Woman Gets Threatening Letter After Hanging Up On Telemarketer

[Kadie]

Woman Gets Threatening Letter After Hanging Up On Telemarketer
El Paso Police Investigating Phone Call

UPDATED: 11:35 AM EST December 7, 2004

A Detroit-area woman received a threatening letter in the mail after hanging up on a telemarketer calling from Texas, according to Detroit TV station WDIV.

Jill Beyer, of Waterford Township, Mich., said she received the letter about one week after she refused to donate money in a recent call from a telemarketer.

"He wanted a donation for the veterans' association, which the veterans don't get that much of that money. That's why I wouldn't donate to him," Beyer said.

snip...
The letter arrived postmarked from El Paso, Texas. The first lines read, "Before you are rude to another telemarketer, you should keep in mind that he or she has your phone number and your address. Many of them live in your own state and most don't give a (expletive)! "

more...
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/3977271/detail.html

text of letter
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/3976128/detail.html

[Pirate Smile]

1. OMG. That is unbelievable. Now they are going to scare people into

not hanging up.

[bearfan454]

2. Fuck them

Slam the phone down next time instead.

[tsuki]

3. Turn the telemarketers into the DAV.

[Solly Mack]

4. That is still a federal offense is it not?

Threatening letter through the mail?

I hope they catch that freak.

[GiovanniC]

12. Over State Lines

Absolutely.

I think using the federal postal system at all qualifies, but definitely once it crosses state lines.

[Pirate Smile]

15. I think they exempted out some charities. I am on the no-call list but I

still get calls from the cops and firefighters.

[havocmom]

28. If you are on No Call list, too bad for you. Congress now allows you to

be called by computers that will leave messages on your voice mail/answering machines.

Very amusing, as the companies doing telemarketing lobbied against the No Call list using the argument that it will put workers at call centers out of work. Then they go ahead and record sales speeches and have computers call people. Guess that cost some people jobs too.

And Congress decided to let them use that method to call people on the No Call List, right after the election. They also repealed the food labeling law so consumers will no longer have to be informed about the nation of origin for food products. Look for the 40% of our food presently imported to increase dramatically.

You tax returns have a goos chance of being processed by private corporations which outsource the work to India. The IRS will let private corporations go after people who are delinquent on taxes.

Many US mortgage companies now outsource loan processing to firms in India.

In fifty words or less, your phone #, address and personal financial info is out there where hundreds can access it. I hear medical records are also being transcribed overseas too. We are not safe at all.

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

98. The computer calls never made sense to me.

Who stays on the line to listen to a computer? I especially find it odd that a company would call and ask me to "hold for an important message". Only an idiot would allow themselves to be put on hold by a telemarketer on tape. I just cannot imagine that these calls are in anyway effective to a marketing effort.

[SweetLeftFoot]

103. ...

Only an idiot would allow themselves to be put on hold by a telemarketer on tape.

Nobody ever went broke unerstimating the intelligence of the American public.

[Orangepeel]

82. charities, political calls and marketing research are exempt

but I don't know what one has to do to qualify as a "charity"

[Occulus]

40. I work for the USPS

I do believe you're right.

[trogdor]

46. Shylocking is usually covered by RICO.

[City Lights]

5. I had one call me back and swear at me.

He was calling for my husband and claimed to have arranged for a time to contact him in a prior conversation. My husband was working goofy hours at the time and I didn't know what time to expect him home. I told the guy my husband would be home when he finished working, but couldn't give him a good time to call back. I'm guessing he thought I was being a smart ass, 'cause he got pissed. I ended up hanging up on him. He called back a few seconds later and said, "Don't you ever hang up on me, bitch." I slammed the phone down even harder the second time. It gave me the creeps.

[MemphisTiger]

14. I have something called privacy directory on

my phone. If the callers name does not appear on the caller ID it goes through a recording where they have to state their name and I can choose to receive or not receive the call. So far, this has worked pretty good for me. We used to get 4 telemarketers per evening on average, but we might get 1 per month now. It only costs a couple of dollars per month on my phone bill.

