Telemarketers@#$%!@#,rant!

[guido]

Hello,

They have been pretty busy the last couple of months. Just now I had one coming from Nevada.
I did go into the no call and registered again!
Two phone calls come to mind.
One had the caller ID the same as the phone number? Another had an not available caller ID, but the phone number really was A first for me.
IT WAS :1-000-00-0000...........WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!
DONE NOW...........................

Guido.

 

[Two Dogs]

They ignore the no call list. If I'm in the mood, and I usually am, I wait until the live schmuck gets on line and then I get to practice my cussing. Most are so rude they hang up on me without saying good bye. TDF

 

[Dick2]

I told the last caller that it is really funny: Whoever sold you my phone number got more money out of you than you will ever get out of me!

He didn't think that was a bit funny, for some reason. After a long pause, he hung up on me.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

We have given up on answering the phone. The answering machine is set on two rings. We get several dead (leave no message) calls a day.

 

[glennster]

They drive ya nutz. We get the robo calls at work, phone rings, ya run and answer it, then it hangs up. Later a telemarketer calls asking to speak to the owner with some sales pitch.

 

[Gambles]

In typical fashion, our government passed the "Do Not Call List" law, patted themselves on the back, and then really left themselves no way to enforce it. The telemarketers have ways to fool the caller IDs, call at any hour they want, and have no fear of punishment. I bet you won't hear any politician brag about passing that law when they are up for reelection.

 

[danmcdonald]

I just ask them what they are wearing don't care if they are male or female they just hangup on me.

 

[Mark - IN.]

For most systems that I work on, since we control the ANI being sent out to public service telephone networks over primary rates, I can send out whatever I want. Sometimes I call my boss from the whitehouse. Sometimes our corporate headquaters in Dallas. Lots of places, the imagination is the limit. I can pretty much call my boss or anyone but 9-1-1 from anywhere in the world that I want any caller display to indicate I'm calling from. Now here's one that came as a surprise to me. His cell phone is setup so that when he calls itself, its voice mail integration recongnizes that the call is coming from his cell phone using the ANI, and gets right into his voice mailbox without even logging in with a password. Its called "auto-login". So, without thinking about it, I once called him from his cell phone number so that it would come up on his display that his cell phone was calling him. That was my intent. Problem is that when I called his cell phone from his number, it went straight into voice mail as the user, him. I could have listened to his messages, changed his password, all kinds of stuff that I had no intent of doing, so won't do again. My suggestion, put a password on your voice mail, don't use auto-login BECAUSE ANYONE OR AGENCY THAT CAN ACCESS YOUR EMAILS, AND NOW ADMITS TO DOING IT, CAN DO THE SAME TO YOUR VOICE MAIL, no warning, no tracing, no idea that it or they did. Hint, hint, hint. They have been saying publicly that no one has a right to any expectations of privacy, and right or wrong, THEY mean exactly that. Do not use auto-login. No one, no carrier can retreive or break your password, only blow it away if they don't know it, so that it must be replaced, which means that no one that doesn't know your password can access yor voice mails without you knowing it. But with auto-login, your phone will never ring, the call coming from your number will go straight into your mail box as the user (you) with full administrative rights. Given the news reports and what we now know, DO NOT USE AUTO-LOGIN TO ANYTHING, PERIOD.

Mark

 

[Tom from Buckeye Lake]

When they do get to me, I tell them I died yesterday and they need to call the funeral home.

 

[IH2444]

I just ask them their company name and their name so I can report them for violating the no call list.
I get a quick click.

 

[NCWayne]

Been getting quite a few of them hasseling me on my cell over the past two weeks. It's to the point I rarely answer if I don't recognoze the number. I was in a particularly bad mood this evening when I was up to my elbows in grease, and things just weren't going right, and one was thoughtful enough to call and let me vent my frustration on them......Doubt they'll ever call back after the cussin' I gave 'em....LOL

 

[jon f mn]

When I'm on the road with nothing to do and they ask how I am I tell them, in detail, til they hang up. Sometimes it takes a long time. lol

 

[tomtirediron]

The ones that get me is the continual- monthly call about an extended warranty on a 2007 Taurus that I bought new in 08. I'd like to thank the dealer for selling my name with a punch in the jaw every time they call.

 

[504-1]

The problem that most people(not all) will sign up for a chance to win a free TV,Vacation, or $500.00 and all you do is give someone the right to sell your # to anyone.
you have a business relationship with them now, you gave them your # and they can legally sell it.

 

[teddy52food]

I told one I had the diarrea and my boots leak!

 

[Dr. Walt]

I hate the Robo-callers because they're machines, that you can't respond to. But the ones I like are the repeat callers - the ones that call 6 or 7 times in a 24 hour period. Normally I just let them go to voice-mail & then after about the 6th call I'll answer and wait until I've got a "live one" on the line & then I grab my El-Cheapo plastic police whistle and blow it loud & hard; all you hear is a "click" and you never hear from them again.

