Telemarketers

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

We had a funny one 2 weeks ago....message saying "it's your cousin LeRoy". We don't have a cousin "LeRoy". It was an out of state number. "LeRoy" left a call back number....looked it up - it was 3 totally different numbers in Indiana. He called a few more times, no message - we never did pick up. Got to be a joke....cousin LeRoy was callin'!!

it could have been a wrong number

 

[tvguy]

Charities, legit surveys and political calls are not covered by the Do Not Call list - so with these folks I am polite (firm, but polite).
.

Actually, "surveys" are covered. But so many of them are done by charities and political groups, they are exempt by way of that. And remember, anyone you every have had a business contact with is also exempt. So that home improvement firm you got a bid from 7 years ago is exempt.

 

[MrsPete]

Telemarketer called last night. I was in the middle of baking cookies and told her I was too busy to talk. She said it will only take 3 or 4 minutes. I said again I'm busy. She then said you don't sound busy. I ended the call....

How do their minds work? How can they think that arguing with you will suddenly make you say, "Oh, you're right. How much money should I send?"

Seriously though, never, ever hang up 'til you've said the magic words: Please place me on your no-call list. Legally they have to do it, and then you won't deal with the same thing again next week.

Or just put the phone down and walk away. Let them keep talking. That way you'll waste some of their time (which cuts into their profits), and you'll discourage them from continuing in this awful profession.

Got a call from a charity last night....they asked for a pledge. I asked her to send some information in the mail. She said she would, but she just wanted a pledge. I said, again, please send your information in the mail, I'll review it and talk with my wife, and if we agree to make a pledge I would be happy to do so. She says, "But I want a pledge right now." And I said, I understand but that's not how my family operates. "Well, that is silly," she said, "you should be man enough to be able to make a pledge."

It was on like donkey kong, then....

Again, do they think that insulting you will get them a pledge? Having all the time in the world to come up with a good answer, I think this would've been the best reply: "You know, you're right. I pledge not to give you a cent unless I get something in the mail."

My (real) reply that I give that has never failed to get an apology, "Are you aware that you have called a classroom?"

Oh, that's good.

 

[tennvalgirl]

A friend of mine who worked in a call center told me this, so now if I accidentally answer the phone and get a telemarker instead of just hanging up I will generally start talking......not allow them to get a word in edge wise. Things along the line of "I'm not so good this evening but thanks for asking. You know, I overslept because I stayed up too late, forgot to set the alarm and then when I jumped out of bed I stepped in cat yack, do you no how disgusting cat yack feels between your toes? (here I pause for like 5 seconds) this is where they usually hang up, if they don't then I will go into great detail about how disgusting it is. If that doesn't work I will start to regale them with details of my female issues or weird coworkers

"female issues" lol. Lord have mercy on the next unsolicited call I answer especially if it's a woman

 

[focusondisney]

I had one call the other day. It was one of those "there's nothing wrong with your credit card" call but this time it was actually a person not a recording.

I interrupted her and told her that she was calling a phone number listed on the Do Not Call list. She then says "can I give you a bit of advice. you need to stop using the internet because that's were we got your information from". I then said to her "can I give you a bit of advice. You need to stop calling phone numbers that are listed on the Do Not Call list because you're violating the law"

She hung up on me and I reported the number as a violation.

Ugh. We keep getting this on even tho we are on the DNC list. It is recorded & I think "robo- dialed". The problem is, they never tell you the company name. The one calling me has an option for discontinuing calls, I've tried that & it still doesn't work. I've waited to speak to the representative to try telling the I'm DNC. She just hung up without telling me what the company name was. Seriously annoying. I just hang up. Usually it stops after a few weeks, then will start up again after a couple months.

 

[focusondisney]

I got one the other day. They asked for my husband and I asked what it was regarding. He said it was Tom and is my husband there. Again I asked what it was regarding and Tom said I guess he's not in I'll call back. I said don't bother. He said no he would. I said well I'm his wife and whatever you are selling we don't want. Tom said awe how cute and hung up.
We think it's the people soliciting for the pba. They are brutal this year and do not call doesn't apply to them

I had one like that years ago. Asked for DH, said this is his wife, we're not interested. She said "that's OK, I'll call back & ask him". Me: "Mr. Focusondisney sleeps with me. Who do you think he's going to listen to?" Yea, she never called back!