[KansDem]

20. I had that service too!

Had it for a couple of years. It was called "Privacy Manager" though my phone company.

Excellent product...I'd still have it today if finances weren't such that I had to cut out a lot of "perks" (not that I necessarily considered Privacy Manager a perk...).

[City Lights]

68. This happened about 10 years ago.

I remember trying *69 to see if I could reach him or someone else at his company, but I don't think I had much luck.

[JaneDoughnut]

90. Marketers are using the Privacy Director too

I figured this out yesterday comparing my phone messages to what showed up on my caller ID. I thought it was a little weird - or maybe just revealing - that these companies want to talk to me but don't want me to be able to get in touch with them.

[blondeatlast]

109. Interesting; is it part of your phone service?

Can one buy such a device?

We have Caller ID but I know some calls come that I need to take even if they are hidden.

Could you either reply here or PM me with the info?

Thanks much!

[Tracer]

19. That guy must have been sitting right next to the woman ...

... who called me back after I hung up on her and said precisely the same thing!

[City Lights]

72. I was shocked, pissed off, and scared all at the same time.

I've been on the other end of the line, so I have empathy for telemarketers and am usually polite. I do remember :scared: after he called back and swore at me.

[Kber]

52. Next time something like that happens

listen silently for a minute or so and then say,

"Officer, is that long enough for you to trace the call?"

Watch how fast they hang up on you!!!

[City Lights]

69. Good idea!

Now that we have caller ID, I don't usually bother with telemarketers.

I've been tempted to try Seinfeld's trick - asking for the person's home number and telling them I'll call them at home later. ;-)

[TexasChick]

OMG! That's brilliant! n/t

[Kber]

85. Thanks

The idea came from a police officer friend of my mother's about 30 years ago - but it's still effective.

[TexasChick]

86. It's fantastic! Thank you for sharing this tip. n/t

[TankLV]

66. 2 words - "AIR HORN". I wonder what they'll think about that.

I've so far been protected - got rid of my land line - only have cell phones now.

[City Lights]

70. LOL.

That would definitely do the trick!

[Piperay]

97. Just recently I had a telemarketer call my cell phone

it was one of those recorded things but I hung on and waited till the end when the person came on then I really cussed them out and told them they BETTER NOT EVER CALL MY CELL PHONE AGAIN! :mad: I refuse to be bothered by someone selling crap on a call that I pay for. :grr: I have the cell phone for family emergencies and every time it rings I get :scared: thinking it is my 85 year old father with some kind of health emergency.

[sleepyhead]

76. That has happened to me too.

My standard procedure as soon as I recognize a telemarketer (not always easy - they are getting clever and have often fooled my very savvy assistants at work) is to immediately tell them "no thanks, please don't call back" and hang up. Twice in the last couple of weeks I have had them call back and be rude about being hung up on. Of course there is no way to trace the calls for complaint, and it is never even made clear exactly which company the callers represent (so no way to file a complaint). So much for the Do Not Call registry.

[TahitiNut]

77. Why so efficient? Just put them on hold.

Tell 'em you're interested and to wait while you turn off the stove. Then just leave them there. That can cut their 'productivity' by 3/4.

[blondeatlast]

110. I like that one--thanks! nt

[pokercat999]

78. If I have the time

I let them talk till the cows come home I act receptive to their pitch right up till I tell them I'm just wasting their time like they tried to waste mine.
Like I said if I'm not busy or neeed a break this can be great fun. Keeping them on the phone has the added benefit of wasting the companies $$ as they must pay this poor fool something and while he's talking to me he/she can't be phoning someone else. Mean? You bet but it can be loads of fun. With a little pratice you can really get into this.

[City Lights]

84. It happened to me about 10 years ago.

The Do Not Call list has worked for us. The only people getting through are organizations like Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the Sierra Club.

[flamingyouth]

6. That is awful on so many levels

Those rinky-dink pleas for worthy causes where the charity itself gets no money just piss me off, first.

