Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Most of the times I don't even answer. But sometimes I answer before looking, and being I have a cell phone, I tell them that this is costing me minutes and please don't call again, that usually stops them.

[dooBdoo]

On 3/4/2014 Shorty2U said:

How we get rid of telemarketers.. Have caller ID and an answering machine and don't answer calls that we get from unknown people. They call a few times and give up.

There you go, Shorty2U! Same here. After we opted out of calls from companies we do business with, most of the remaining unwanted calls were scams. And if a person answers the phone it tells them the number is a good one, which gets you on a list and creates more calls (they also sell the numbers they deem "live" ones).

[dooBdoo]

On 3/5/2014 gazelle77 said:

Worse thing I ever did was send the Humane Society $20.00 one time when I got one of their envelopes with the sad dog faces on it...... well looks like they SOLD MY NAME as an easy mark as since then, EVERY DAM OUTFIT that is asking for money for animals sends me mail everyday! I am talking some days 3-4 requests in the mail. I just stopped sending anyone anything out of anger that they sold my name. Really ticks me off.......

gazelle77, You can stop postal junk mail by opting out with Direct Mail services and also with a free service like Catalog Choice (TrustedID).

[kdgn]

On 3/4/2014 Buck-i-Nana said:

I know that telemarketers are just trying to earn a living, but some of them geesh, they just push and push and call and call.

One day I just had a bit of the devil in me I guess when a local really pushy home improvement company called me. Well, I just got so excited with everything he was telling me, and agreeing that I could really use a new front door, replacement windows, siding and gutters....I'm sure this guy was already spending his commission check in his mind. He says he and his supervisor would like to come out the next day to get measurements and give me and estimate. I said sadly I wasn't available the next day cause I had to be in bankruptcy court, but could see them the day after that. He said he'd check with his supervisor and call me back.... guess what?

They NEVER called me again.

I'm laughing hysterically at this one!!!

[Topaz Gem]

On 3/5/2014 gazelle77 said:

Worse thing I ever did was send the Humane Society $20.00 one time when I got one of their envelopes with the sad dog faces on it...... well looks like they SOLD MY NAME as an easy mark as since then, EVERY DAM OUTFIT that is asking for money for animals sends me mail everyday! I am talking some days 3-4 requests in the mail. I just stopped sending anyone anything out of anger that they sold my name. Really ticks me off.......

The same thing happened when I joined the Audubon Society two years ago. I have a friend who works for them, and I know the good work they do for our feathered friends, so I thought I'd support them. In no time at all, I got solicited by every other similar organization under the sun. When my renewal came in the mail at the end of that year, I threw it away.

[millieshops]

I get very few calls, but if I happen to answer one that has a live person (any time there's a pause before speech, I hang up), I tell them they're wasting their own time if they want to earn a living. If they just want to talk, though, maybe they can call back at......? Then I hang up. How surprising that no one calls back!

[lulu2]

On 3/5/2014 Topaz Gem said:

On 3/5/2014 gazelle77 said:

Worse thing I ever did was send the Humane Society $20.00 one time when I got one of their envelopes with the sad dog faces on it...... <em>well looks like they SOLD MY NAME</em> as an easy mark as since then, EVERY DAM OUTFIT that is asking for money for animals sends me mail everyday! I am talking some days 3-4 requests in the mail. I just stopped sending anyone anything out of anger that they sold my name. Really ticks me off.......

The same thing happened when I joined the Audubon Society two years ago. I have a friend who works for them, and I know the good work they do for our feathered friends, so I thought I'd support them. In no time at all, I got solicited by every other similar organization under the sun. When my renewal came in the mail at the end of that year, I threw it away.

It has happened to us with St. Judes. It seems every children's cancer organization calls, emails or sends literature. Most of children charities listed on the WORST list, have contacted us.

[kdgn]

I got fed up with one particular number calling several times a day, every single day. I answered and before the woman could get into her recitation, I said we were on the Do Not Call list. She told me they don't go by that list. I said she was in violation; she replied that she'd call me the next day at 7am and hung up.

Two days later that same number called. This time it was a man. I told him that the company was in violation, he apologized and hung up.

Once a week, minimum, they kept calling. I decided to answer it once again and it was the woman who had told me she was calling at 7am. I recognized the voice. Again, I said she was in violation of the DNC registry. This time she told me that since there was a government shutdown the list didn't count!! I told her it did, she said she'd call me daily at 7am and hung up.

No, the broom flying female didn't follow through but I did call the electric company this solar agency said they were calling on behalf of. No, there is no association at all, the electric company does not endorse or use any particular solar energy company. The electric company is aware of the problem and is dealing with it through the state AG.

[SoX]

Or, tell them you are Detective Jones from the Police Department ... that this is a crime scene; and you need his name and number because he is a potential witness to murder. That if he doesn't give you his name and number you (the detective) will call the police department in his state and have them come and arrest him (the telemarketer).

That should end the call ... pronto.

[JustJazzmom]

On 3/5/2014 kdgn said:

I got fed up with one particular number calling several times a day, every single day. I answered and before the woman could get into her recitation, I said we were on the Do Not Call list. She told me they don't go by that list. I said she was in violation; she replied that she'd call me the next day at 7am and hung up.

Two days later that same number called. This time it was a man. I told him that the company was in violation, he apologized and hung up.

Once a week, minimum, they kept calling. I decided to answer it once again and it was the woman who had told me she was calling at 7am. I recognized the voice. Again, I said she was in violation of the DNC registry. This time she told me that since there was a government shutdown the list didn't count!! I told her it did, she said she'd call me daily at 7am and hung up.

No, the broom flying female didn't follow through but I did call the electric company this solar agency said they were calling on behalf of. No, there is no association at all, the electric company does not endorse or use any particular solar energy company. The electric company is aware of the problem and is dealing with it through the state AG.

I've handled repeat telemarketer calls by blocking them to my phone line. Unfortunately the phone company can only block a certain amount of calls before dropping out certain ones. Wish the legislators would change the laws that would allow at least 25 calls to be blocked by communication companies.