legislation? Hasn’t worked. Asking to be removed from call lists? Doesn’t work. Sob stories?
So I advocate fighting back. Blow the whistle in their ear, send them home for the day. Maybe they quit their job. Maybe they all quit. I see this as a GOOD thing.
I would not be so harsh if it were possible to reach the call centers in other ways. Can you get their phone number and call them back? Do you even know for sure who is calling you at home? Can you write a nice business-like letter that will solve your problem of being harrassed at all hours by total anonymous strangers on the telephone?
They leave us no recourse but to fight back.
Thanks Bromley for drawing the comparison of anonymous telemarketers vs. anonymous internet posters. I hope reading my harsh post didn’t disturb anyone as much as being harassed by telephone disturbs me. I can close a webpage easily, but it’s getting more difficult to not pick up my phone.
Seriously, blowing a whistle into the phone is not going to help you at all. After listening to “this number is out of service” tones and fax machines all day, their headsets are turned down far enough that it won’t cause any pain. Best case, you’ll make the telemarketer think “that guy is crazy” and go on to the next call… just like if you had said “no thanks”. Worst case, you’ll piss him off and then you’ll never get rid of him.
I know exactly what I would have done: called back in 30 seconds and said “Sorry sir, I’m having some trouble with my phone. As I was saying, I’m calling to let you know about our annual benefit show…” If you kept it up, I’d send you back to the list and let someone else deal with you in a few days. And then you’d piss him off and he’d do the same thing.
I see what you are saying, but don’t agree with your thoughts at all.
If I EVER have someone as inconsiderate as you seem to be, on my phone, I will spend whatever time it takes to track your company, your boss, and your personal self down. You WILL not call my house after I am through, think those smug thoughts all you want.
It’s a frelling invasion of privacy, and just because a company finds loopholes, and hires unethical employees to staff it’s phones, does not mean that it’s right, moral, or in any way alright to keep calling someone just because they pissed you, (the telemarketer who has been invading their home phone) off.
Here’s another thought: send them a bill for your time. Often, companies will pay it without thinking, especially if the amount is not large. Figure out how much you’ve been hassled by them, and try to assess a dollar value. Draw up an official-looking invoice, and send it over to whoever handles such things (Accounts Payable, most likely).
)