This threat is creepy beyond belief. I hope the FTC investigates and shuts this outfit down for good. :grr:

[glitch]

7. Racketeering across state lines - sounds like a job for the FBI.

Wish we had one.

[medeak]

8. Had porno phone call from telemarketer

I hung up on... besides the profanity he told me he knew how much money I made. Horrible horrible man.

Unlisted number works very well now

[StaggerLee]

32. Reminds me of the movie Punch Drunk Love

:scared:

[Patiod]

57. I'm surprised an unlisted number works

Since the autodialers use RDD (random digit dialing). That's how a lot of telemarketing and market research lists are generated as well - not from listed numbers, but from a list of all the possbile numbers in a particular area.

[medeak]

63. it works great

haven't had one call..and if I did they certainly wouldn't have my financial info in front of them.

[Orangepeel]

83. that's how marketing research works, but not usually telemarkting

The autodialer can also be programmed with a list. Actually, it would be better if they used RDD, because at least they wouldn't know your name and other personal info.

[louis-t]

9. I put telemarketers on the defensive right away.

I am on a national 'do not call' list. When a telemarketer calls, I make sure I get their name and company if it is not on my caller ID. Then I inform them of 'do not call' status and remind them of the penalties for violation. Usually, they hang up on ME!

[proud_Kucitizen]

26. I don't think that works

for charities. They are still allowed to call and ask for donations but I could be wrong. I just use my caller ID, if I don't recognize the number or it says something like out of area or private caller I don't answer. I let my answering machine take it if it's important they will leave a message.

[louis-t]

62. You are correct, they are exempt.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. Pitney Bose called us one day...

And I hung up on him. He called me back! He was like, "Ma'am, you hung up on me." To which I replied: "Which is what normal people do when they don't want to talk to someone." And I hung up again. For the next 10 minutes, he called back and if I answered, he'd hang up, count to three, and then he'd call back. I wanted to kill him. I finally took the phone off the hook.
Duckie

[Pirate Smile]

16. Call the cops if that ever happens again. That is harassment.

[Autobot77]

24. Thats awful

Something similar happened where I worked. The worst was one a telemarketer placed an order for a deceased person.

[lfairban]

100. What would they want a dead body for?

n/t

[LiberalFighter]

71. Also call Better Business Bureau

and their boss

[LoZoccolo]

11. I worked for one day for some "veterans" phone thing like that.

I was looking for a job and went in to some place where we were taking donations for the "VFW", selling flags and trash bags. Something seemed weird about this unkempt office with phone cords running across the middle of the floor and particle-board desks and stuff. Plus we got to keep a lot of the money for a non-profit - we were on commission! And they seemed really into keeping me on there. Oh, and when I wasn't getting anything, some guy told me to call these people he knew because they owed him favors or something, and had me put them down for more than they promised or something - I can't quite remember. So I didn't come back.

Years later, I heard on the radio news that some organization got busted for taking money for the "VFW", only in their case "VFW" didn't stand for "Veterans of Foreign Wars" as most people would think - it was something else.

[MountainLaurel]

13. Wonder if it was an inmate?

Telemarketing and other call center work constitute one of the primary "prison industries" these days.

[Autobot77]

22. I would not be surprised if it was.

After the call center closed at my las job, I found out that one of the offices was hiring inmates. I think that should be illegal.If they want the inmates to work thats fine, But they really shouldn't have access to peoples credit card information and phone numbers.

[madrchsod]

17. hey guys- my daughter is

caller for qwest...yesterday she called a 78 yr old in minnesota.she got a democrat that could be right at home at du...he ranted about bush reagen and said all the same things about this country as we do. hey a real democrat!-not one of these new democrats-a real fire breathing socialist democrat. oh yes she reads du everyday....