 

[js305]

If I have the time and energy, I have some fun. Sometimes I'll ask them for their home number so I can call them back later. Some I'll ask if they have "found the way", or if it's a middle eastern sounding person, I'll ask if they know Jesus. Several times I have explained I don't have a lot of time, since they only let me have the phone during visiting hours. And then there is the old I can't buy anything but I do have (fill in the blank here) that I would really like to sell, cheap.

I never say anything that could be used against me, like the what are wearing line.

If I am not wanting to talk, after they ask for me or whoever I'll say they are here, let me get them. I lay the phone down and come back in five minutes or so. If they are still there, I will tell them I'm still looking, just hang on a little more....

 

[T in NE]

I found that if I gave them a stern warning of what would happen if they called back when the robocall came in, someone would usually pick up the phone.

AT&T got real apologetic one night when I told the guy that I was telling him no, I didn't want long distance, just like I told the last 2 guys who called in the last hour.

 

[Ivan in Mich]

We were getting 2 or 3 aday. One day I looked at the number and hit redial and I was suprized when a woman answered. I asked what she wanted when she called and she went into he little speech. I let her go on for a bit and then I asked her if a male was sitting at the desk by hers and she said yes. I told her to stand up and bend over her desk and tell him she was all his. dead quiet and then a click. Not 5 min. later phone rang again same number and it sounded like the same woman on the line. All I said that time was boy that was fast. never got a call from that number again

 

[JMS/.MN]

Might also be your State licensing bureau- selling your name to those folks. Annoying that it"s YOUR job to tell them you want to opt out of that opportunity, but the State makes money from it.

 

[Wile E]

If it is a woman you need to ask her if she has nice brests...............she should hang up real quick.

 

[tomtirediron]

Never thought of that one but good possibility. Sounds about like money grubbing Minnesota, anything for a dollar you know.

 

[John T]

I like what Jerry did on the old Seinfeld TV show. Ask them for their home phone number so you can call them back CLICK

John T

 

[Billy Shafer]

My sister in law. Is from Korea. She really has fun with them. My nephew lives with me. He speaks Cuban. I just hand the phone to him.

 

[Bryan inIowa]

I hate the robo calls that ask you to stay on the line ,for @insurance , dental plan ,etc. I save the number on my phone as "Blocked " then I know I need not answer , still annoying . Once in awhile I will have some fun with them . Guy trying to sell me life insurance,I kept him on the phone for 35 min just talking about weather, my health in great fabricated detail , my wife , whom I went on to describe was upwards of 475 lbs . How our bed time activitieswere and how sometimes I needed a 2x4 for safety . He could not get a word in edgewise . Finally ,he butted in and asked if I wanted insurance or not ? I said ,,well not really ,but seeing how you keep calling wasting my time I thought it only fair to waste yours .

 

[rossow (mn)]

Like the rest of you, I hate telemarketer calls and hang up or don't even bother to answer. But let me play devil's advocate for a moment: The callers are trying to make a living, too. I don't mean the scammers and those who set up the annoying calls. I'm talking about the actual, human callers. Would you rather have them trying to make a living by doing this distasteful, perhaps dreadful, hated job, or by collecting welfare? Maybe the answer is a tossup. It's food for thought.

 

[Wheres Waldo]

Y'know, Rossow, I've noticed that this website has a high number of Conservatives. I'm not one of those. I'll get one call a YEAR from a telemarketer selling insurance, yard care or asking for a contribution for a candidate. Seems to me the so-called Conservatives are selling their phone numbers to whoever wants them, legal or not!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I agree with most of the guys. Have some fun with this, but say nothing illegal or threatening.

Like "Have you considered all the wonderful educational opportunities you could give your family when you own a fine home library of bound reference books?"

I also like the "Have you been saaaaaved...?" approach.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I'm not conservative enough to suit most people here, but I get the calls too. I'm almost 65 and these companies all want to help me with my very important Medicare supplement policy decisions.

 

[Bob]

"It"s food for thought."

NO, it ISN"T! They are slime-sucking scum.

HOW do you justify the fact they have a job vs. the fact they PREY on the elderly and GULLIBLE????

If you ever have to look out for elderly parents or others, and have to deal with what those &#$&&^ will do to make a sale, you will realize what I am talking about.

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Hi Steve,

Last week I got 8 hours of training to be a Medicare information volunteer. (Well, actually I got about 3 hours of training and spent the other 5 hours listening to other trainees talk about themselves in the "I'd like to tell you a question" pattern.) What I want to tell you is that Medicare is surprisingly complicated, and some of the choices you make can cause a large amount of complication or unnecessary expense, or both. It's well worth taking the time (hours, not minutes) to study the matter carefully before taking any kind of action. Good assistance and good information is available, but make sure you completely understand anything you do and any choice you make.

Stan

 

[guido]

Hello,

As I see many different ways you guys and gals are coping with. I just had to stop typing, go see who was calling. Guess what.... another one of those %$#@!&*&^% telemarketers. You can't make this stuff up!GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My way to deal with them is to just answer and hang up on the first ring. May be the will get the idea that it this number does not work. May be not! But for has many, many, many, times they have hung up on my, Its my turn!

