Thread: Aaargh! Telemarketers!!! Rant

I just picked up a call that came through as an 888 number. I usually don't answer those calls because they are just sales calls, but this number has been calling me a lot lately and I was annoyed enough that I wanted to answer it and tell them to leave me alone. ,m::

When I answered they asked for "the person in charge of belly dancing" which confused me momentarily into thinking they might actually be looking to hire a dancer. No. They just wanted to sell me something. Sure 'nuf, it was a telemarketer who had gotten the number from my website. They wanted to sell me some sort of web optimizing service or something.

This is very annoying, especially since this number is on the Do Not Call list. Grrrr!!!,m::

I hate telemarketer! For the last 2 weeks. I have had calls about 7:30 or 8 am every morning, waking me up.

Does the do not call list even work? We've just started one here in Australia and I think that perhaps calls to me from telemarketers are down from perhaps 5 a day to 2 a day...if it's working, it's not enough!

My boyfriend has a really mean trick. He says, "Just hold on a moment and I'll get someone who can help you," then puts the phone down and goes on with his work, satisfied that he's at least wasting some of their time. You can hear the little voice saying, "Hello? Hello????"

(Insert evil smiley face)

The Do Not Call list works great! I only get a telemarketing call maybe once every two or three months now, and the moment I say "We're on the Do Not Call list" the callers apologize and disappear quickly.

There are certain loopholes -- people you've bought from in the past can call you, and anything you're 'expressed an interest' in (like if you enter a sweepstakes you might be opening yourself up).

Is there a Do Not Call list for cell phones yet?

The thing that p****s me off the most though it the automated telephone marketing calls. At least if it's a human being you can ask them nicely who they're phoning from, so that you know who to report to the Telephone Preference Service, or if that fails, that you can shout & swear at.

I'm liking Jewel's boyfriend's idea, though.

yes, there is--I believe it's on the same website as for landline phones

https://www.donotcall.gov/

my problem is the spam text messages lately....especially since I get charged for each one sent!

I am on the Do not call list here in Oz .. the best thing since sliced bread <smile> I have only had about 4 calls in the last 6 or so months and as soon as you say you are on the 'do not call list' they very quickly apologize and disappear. I only get the very occasional call from RSPCA and once or twice a year from Medicin Sans Frontiers, 2 orgs I donate to.

Before the registered don't call list the telemarketing calls drove me insane!

That is a new one getting info from your website and calling ... very cheeky indeed!

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

My boyfriend has a really mean trick. He says, "Just hold on a moment and I'll get someone who can help you," then puts the phone down and goes on with his work, satisfied that he's at least wasting some of their time. You can hear the little voice saying, "Hello? Hello????"

I've heard of other folks saying, "Let me give you someone who can help you," and then putting their 2-year-olds on the phone. Hee hee!

I believe the Do Not Call list works for cell number as well. I registered this number a while ago and it does stop the annoying calls. But the loopholes drive me crazy. For a while I was getting calls from Citibank, leaving me messages (those obnoxious automated ones) about consolidating my student loans -- since they are w/Citibank they fell into the loophole. But guess what? My loans are already consolidated and guess who they're consolidated with?? Yup, that's right ... CITIBANK!! Idiots!!

A reminder to everyone: Your registration in the do-not-call list lasts for five years. If you jumped right in and signed up when the registry was created in April 2003, you may need to re-register in the next few months. Apparently Congress is considering making the registration permanent and the FCC has agreed not to purge any numbers until this is decided, but I for one intend to be alert to make sure I don't get dropped.

I had no idea it wasn't permanent. Thanks for the heads up Jeanne!

I don't know about there, but it does seem to work here. I haven't recieved a call since I was put on the list.