[Zookeeper]

18. A telemarketer for a police organization...

once called and actually challenged me when I refused his request for money, along the lines of, "Are you lying to me? Which is it, Ma'am, (this) or (that)?" :grr:

[fertilizeonarbusto]

23. I was threatened by them once

because I told them my ex-roommate, who had contributed to them previously had moved. I got ticked and asked whether they were soliciting or extorting donations. He hung up after insulting me.

[Autobot77]

21. I used to work at a call center

And we'd get complaints all the time about the telemarketers that the company would use. The main complaint being the telemarketers would placing orders for people without thier permission. There were a few where the telemarketers would be rude and curse at them. Everytime I'd make sure to forward the complaint to management so the rep would get fired.
We are on the do not call list.Luckily, I haven't gotten any calls lately.Of course I usually screen my calls.

[Occulus]

42. That's called 'slamming'

and it's always been illegal. The trick is catching them...

[lizerdbits]

25. I love caller ID

If I don't know the name or number I don't pick up. If it's THAT important they will leave me a message. It's not so bad now that I'm on the do not call list. I could get up to 10 calls a day before, now it's only about 2 or 3. One day I picked up even though I couldn't see the ID screen (batteries low) and heard this "Hello in the name of Jesus" and immediately hung up. For about 2 months this guy would call up to 15! times a day within a 3-4 hour time period, about once or twice a week, but mostly while I was at work so I just turned my ringers off to spare my poor cat. I looked into call blocking to block his number but it was like $4 a month so I just would turn the ringers off for a while if his number came up. He's figured out I won't answer so just leaves me messages about the next prayer breakfast time/location and that he wishes the best for my ministry. I'm an atheist so I guess there's some church nearby with a number very similar to mine.

[Walt Starr]

27. First words out of my mouth when receiving calls from those I don';t know

"Is this a solicitation."

If the answer is Yes, then say "Put me on your do not call list as I am on the national do not call list"

If the answer is No, I say state your bnusiness. Usually they go into the sales pitch which I immediately interrupt with, "why did you lie to me?"

Gets 'em every time.

[Quakerfriend]

30. My husband worked for a telemarketing firm 20 yrs ago

and he tells me that they routinely save the numbers of certain choice folks who give them a hard time and call them back at all times of the night just to harass them! He knew exactly what was happening when a telemarketer did this to him once!! This creep called in the middle of the night for ~ 6 months!

[Walt Starr]

38. I never get a call back

Not once.

[RFSea]

45. Good One

Here is another-

Tele will usually interrogative initially---

No matter what, reply with; "Wait a minute, I'll go get 'em..."

Set phone down, and go about your business...

If you can stand it, turn on Faux or NPR or some drone martial state propaganda device, and set the phone next to propaganda noise...

I have not had a call back using this tactic either...

I also have anonymous call rejection capable phone, which weeds out a lot of 'em---

[TahitiNut]

79. Yup. That's what I do. Put 'em on hold and go about my business.

Let 'em stew and that means maybe 2-3 fewer people get called every time I let 'em hang.

[northzax]

96. yeah, this has happened to me

here I am raising money for a charity (actually an environmental non-profit, and I am a direct employee of the organisation, not working for a contactor, literally calling from the offices) I get every single technique, I've had people, in earshot of their children call me a motherfucker for interrupting their dinner (dinnertime is any time between 5:30 and 9:0), apparently) I have had people put me on hold, wasting my time. everything.

you don't want me to call you? you have two options: a: don't join in the first place, I only call members and b: tell me no to. hanging up wil get you a call back, maybe the line was disconnected. The only time I can note to never call someone again is if you say":don't call me again." not your spouse, not your child, you. you are the member, not your spouse, I want to talk to the person who is a member, just make it easy on everyone, huh? obviously someone cared enough to give us money last year, le me tell you what's going on now.

in case you wonder why I call back after a hang up, last night I had a member hang up on me, so I called right back, she had done it by accident and renewed her membership. Don't play games. If someone harrasses you, notify the FCC or your phone company of the time and date of the calls, they can track them.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

29. Very professional.

Maybe something good could come from all of this. You know, like they might crack down on companies you do business with selling your information to telemarketing companies. Wait, I forgot this is the new and improved Corporate United States of America, not going to happen.

