Experience With Tele-Marketers

 

My favorite personal experience was when this man called to tell me how much money I could save on my mortgage if I changed over to his company. (mispronouncing my name a few times along the way). He told me all about the options his company could provide. So, I let him ask me questions - nothing really personal - not for several minutes.

A few times, I asked questions back and received answers. Some of those answers weren't very accurate (mental note - don't do business if the caller doesn't know what he's talking about).

I was not really believing that it took that long, but after several minutes of his sales pitch, I was playing along now to just see how long this call would go. It was just about the 14 minute mark when he finally asked me how much I was paying on my mortgage and he would be able to tell me how much I could save. He knew he had a sale now!

When I answered, "I don't have a mortgage, it's paid off", I think it only took a fraction of a second for him to slam the phone down. I heard a bit of something he uttered as he did this, but I couldn't quite make it out. It sounded like something I wouldn't want to write here.

Usually, I'd just answer that I Rent or that I'm just a visitor answering the phone while the owner is busy and can't talk right now, or that I'm happy with my current mortgage. (OK, maybe happy isn't the right word, but at least satisfied).

--
And now, back to your regularly scheduled forum - already in progress . . .
<<Page 2>>

Automated Tele-Marketers

Does anyone here actually listen to these? As soon as I know it's a recording...*click*.

Don't get mad, get even :D

spullis wrote:

I am registered on the DNC list both for land line and cellphone, but still get one or two calls every evening between 6pm and 9pm. It's almost always the same caller every day. I usually pick up the phone and press "End Call" until it disconnects. Sometimes I'll let it go to my answering machine. Either way, I don't talk to anyone who's phone number I don't recognize on caller ID.

If you are on the federal or state DNC lists (all of which are maintained permanently now and cross-coordinated), technically a telemarketer calling your number at ALL can be considered a willful offense and you CAN actually sue them in small claims court and win.

Also, check your state telemarketing laws--some states have laws even stricter than federal laws (that ban robocalling, or mandate actual criminal penalties rather than fines for violation).

When they call again, I'd pick up and ask to speak to the supervisor--and note that you have REPEATEDLY been called despite the fact you are on the do-not-call list and want to be placed on their internal do-not-call list NOW. Also note to them that if they call again you will be taking action under the ECPA in small claims court and also forwarding this info to your attorney-general's office and the attorney-general's office of their home state as shown on Caller ID.

Usually--unless it's a blatant phishing scam--this makes them go away for a good long time grin

Failing that, I'd put a notice on your answering machine to the effect of "Telemarketing calls to this number are illegal under federal and state laws; place this number on your do not call list and do NOT call back".

(I haven't even gotten to other methods of "auto-dinging" them. If they forge their CID, that's an AUTOMATIC willful violation of law under federal law (and state laws too) and they can be fined very, very heavily for this. grin)

I am on the "Do Not Call"

I am on the "Do Not Call" Registry on both home and cell #.

I hear some callers were removed from the 'list', such as: Political... and some other companies...
Which must include mortgage refinance, as I've been getting a ton of them.....

I've been receiving calls again, during the political events.....

I'm not being polite... I hear something I don't want, and I just say "Take me off list" and hanging up...

On the mortgage folks, I hit the key to talk to someone, and let them get into their speil for 30 or so seconds, then tell them "Take me off your List" and hang up.... And If I feel particularly pissy, I ask them if they can beat 0.125% interest... If anyone does, and can prove it, I'll borrow $100K I'll put it in a CD! that gets more!

The older I get, the more rude I get.....
I used to say "I'm not interested, and try and be nice...." "It doesn't work!"

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

I once was one

Unlike many here I cut them slack because I many moons ago was one.

Early in my career as a telemarketer I came to the conclusion that it was akin to throwing shit against the wall and that if tried enough times some may be bound to stick.

When they call my house I quickly tell the caller I’m not interested giving them the opportunity to hang up and go try it on someone else’s wall, the ones who after being told I’m not interested persist on convincing me to buy something I tell them again I’m not interested and explain to them my telemarketing theory, don’t waste time on a reluctant remotely possible client when there are better chances that the next person they call it be more receptive to their spiel.

