Telemarketers that keep calling....

[talulabelle]

Here's what we do:

(1) Say, "Oh, yeah, hold on a minute" then set the phone down and play obnoxious music until they hang up.

(2) Say, "Um, you just called me yesterday and I signed up. What? You have no record of that? What kind of company are you? I'm notifying my credit card company right now!"

(3) Say, "I'd love to do that, but I don't believe in it (whatever it is -- cell phones, having your web site upgraded, satellite TV -- whatever it is, I claim not to believe that the technology is possible, that no one has proven it to me scientifically, and I have yet to have anyone try to explain to me exactly how "voices can travel over the air without a line, like traditional phones.")

(4) Say, "I have to check with my cat. You have to understand, my cat is a Methodist." (This answer isn't meant to be offensive to Methodists. It's meant to make a statement so illogical, there's no way to respond to it logically. Anything along these lines will do. "The voices told me to consult the Great Pumpkin before I make any commitments." "The nearest fire hydrant to my house is a half-block away and I have to move the light post before I can do anything else.")The important thing is to have fun.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[HelenePA]

As is anyone calling to do fundraising.

I dunno about anyone calling but I do know nonprofit's are also exempt... I get many many many many calls looking for donations.. I gave to one and My name was sold.. now I just tell them they've made enough money off me by selling my name.. They can thank the fraternal order of police

 

[PrincessPAC]

I give the phone to my kids with the instructions not to be nasty and don't say yes to anything other than that I let my children talk to them. they have done it since they can talk.

I'm on the DNC list too, but I sometimes get calls still. I like to give the phone to my DD (who's 3!) & she just chats up a storm! She'll tell them what she did at daycare, talk about her new hairbow, etc. I don't know how long they stay on the line, but it's quite funny to watch!

One time, DH answered the phone & they asked for me & he pretended like he was crying, saying that I'd left him for another man, took his new car, and wiped out our bank account. The poor girl on the other end of the phone ended up doing her best to console him. I thought it was kind of funny, but I also felt bad the girl who got roped into such a tale.

 

[Abbie]

Here's what we do:

(1) Say, "Oh, yeah, hold on a minute" then set the phone down and play obnoxious music until they hang up.

(2) Say, "Um, you just called me yesterday and I signed up. What? You have no record of that? What kind of company are you? I'm notifying my credit card company right now!"

(3) Say, "I'd love to do that, but I don't believe in it (whatever it is -- cell phones, having your web site upgraded, satellite TV -- whatever it is, I claim not to believe that the technology is possible, that no one has proven it to me scientifically, and I have yet to have anyone try to explain to me exactly how "voices can travel over the air without a line, like traditional phones.")

(4) Say, "I have to check with my cat. You have to understand, my cat is a Methodist." (This answer isn't meant to be offensive to Methodists. It's meant to make a statement so illogical, there's no way to respond to it logically. Anything along these lines will do. "The voices told me to consult the Great Pumpkin before I make any commitments." "The nearest fire hydrant to my house is a half-block away and I have to move the light post before I can do anything else.")

The important thing is to have fun.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

These are great! If I had more patience, I'd try them.

As it is, it's far easier, for us anyway, to make use of caller id. Even with the caller id, I'll often just pick up the phone and hang it up again if the ring is annoying me. Seems to work pretty well.

 

[lynxstch]

they claim I won a prize in an online travel site..problem is I don't visit online travel sites..they were stupid enough to give me their company name and the phone # showed on called ID...so I told them I was filing a complaint with the DNC registry and they hung up on me..lol..I filed the complaint..and also checked the # on the whocalledus site..it shows as spammers always saying you won something..my guess is that one won't call again..lol!

also..I do keep a personal type alarm by the phone..which sounds a very loud siren..I have been known to 'accidentally' set it off while answering a telemarketers call if I know they have repeatedly called and been told to stop!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

We continue to get calls from a company that I would guess is using a call center based in India (judging from the accents of the people calling us). The hysterical (and annoying) thing is that they keep asking for "Mr. Pickle" When I tell them there is no such person living here, they insist they are trying to reach "Mr. Dill Pickle" at our phone number!!

We have done everything to try and stop the calls, but they insist that they have done business with a Mr. Dill Pickle at this phone number and they need to reach him.

DH says I should say that I'm Dill's wife "Sweet", but we can't talk right now because our "Baby Gherkin" is crying...

 

[talulabelle]

We continue to get calls from a company that I would guess is using a call center based in India (judging from the accents of the people calling us). The hysterical (and annoying) thing is that they keep asking for "Mr. Pickle" When I tell them there is no such person living here, they insist they are trying to reach "Mr. Dill Pickle" at our phone number!!

We have done everything to try and stop the calls, but they insist that they have done business with a Mr. Dill Pickle at this phone number and they need to reach him.

DH says I should say that I'm Dill's wife "Sweet", but we can't talk right now because our "Baby Gherkin" is crying...

We get alot of call that sound like they are from India. Is that how they get around the DNL ? If it originate from out of the country are they exempt?
It isn't just Indian accents, it is people that can BARELY speak english, it is as if they are just learning to read English, and aren't really sure what they are saying. It is always for morgage brokers. Um, duh, like I'm going to a convert a morgage to someone who can't speak english. (or anyone on the phone for that matter)

 

[kaw1218]

I've used quite a few different tactics.

1) we had 2 local newspapers calling us to subscribe. At least every other day. So the next time they called. I started to sound hysterical, and broke down and told them "fine, fine! I'll go back to school to learn how to read. Do you really have to humiliate me this way?" They didn't call back.

2) I just ask them to spell all their information. I would like their full names, and the full name and address for the company they are calling for. Afterall, it really makes it easier on my lawyer.

3) we had the Police Chiefs association call. They actually inserted the name of a local police chief. Funny part, it was my uncle. I told them that I donate enough to him on christmas and his birthday. But does he ever appreciate it? NOOOO....(they hung up pretty quickly too)

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Did anyone else see this???

Do Not Call Crackdown Nets $7.7 Million
By JENNIFER C. KERR,AP

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/...n/20071107140409990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

 

[cttjones]

I work a telephone company. As others have stated, if you do buisness with a company DNC does not apply. If your friend is dealing with some arbitrary company, then tell the telemarketer that when you hang up the call it will be traced. After three occurances it is then legal harassment. You can contact your local phone company to get specific instructions to complete. This applies to telemarketers, bill collectors, prank calls, pretty much any unwanted call. My experience is that once you tell the telemaketer what you are doing, it will nip it in the bud. The fines are very serious, and if you sound like you know what you are talking about, the companies usually take YOU serious. Good luck!