[1monster]

31. I tried once to politely say no to an AT&T telemarketer, but when she

kept arguing with my decision not to go with her offer, I hung up on her. A few seconds later, the phone rang and she yelled, "Don't you ever hang up on me again!"

I was upset enough by the entire encounter that I called AT&T and reported her. They told me that the person probably lived within a hundred mile radius from me. AT&T was not happy that one of their telemarketers was so rude and promised to take care of the situation.

Forty-five minutes later the phone rang again and it was the same telemarketer. This time she was screaming, "You BITCH! You BITCH! You F***King BITCH!"

It's a scary world out there where anyone who takes a telemarketing job can have so much of your information right at their fingertips... If one has a phone number, it is easy to get the name and address on a reverse look up page on the Internet.

[MountainLaurel]

39. That's about the time I'd call the police

Since obviously AT&T didn't handle the situation well, or else her ass would be fired and she would have been escorted from the building by security staff.

[1monster]

75. I did. The sheriff's department basically told me that they could do

unless the woman committed a crime. :eyes:

[nini]

33. who the hell even answers those calls anymore?

caller ID, no call list etc... I never even get those calls anymore and I'm sure glad I don't...

[Cleopatra2a]

104. I was thinking the same thing

I never answer my phone unless it is someone I know. If it shows up unknown, i let the machine pick up.

[Blue_Tires]

34. you cannot make this shit up

extortion plain and simple...this 'company' must be begging to be put out of business, after a call to the BBB/FCC/SEC, etc...That may be the way they do things in Texas, but playing the tough guy-role BS elsewhere is suicide

[mainer]

35. "Unknown caller" or "1-888" -- don't answer!

Caller ID is the only way to combat these people. Also among the readouts I never answer: "Outreach Assn" or 1-800 numbers or any number that looks weird (I got one that said 111-111-1111. If they're legit, they will leave a message.

[RedRogue22]

47. I'm with you.....

if I don't recognize the number, I don't answer it. If it's truly important and someone who really does need to speak with me, then they'll leave me a voice mail.

I just refuse to deal with "those people" any more.

It amazes me that they get away with what they do (and still sleep at night).

[blondeatlast]

111. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[traco]

67. My mom used a calling card to call me

and the number came across as a toll free number. I always answer my phone no matter what the number is that comes through. If it is a telemarketer, I just ask them to remove me from their call list. I stay very pleasant with them so they have no reason to get pissy with me!

[DoNotRefill]

36. I've been harassed before....

but a simple "I have machineguns and know how to use them" usually ended the problem.

[takebackthewh]

108. That's great.

My personal favorite was when they called for a lady in the house 18-21.

I said with grief in my voice, "Well there was, but she got killed in a car accident last night."

The woman was horrified.

I know I was mean, but I couldn't resist.

[WildClarySage]

37. That is surreal.

We use Caller ID, and if somehow something gets thru (usually because our son answers without checking) we just inform them that we do not donate to charities through telemarketers or solicitations, that our donations go through handpicked, investigated charities directly and please remove us from their calling list thank you very much."

FWIW, they get feedback about our donating habits and that they should not waste their time calling. I don't harbor any delusions that they won't keep calling, but hey...

[Enraged_Ape]

41. Answering Machine + Caller ID = Peace

I've used both of these for seven years, and I can count the times I've actually spoken with a telemarketer on one hand. Get a cheap answering machine with a Caller ID display and tough out the 5$ a month charge for the Caller ID. It's worth every penny.

[JPZenger]

43. Many telemarketers are State Prison inmates

A high number of telemarketers are actually inmates in State prisons. Don't believe me? Do a word search on google for "telemarketing" and "correctional institution." Almost every state in the country hires out their inmates for telemarketing.

Remember that the next time you are rude to a telemarketer.