--
Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV

Buy a referee's whistle and

Buy a referee's whistle and blow it into the phone, as hard as you can! smile

phone

mmullins98 wrote:
Don B wrote:

I have two weapons I use, with the cordless phones I have the first time I get a call I don't recognize on my caller ID I can put it on a block list and if they call again they will get a busy signal for a few seconds and then it hags up on them. As part of the package I got with my phone I have a privacy manager which will warn me if a call comes through that doesn't contain a name or number, and I can just not answer it or I have three other options that I can apply to the number. One thing is for sure the do not call state or federal doesn't work worth a damn.

What kind of cordless phone do you have? How many numbers can you block on it? Is the blocking and busy signal a function of the phone or do you have a phone service that provides these features?
Thanks

It's a function of the phone and you can block up to 20 numbers, but you do have to have caller ID for it to work. My phone is a Panasonic model KX-TGA931T and is about three years old. Another nice feature of this phone is it takes two rechargeable AAA batteries.

--
Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

Info on who applies, and on DNC lists in general

JanJ wrote:

I am on the "Do Not Call" Registry on both home and cell #.

I hear some callers were removed from the 'list', such as: Political... and some other companies...
Which must include mortgage refinance, as I've been getting a ton of them.....

Per federal and state telemarketing laws, the ONLY groups exempt from following the federal DNC law (in avoiding your number outright) are:

a) Companies with a PRE-EXISTING business relationship (some have been sneaky about this, if you enter a form to enter a contest they consider you to have gotten a business relationship started--another reason not to fill out "free" stuff)

b) Legitimate charities registered in your state as a 501(c)3 and registered with your state as conducting fundraising operations (you can find this out from your Attorney-General's office or your state Department of Commerce)

c) Political advertisements and soliciations and other governmental orgs (i.e. the Census Bureau following up on surveys, etc.).

d) Legitimate surveys of which the purpose is NOT telemarketing or otherwise trying to sell you something (there ARE some telemarketers who've tried to slip under this as well, but there's been more busts of these as of late).

In the case of charities and companies with business relationships, these are STILL required to place you on an internal do-not-call list upon request and are required NOT to call you again. Most states also require this of groups conducting surveys.

Unfortunately, there's no good way to opt out of politispam because that's the SOLE area where there's almost a total exemption from any mass call regulations (about the only exemption is that they CANNOT do mass faxes or calls to cell phones). About the only real laws that effect politispam are on state levels--some states DO prohibit political robo-calls to people on the state Do Not Call Registry.

As for the mortgage re-fi stuff...unless you have a provable established business relationship with the groups in question, those calls are almost CERTAINLY illegal--ask to speak to a supervisor, explain you are on federal and state do-not-call registries, that calls to your number are ILLEGAL, and that you request to be placed on their do-not-call list and wish to receive documentation that they have done so. (This way, if they call again, you have proof and can sue in small claims court and/or forward the info to your state Attorney-General who has an even bigger hammer to wield in their direction...as in "removal of licensure" hammer grin)

There's also some other things you can use against them that pretty much would automatically mean you could sue them for your time (and pretty much insure they'll never call again):

a) It is now illegal to spoof Caller-ID and if you have documentation they've done so (one good method being to call the number listed on CID) this bumps up telemarketing offenses to "willful offenses" (meaning you can sue for $1500 per offense) AND can subject them to a sizable federal fine.

b) Robocalls (calls via a recording) that do NOT provide the phone number of the company and/or who is calling within the first ten seconds are illegal; in many states, robocalling PERIOD is illegal (except for political phone-spam) and a wide category of robocalling is illegal nationwide if you are on the Do Not Call registry.

More on fighting robocalling: http://www.wikihow.com/Report-Illegal-Telemarketing-and-Robo....

A good resource for EFFECTIVELY fighting junk calls: http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs5-tmkt.htm (The late, lamented junkbusters.com is no longer, but this is a worthy successor.)

...or make them think the number isn't around :D

gpsaccount wrote:

Buy a referee's whistle and blow it into the phone, as hard as you can! smile

A variant of this that I've SERIOUSLY heard proposed and claimed to work--haven't tried it myself--is the use of the so-called "Special Information Tones" in an answering machine message.

The Special Information Tones (which can be downloaded at http://www.yourhomenow.com/sound/sit-tone.wav) are the three tones you hear right before the nice-sounding lady (or in some cases, man) on the phone tells you the number is disconnected or no longer in service (or is otherwise being serviced or out of use--one of the more unusual uses I've heard is announcing lines were down due to a tornado!).