 

[kaytieeldr]

If I remember it right, charities can still call and don't have to abide by the DNC list.

If I get someone I just say "no thanks" and hang up. These people are just trying to make a living so I do my best not to be mean.

Which is exactly the right way - along with the NoCall list request - to handle unwanted marketing calls. It's so nice to see a couple of reasonable voices in this thread.

Or just put the phone down and walk away. Let them keep talking. That way you'll waste some of their time (which cuts into their profits), and you'll discourage them from continuing in this awful profession.

That's a great idea!



In a much better economy.

In this economy - where Congress repeatedly extends unemployment benefits to almost two years, and people still fall off the rolls without finding jobs - sometimes you take what you can get. Or would you rather have them collecting for years?

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

This is a great tool for toddlers who are learning how to talk

 

[punkin]

Which is exactly the right way - along with the NoCall list request - to handle unwanted marketing calls. It's so nice to see a couple of reasonable voices in this thread.

I have nothing against telemarketers and am usually firm but polite. A nice "no thank you. Click!" or " We are not in a position to donate right now. Click!" works well enough the few times I pick up without checking caller ID. There is no need to be rude unless they are rude first...and I never give them the time to be rude.

...now debt collectors are another matter all together...

 

[starwood]

I have caller ID, and I often screen my calls using it. If its an out-of-state number I don't recognize, or has no caller ID, I let it go to voice mail.

Tonight it was an out-of-state number calling, and the identification on it said "Phone Scam".

Seriously???? Scams are now registering themselves with caller ID?

They should all be required to say that. MIL lives with her son who has a blocked number so Private numbers may be from her. I'm so tired of getting calls from "Rachel at card member services" and now I'm starting to get "Lisa". With verizon you can block a certain amount of numbers for up to 60 days but that doesn't do any good if they keep changing the number. Cablevision also alows you to block up to 15 numbers but I need a lot more.

The do not call registry is a joke. I've been signed up for years but I still get calls every day. It really annoys me when I go on vacation and forward the home phone to my cell phone so I don't miss anything important (when were in DL my friend was admitted to the hospital and never came out). I don't want to hear from Rachel while I'm waiting for It's a Small World.

 

[starwood]

We had a funny one 2 weeks ago....message saying "it's your cousin LeRoy". We don't have a cousin "LeRoy". It was an out of state number. "LeRoy" left a call back number....looked it up - it was 3 totally different numbers in Indiana. He called a few more times, no message - we never did pick up. Got to be a joke....cousin LeRoy was callin'!!

This is probably a scam. My mother got one from someone who said "Grandma?" Well she only has 2 grandchildren and she knew it wasn't one of them. She said yes. He said "I'm in trouble. I'm in jail. I had an accident with the car and I need money". She said she would call his mother and he hung up.

By the way - this is listed on the DNC registry site

"Scammers have been making phone calls claiming to represent the National Do Not Call Registry. The calls claim to provide an opportunity to sign up for the Registry."

 

[dngnb8]

OP, just handle those telemarketer calls like Jerry Seinfeld:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3aCL8PIOuM

OMG! Ive never seen Seinfeld (watched 1 show and hated it) and that is exactly what I do!

 

[ols386]

That telemarketer is doing just what her/his employer telling him to do to keep their job. been there and hated it especially around holidays made it even worse. have to make so many calls a day and if you can talk a minute then is considered a count call. regular hang ups are not. I am retired now but I do try to go easy on them as know what they going thru and jobs are scarce. IF possible I get name of company and then contact them if it has not stopped with the no call list sign up and some don't

It's one thing for the telemarketer to try to be assertive and want to score, however, you don't get to be rude with me after calling me on my phone.

Exactly

I had one like that years ago. Asked for DH, said this is his wife, we're not interested. She said "that's OK, I'll call back & ask him". Me: "Mr. Focusondisney sleeps with me. Who do you think he's going to listen to?" Yea, she never called back!

This is funny! LOL

In this economy - where Congress repeatedly extends unemployment benefits to almost two years, and people still fall off the rolls without finding jobs - sometimes you take what you can get. Or would you rather have them collecting for years?

I don't think it's about this. It's about telemarketeers calling and THEN being rude (which I thought is the point the op was making). And I have no problem with saying right off the bat to them, "no thank-you", followed by a hanging up.