[genieroze]

44. Oh yeah? If that happened to me, I would say.

I'm on a do not call list, why did you go against my wishes?

[AuntiBush]

48. You should hear what Overstock did to me

It's happening more than you know. Happened to me weeks ago - not quite the same, but my privacy was taken from me for 7 years by Overstock and they say they are protected by a new federal mandated law that has my lawyer not only puzzled, but angry.

Nothing like a new corporate red-ticket to ride over us all.

[Auntie Bush]

50. Your name is awfully close to mine. I hope we have the

same opinions on issues because certainly people will get us confused. Bummer!

[ekelly]

49. There is a new tactic they use now.....

.......especially mortgage/refinance telemarketers.

They call and say they received an internet inquiry from you.

It is a huge lie!
We NEVER submit inquiries over the internet.
If we want information from a company, we call them direct.

When I question them about my so-called inquiry, they can't seem to provide the email address I used, or any other information I would normally have to fill out on an internet form such as my current interest rate,etc....

And when I ask to speak to someone whose native language is english, they can't provide that either.
I am really tired of my information being sent overseas.

[trogdor]

81. Sounds like a lot of spam I get.

It's all in the script they use. Sending personal information overseas should be a national security issue.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

51. I am a telemarketer ...

and I think that what that telemarketer did was disgusting. I would never be upset with someone for hanging up on me.

I hang up on telemarketers all the time. I can't stand telemarketers calling my house so I can understand when 'Mrs. Jones' freaks out and screams in my ear and hangs up with a bang.

Some people really take it to the limit and say some horrific stuff to us, though, and it does get frustrating, but it's easy to understand why they're angry. The telemarketer in the story obviously has a serious problem and needs to check in to the local psych ward or something.

[Sugarbleus]

65. As SOON as I hear the message start....I hang up. Period.

Why waste time. *Click*

[Mari333]

53. Happened to me, once

got a telemarketer call from a local newspaper wanting me to subscribe. I said no thanks, and was polite. The voice on the other end of the phone suddenly became obnoxious, and started yelling at me and telling me "you lousy bitch, you know you can afford to buy a subscription..."
I hung up, called the newspaper, got a hold of the right department, and hopefully someone had their ass fired that day. Tough shit. No one has a right to be rude, no matter how bad their day was.

[colonel odis]

54. if it's a mortgage or other financial thing, i tell them i won't be making

any financial moves while bush is in the white house. i've done that to two or three since the election. one laughed and said, "i know exactly what you mean" then thanked me politely.

if it's a charity, i tell them to send something in the mail. if they say they can't, then i tell them that i'm sure they understand but there's no way i can commit over the phone to them without knowing more about their company.

if it's just some shithead selling whatever, i just set the phone down and walk away for a while.

the gutter guards and carpet cleaner types show up on my caller ID. those i just don't answer.

there's a guy named tom mabe who made a couple of funny cd's where he f*cks with telemarketers. some of the routines are pretty good.

[Autobot77]

61. Theres a whole cottage industry now

On how to fuck with telemarketers. Jim Florentine, who does the voice of Special Ed and Bobby Fletcher on Crank Yankers, had a call on his website where he fucked with a telemarketer as Special Ed.Everytime the guy said something, Florentine would say "Yay!" and repeat what the guy just said.Eventually the guy got fed up and hung up.

[thecrow]

55. I usually tell them to hang on a minute

Then put the phone down and walk away.
When I come back, they're gone.

Now I have a service from Verizon that doesn't take any calls which have no return number. It and the donotcall list have really cleaned things up for me.

My kids used to love it when AT&T would call and I'd get on the phone and tell them all about the MCI plan and how it was so much better. One guy was very convinved and said under his breath that he'd have to call MCI when he got home that night. heheh

[mainer]

64. My son had a great answer for MCI marketers

He'd just answer, "we don't have a telephone" and hang up.

[CAcyclist]

56. This is why my home phone is disconnected

I only use it for the computer.