The theory is that autodialers (which 99 44/100% of telemarketers use) will mark a number as not in use when those three magic tones play. (Of course, you'll want to warn people who you WANT to contact you that the number IS in fact in service!)

For added functionality/lulz: SIT tones, then a notice to telemarketers that the number is on the DNC list and calling is illegal, Real People invited to leave a message grin

Do not call list

We have a do not call list in the US too, but many just ignore it. There used to be an Auto Warranty service that called frequently but maybe they were put out of business because I haven't heard from them in a couple of years. "Credit Card Services" calls now. They move around to various areas and when they are calling yours you will get one or more calls a week. They are a scam. They tell you they can lower your interest rate and to sign up they need your credit card numbers.....you can figure the rest out. I have gotten at least 50 "final notices" LOL. I finally bought an air horn and every time they call I hit "1" to talk to a representative and then blow the air horn in their ear. It hasn't stopped them, but I feel better.

--
Terry

Aggravating How many are DNC exempt

Just tell all of those DNC exemtees -- I don't accept any telephone solicitation -- Mail me the info. NO, I do NOT give out name or address over the phone thank you!

Usually asked to be put on their DNC list -- NOT sure that does any good...

--
nuvi 250 --> 1250T --> 265T Lost my 1250T

I rarely answer the phone anymore

I just set my phone service (voipo.com) to forward all calls to voicemail automatically at night, and we end up setting it manually during most days so the toddler can nap.

If they leave a message, we get a text message so we know to check it. Anybody that really needs to reach us knows our cell phone numbers. Our landline is mainly a convenience for long outgoing calls.

Indiana DNC

The Indiana DNC seems to work very well

Perfect! n/t

erweb wrote:

I ask them for a personal telephone number, and when they ask why I need it, my answer is that so I can call them and try to sell something they don't need when they are having dinner.

I've never had the "Opt Out" option work ...

wknight40 wrote:

If I listen to it long enough there is usually an "Opt Out" by pressing a number. After a few of these it does not seem that I'm getting as many as I was for a few weeks. And this is on a cell phone.

Had one guy that actually kept insisting that I needed what he was selling. Opened the hood of the car and laid the phone by the horn, never heard from him again.

Also used to carry a police whistle with me. It got to the point that the first thing said was "Pleas do not blow that whistle in my ear", "What whistle, this whistle".

... they just seem to keep calling. I'm on the Do-Not-all list but they always have some excuse. And don't even think to ask for the company name & phone number (to be able to file a complaint) - they just do what I should have done to start with - hang up.

--
Nuvi 2460

Get a Uniden with call block

Uniden phone with call block... Once you block a call, it never rings again from that number (and they get a 'disconnected' signal).

I highly recommend it!

Larry

Say yes to a telemarketer

My father in law was receiving repeated calls from a telemarketer selling a basement waterproofing product. Finally, he said yes and had them send a salesman out to his house.

The salesman arrived and walked around the house somewhat baffled. It seems that his house is built on a slab foundation and does not have a basement.

My father in law never received another call from them...

Wyndham Resorts

Dan called me this morning like he is an old friend of mine. Only because I am a member of Wyndham Rewards, (Days Inn, Super Eight etc.) I was selected for this special offer to stay in a time-share condo in exchange for some money & two hours sales pitch.
I kept asking him questions about all the locations available and amenities of each resort. Every time he asked for credit card info, I asked more questions. After about 15 minutes he was on to me. I said not interested and hung up.

--
1490LMT 1450LMT 295w

hold

After a minute or two, ask them to hold, you have something on the oven. See how long they will hold on the line.

Rolox Window Experience

I had a similar experience a few years ago with a Rolox salesperson. Every time I tried to interrupt to telling him "I don't think you can help me", he proceeded to try to sell something else. It went from windows, to siding, to doors and insulation, and I lost track after that. I finally did the same thing just to see how long I could keep him on the phone since I wasn't doing anything pressing anyway. I even sat the phone down and walked away to get another beer and he didn't miss a beat. After about 15 minutes or so, and me saying over and over "I don't think you can help me", he finally asked, "Why can't we help you Mr. XXXXXX?". I told him that I worked for Anderson windows (a little white lie) and he promptly hung up expressing himself with very colorful wording. That made my day and I never got another call from them again.