Guido.

 

[Wheres Waldo]

Steve, I just turned 65 and yes, I've gotten a whole bunch of mail and a couple of people driving up to try to sell me a supplement insurance policy. Still, I haven't gotten one phone call trying to sell me a policy.

 

[rossow (mn)]

Well, Bob, it did make you think. And while I agree it's not the most honorable job, it's still worth wondering if it would better to put the callers on welfare. And, Bob, please don't presume to know my own circumstances. I do have an elderly mother (93) and elderly in-laws (80s), so I do realize what you're talking about. But I still think the actual rank-and-file callers are, in some part, trying to avoid the welfare rolls by doing something at least slightly more honorable than selling dope. Hang up on them, but why try to make their cruddy, demeaning job even more miserable?

 

[paul]

I actually said that to one of them, when he paused with a question.

I said, I hope the ecconomy improves soon so you can get a worthwhile, useful job, no I'm not interested. And hung up.

Somehow I got on a list of high investors. Get a call once or twice to invest in oil in Texas, a condo in New York, and so on. About half say they offer 12% interest..... Yea, and I fell off the turnip truck.....

Paul

 

[Bob]

There is NOTHING that you or I could do to those who willingly prey on the elderly that is NEARLY as bad as what they deserve!

Welfare, standing in pig poo up to their eyelashes, whatever, etc., is NOT as bad as what those scum-sucking pricks do!

Older folks are often an sympathetic or trusting "mark" and those low-lifes exploit those weaknesses to the MAX. HOW can you defend them??????

 

[Hay hay hay]

I don't understand. This is the capitalist, free enterprise system we all embrace. Certainly no one would wish to put restrictions on the rights of others, especially hard working business owners, regardless of how it inconveniences others...or you.

Just kidding ofcourse, but there is a fine line between being a legitimate honest business man and being a flimflam snake oil salesman fleecing the poor and elderly.

I am not a fan of more laws but we do need regulations to stop totally fraudulent "businessmen". Lots of them out there these days.

 

[guido]

Hello Eddy in Ky.

I got two calls today, I just picked up and hung up. I don't know if it matters, but it makes me feel good. The do not call list originally was working. Now I hang up on them, the way they did to me over the years,

Guido.

 

[RN]

I ask for their legal service address, tell them it is protocol as advised by the states attorneys fraud office, required by state law if asked --and it is for some things. If the usual response of were in florida, etc comes then I tell them as advised by the states attorney I"m to treat them as lieing, thieving scam operation and refer to them as such, keep calling them that until legal service address is given. California guy started cussing a bit, I just called him a thief again. I win when the CLICK occurs at their end. For call back I tell them I have the office number to call -at the state consumer protection agency--- CLICK. Couple legitimate calls trying to sell insurance, etc have given legal service address, 2 out of maybe a hundred. Other thing is the Spanish/bilingual caller available, press 2-- so press 2 and answer in German. Had fun with one outfit from Arizona, got put on their internal "no call" list after about 6 calls and request for the legal service address. Carnival Cruise salesman got a couple lessons- the robo call machine did a transfer to him when I pressed the 1 and he recognized my voice and opening statements- said you again and something in Spanish (what is T** Madera *-*-* Puta?)and CLICK. Verison doesn"t want to talk to me when the robo call connects with them- I remind them they have a complaint file with the state still active. Dem campaign calls after a sign the interest card--and I ask them about Beck decision or Heller, what is candidate stand?? Tammy Baldwin fund raisers cuss me for wasting their time, I call back and ask them again and say I'll be stopping by the consumer protection office to make the next call to them- and I do since it is on the way to visit some people, really convienient location. Local teachers union activist got a surprise lesson last week from a mother objecting to teacher stealing her kids and few others school supplies to give to 'disadvantaged' students, I gave her a note to read to teacher that afternoon when she picked up daughter and got the supplies back, other mothers got copies and also got their stuff back, teacher called union and said the publicity campaign had a glitch and passed on my name-- and the other mother listening to the speaker phone conversation said the union lawyer said wait a minute, looking up name and then came a loud 'DON'T agravate- there is a $400.00/hour lawyer in background just waiting to get the school board or the union for 10 hours billing when we lose on a preliminary complaint. Reputation for willingness to go to court helps. RN

 

[Bob - MI]

Are you on the "do not call list"? It won't stop them all but it does stop most.

It's free too and actually is lots of fun when you get one who calls anyway and you tell them that they are violating federal law by calling your number.

 

[Jiles]

I put up with aggravating calls from credit card offers to charity solicitation!
I was an update member of the Donotcall and filed MANY complaints.
I discovered that if you stop one from calling there will be someone else take their place.
I finally decided the donotcall could do very little and the phone company won't help because they receive far more money from these scammers.
I know it's just a matter of time until they can call my cell phone but I dropped my land line service about a year ago, and that fixed the problem.
Oh-Yes--If you start getting calls from American Institute for Cancer Research---AICR, or something like that, you will want to drop the Land line because they will call everyday with a different number!