[Buns_of_Fire]

93. Mine, too. It's worked wonders for my sanity.

I've recently gotten a cell phone that lets me program it to ring a certain way for someone on my (very short) personal list -- it rings another way for business calls -- and I picked the most totally obnoxious ring in its repertoire for calls coming from a number I don't recognize at all.

So far as the land line goes, if I'm not connected to the 'net, it's off-hook. Works well for me! :-)

[Hard Attack]

58. FOX NEWS NOT ON TOP OF THIS ONE?

FOX NEWS NOT ON TOP OF THIS ONE?

WOW!

I GUESS THEY ARE TOO BUSY WITH SCOTT PETERSON'S PUNISHMENT DETAILS.

[Patiod]

59. Caller ID is wonderful

If someone sneaks through (I pick up thinking it's someone else), I tell them I'm unemployed (I am unemployed at the minute I pick up the phone, but I do have a job). That gets a lot of soliciter to hang up.

An unlisted number doesn't help (telemarketers and mkt research companies use Random Digit Dialing) and I won't answer any calls from an unlisted number.

[FloridaPat]

60. That happened to me. But the telemarker called back and

said pretty much the same thing about my being rude and he had my phone number. I complained and they actually had him call back to apologize. Now here I am getting threatened, and I guess just to make sure he had my phone number, they had him call back!

[Artemis Bunyon]

73. And some people wonder why some of us aren't against guns?

Get a gun!

[Swamp Rat]

74. HOLY SHIT!!! A telemarketer just called as I was reading this thread

"unknown 0000000" - A computerized voice tried to leave a message but I cut it off. This is the second one in 2 hours and I'm on the national no call list. :grr:

[tiredofthisstuff]

80. What happened to the "NO CALL LIST" :mad:

Remember the big deal made about the No Call List? I do!!! I also remember that telemarketers were not supposed to call you if you signed up for that list, and that there would be legal recourse if they did so. I guess we can forget about that. :mad:

[Zookeeper]

87. The No Call List...

is almost useless. It exempts calls from charities and any company that claims it has done business with you or been contacted by you, in the past. Most of the calls I get are from charities.

[MaineDem]

89. Do Not Call Lists working great for me

We've had virtually no calls - other than political ones during the campaign. I swear by the Lists, both Federal and State.

[KansDem]

88. By a strange coincidence, just this morning...

I went to the phone to call my wife, but just as I was getting there, it rang. It turned out to be one of those automated sales pitches from DirectTV. I hung up and when I picked up the phone to make my call, the fucking recording was still going! I hung up several times but could not get a dial tone as the recording would not hang up!

I must have had to wait 10 minutes (I stupidly punched a number in an attempt to complain to a live person, but all that did was put me on "hold" (the "your call is important to us" bullshit), and I was additionally subjected to a unending series of recorded ads. Although I tried several times, it still would not hang up.

Fuck YOU, DirectTV!

[juliagoolia]

91. I ask them Are you a Democratic PAC or org?

If they are I will listen, if not, I tell them all my extra money is going to democratic efforts. Don't bother wasting my time.

I only get the charity solicits now.

All the so-called christian and FOP orgs etc.. My money is going to Democratic orgs only so I can save the nation.

[MADem]

92. Wow, that woman is rich!!!

Get a lawyer to work on contingency, and sue the shit out of both the company and the individual....it's a slam dunk case. In the offender's handwriting, too...talk about EASY!

[ernstbass]

94. If I don't know the number on caller id

I just pick the phone up and immediately hang it up. I'm sick of these crdit card offers in the mail so I take the postage paid return envelopes and cram them full of paper and send them back. The credit card company has to pay the extra postage when they recieve it

[Supersedeas]

95. Laissez-faire capitalism...you don't like it, well then, they got somethin

for your @$$.

[BrightKnight]

99. Why must I add an unlisted number to the do not call list? - n/t

[talk hard]

101. Umm ...

And the reason she didn't put herself on the do not call list is?

I'd hand that little valentine over to the District Attorney's office.