Google voice

One of the options Google Voice offers is to block callers, and when you blacklist a number if they call again they'll get the 3 tones and a fake "this number is not in service" message. I've been using GV for ages, since it was Grand Central, and that's the number I always give out. It offers far better screening options that Verizon does. VZ will let you block a specific number, but it's a time limited service, 6 months or something.

The problem is ...

... they switch phone numbers.

--
Nuvi 2460

Keep a `script' by the phone

4.8 million dollars

My elderly parents got the call telling them that they were the winners of 4.8 million dollars. Just needed to wire 399.00 to cover the paperwork to get the money comming their way. My parents are old, but not stupid. My mother had fun leading the person on and wasting as much of his time as possible.

Just a side note, while

Just a side note, while charities are exempt, third-party telemarketers calling on behalf of a charity, which most of them seem to be, are not exempt. You can verify this at https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov/

Do Not Call Registry

We have a Do Not Call Registry but it doesn't block all calls. I find that when I come home from work, I have about 4-5 calls on my voicemail. Very annoying but at least I didn't have to speak with them. I just erase them. What really bothers me are the marketing phone calls and texts sent to my cell phone.

love it!!1

I LOVE Tom Mabe!!! The first time I heard of him was a recording of a telemarketer who called him, and he pretended to be a cop at a homocide!!!! LOL

My home phone has a white list where no one but those on my white list can be permitted to ring through. Not a SINGLE telemarketing call in 8 years!!!!

I also use Google Voice for my mobile, and instantly block telemarketers. It works amazingly well!!!

EV Driver wrote:

Tom Mabe started a small business several years ago, but instead of customers calling him, all he got were telemarketers. He started having fun with them, and it evolved into his becoming a comedian.

Some of his funnier recordings involved his desperate response to a carpet cleaning telemarketer's call where Tom needed the blood stains cleaned from his rugs - right away. A cemetery telemarketer found a suicidal Tom answering the phone to tell a depressing tale. A window sales telemarketer called to find Tom on home detention and needing some beer delivered.

His latest antics turned the tables where he called the telemarketers at their convention hotel in Washington at 3am to sell them stuff...

http://www.tommabe.com/

--
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work

Winning!

ahsumtoy wrote:

I'm on the DNC list but I still get those calls. Everyone I want to be calling me is in my contacts on my cell phone. I don't have a land line anymore. If the name doesn't come up on my cell phone, I don't answer it. If it is important they can leave a message.

I rarely answer the phone if I don't know who it is.

If it's important, they will indeed leave a message (though some robo-call messages trip me up there).

I agree I don't really

I agree I don't really answer unless it is a number I know or am anticipating a call.

Good Advice, but

jgracey wrote:

I didn't read the entire thread, but here is my suggestion.

1) check the caller ID (There are a few people I will pick up and talk to)

2) Let the answering machine take the call: Usually telemarketers don't leave messages - they want to talk to a live person. So they hang up without leaving a message.

I'm with you on letting your voice mail/answering machine pick up calls from numbers unknown to me, but many people don't have that option. They are calls coming into their business, they have relatives living/in the military overseas, etc. and don't want to risk missing important calls.

This will have you rolling on the floor...

--
"Backward, turn backward, oh time in your flight, make me a child again, just for tonight."

How to Avoid Sales Calls

Have you ever been tempted to fill out a form to enter to win a new car in your local mall? Well, DON'T DO IT! If you read the very fine print on the reverse side of the form you will notice that you are giving permission for sales calls to the phone number you so kindly listed on the front of the form.
Your phone number will be passed along to other companies that will then pass it along to more companies.

I Never

full out those contest forms. Agree it opens you up to all kinde of calls. and if you wind you have to pay taxes on the winning bah.

--
johnm405 660 & MSS&T

TeleMarketer Calls

I just don't answer the phone at 5:00pm. It seems like the magic time with they call...!

--
JG - Nuvi 2460

Normally

I just let the answering machine screen any calls. But in the rare event that I answer directly I just jump in and tell them I am out of work and have been for over a year. Then I ask them if they have any job openings as I am really desperate for a job.

Needless to say, they are now looking to exit the conversation and I rarely get repeat callbacks using this.

--
Expect nothing!, appreciate benignity!