[radfringe]

102. my partner got this telemarker call at work

it began with

"Hi, I'm "x" your copier tech person..."

my partner: "No you're not, I know who my tech person it and you aren't it..."

the telemarketer then went into a tirade of curses....

geee...what a way to sell a product

------------

meanwhile, at my workplace -- years ago there was a president (Melvin - name changed to protect the innocent)of the company. Now, Melvin hasn't worked for the company for several years, and died about 4 years ago

our receptionist gets this call:

"Hi, I was just talking to Melvin and we were cut off - could you reconnect me?"

receptionist: Oh? Sounds like there's a problem with your Oujii board

telemarketer: Huh?

receptionist: try polishing the Oujii board with a bit of linseed oil and see if that helps getting though to Melvin... Melvin has been hard of hearing since he died.

telemarketer: **click**

[blondeatlast]

112. That receptionist is a gem; give her a raise! nt

[Pepperbelly]

105. I am a telephone fund raiser and these are things you should know.

They don't want to spend time with you if you do not intend to help. The very best way to stop the call, if you are not interested, is to say so. Many people who are not interested do not do that. Rather, they voice considerations and objections without saying 'no'. At that point, a fund raiser will attempt to ameliorate your objections (i.e. I give locally, it's been a bad year, my budget's gone, etc) because the caller hasn't actually said 'no'. The best way to say 'no' where they believe you is to say, 'no, I am not interested."

What can they say at that point? "Yes you are"? For people doing fund raising, they expect to go through several objections before you say 'yes' so objections do not feed the bulldog. "No, I am not interested."

Which of these folk can you trust?

These.

Major charities, like Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish, Kids Wish Network, ARC, AAD, Am Legion, VFW, Guard Association, get very good deals from fund raising organizations and when you give your money to those groups, they get far more than the 7 or 10% that people believe. The Special Olympics programs for the states are actually "Loss Leaders" for companies because they command much public respect and trust and, in a business relationship, they are in the cat bird's seat.

Listen very carefully when the fundraiser begins to speak. They are required, in most states (except TX and OK) to tell you that they are compensated to make the calls. Of course you know they are compensated but they need to tell you that. Otherwise, it is a violation of the law.

Legitimate fundraisers do not want to steam roll you into saying 'yes' because someone who is steamrolled is far less likey to fulfill the committment they made. A good, legitimate fundraiser will not bill you if you voice doubt about being able to meet the obligation. Just the other day, I had a very nice lady in Ohio offer the organization I was representing a thousand dollars. She controlled an employee benevolent association. She told me that she might have to go to the employees again to pay for it. Rather than billing her for the total amount, we discussed it and ended up billing for half of that. If they decide that they want to send more, very good. If not, then we didn't bill them for more than they could pay.

For me and my co-workers, the very last thing we want to do is cheat either the patrons of charities or the charities. We are used to being cursed and rejected and fucked over by our employer. Remember this ... there is not much you can say to these guys that they haven't already heard a thousand times before and getting angry at them ends up, as always, harming the person holding the anger more than those at whom it is pointed.

Be kind. If do not want to give, then do not. Tell them so as soon as you realize that you don't want to give, do so firmly and in a way that is not rebuttable (such as 'No, I am not interested." But help if you want. No one, NO ONE, thinks you a sucker for giving.

[salin]

106. I used to get "research" calls (eg we are doing a study...)

being in the research field at the time, I decided that I would participate in real research - but recognized that 9/10 calls were actually sales calls. So, I would ask questions... for whom was the research being done, from where were the calling, how was the research being used. I was polite, and often explained why I was asking. Quickly weeded out the sales calls and answered a few real research calls.

Funny thing, haven't gotten many of those calls since I moved from California, back to Indiana. Guess Californians are more interesting (or those living in Silicon Valley were percieved to have more spare $$) than those living in Indiana...

[0007]

107. I hung up on MCI and got unwanted phone calls for two months

until the police put a line trace on my phone and figured out where the calls were coming from. Which was Baltimore Maryland.