Not that I fill them out

JeffSh wrote:

Have you ever been tempted to fill out a form to enter to win a new car in your local mall? Well, DON'T DO IT! If you read the very fine print on the reverse side of the form you will notice that you are giving permission for sales calls to the phone number you so kindly listed on the front of the form.
Your phone number will be passed along to other companies that will then pass it along to more companies.

When ever I have to give a phone number for most anything, I use my Cell #. We seldom turn our cells, only use them for emergencies on and special needs. I clean their voicemail box out useing the LL so it doesn't burn any minutes.

I don't have caller ID

My sister blocks all unknown calls on her LL. When I fill out stuff that asks for phone#, I give them her number.
She says she still loves me.

--
1490LMT 1450LMT 295w

Not me!

spokybob wrote:

My sister blocks all unknown calls on her LL. When I fill out stuff that asks for phone#, I give them her number.
She says she still loves me.

She's a saint. I wouldn't still love you if you did that to me!

--
JMoo On

All I can say...

All I can say about about telemarketers is that they are getting worse.

.

These people are as "good" as those who ask you to go to paperless for bills/statements to save their ops cost, but, yet, create lots junk mails.

I do just what you did yet

I do just what you did yet other times put him on hold and forget to come back.

Hah, that's a good one

Hah, that's a good one

PVA

Box Car wrote:
abin wrote:
shadesofgrey wrote:
abin wrote:

Got calls to ask me to support Police for a better protection?

Fact is, many residents pay Speed Camera/RLC fine regularly, and that seems not enough...

Police Protection Fund or some other variation? Every cop will tell you they all are a scam. Plus, they try to intimidate people by strongly implying they are police officers calling.

can't agree more..
when I picked up the phone, the tone at the other end.. sounds like they are writing you a speeding ticket, so, they can feel you are getting your wallet...

Just ask the solicitor why these officers need special funds. One answer I received was "because they put their lives on the line." Well, so do a lot of other people but they don't go around asking for handouts either. Gee, maybe we ought to start a charity for our men and women in the military.

Actually, I do give to that one. It's called the PVA - Paralyzed Veterans of America. Of course they don't do telemarketing. I freaking HATE telemarketers. I think my phone now offers selective blacklisting. I really need to check it out and start blocking numbers.

--
GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

Finally

Dan at Wyndham Resorts is not calling me. He called me again in April and I decided to take him up on his offer of a vacation. When he asked my for my credit card I told him it had been cancelled but I am still thinking about buying a condo. "Just send me something in the mail and I will write a check when we get there." I guess he removed me from the call list.

--
1490LMT 1450LMT 295w

Deaf/Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired...!!

When I first answer I tell them because I'm Deaf/Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired it's easier for me to talk with my hands/sign.

Then I'll speaker the phone and continue doing what it was I had been doing before they phoned. One of two things happen. Either they say "sorry" and hangup, or they'll start doing their song and dance... where at some point in time they'll ask me a question.

At that point I'll mumble/stutter something to them in broken English such as...

"I've been signing to you all this time. Haven't you understood anything I've said?"

It never fails that at this point they'll usually just hang up. If they don't, I usually say something about not understanding their signing dialect... but they can continue if they want.

Works every time for me.

Nuvi1300WTGPS

--
I'm not really lost.... just temporarily misplaced!

block calls

First of all I don't answer any call that I don't recognize the phone number, and if they don't leave a message on the answering machine I block all future calls from that number.

--
Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

funny

TheBeachBum wrote:

Here's an option...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYDpjWCPeU8

BB, that was the best I heard in awhile. ..thanks,cz

we have it in the States also

and it doesn't work either.

I think what it comes down

I think what it comes down to is that the federal (and to a lesser degree, the state) DNC lists have blocked 99% of "legitimate" companies who use telemarketing. That leaves, for the most part, the scammers, less than reputable companies, etc.

Not all

shadesofgrey wrote:

I think what it comes down to is that the federal (and to a lesser degree, the state) DNC lists have blocked 99% of "legitimate" companies who use telemarketing. That leaves, for the most part, the scammers, less than reputable companies, etc.

Political call-outs are not subject to the DNR. Nice, huh?

--
NUVI40 Kingsport TN

|

David King wrote:

Political call-outs are not subject to the DNR. Nice, huh?

No, it's not.

--
*Keith* MacBook Pro *wifi iPad(2012) w/BadElf GPS & iPhone6 + Navigon*
<<Page 2>>