The only thing worse than a telemarketer is a rude telemarketer...

[SuiteDisney]

...and they bring out the worst in me! Whenever they call I ask to be taken off their calling list. I'm not rude about it and sometimes the conversation ends pleasantly with both of us saying... have a nice day. Sometimes they just hang up.

But I just got a call. Rachel answered the phone and it was a telemarketer so she just handed me the phone. I said hello and the guy on the other end said... Now what? I said... you were talking to my daughter, that's now what. What do you want? He went into his spiel and I said... Please take me off your calling list....

He said... I'm not gonna do it. I don't know what got into me, but I said... okay, then kiss my ***... and hung up. Now my dander is up and I wish I hadn't hung up because I'd like to yell at him!

 

[Chattyaholic]

I hear you! I think telemarketing should be outlawed!! It's my worst pet peeve in the world, especially the rude ones like you just talked about. And now, they've taken to leaving messages like "so sorry to bother you at home, but....blah blah blah" on your answering machine for goodness sakes!! When will it ever end?! I hate 'em!!!

 

[Pam]

I like your answer, Suite Disney!

I think I'll steal it and use it the next time I get one of those calls!!
Pam

 

[coqui]

Actually it's illegal if they won't remove you.

 

[SuiteDisney]

Yes, it's illegal if they won't remove you, but if they hang up and you don't have the information on them there's nothing you can do. I don't even know what this clown was calling about.

 

[coqui]

Still if he was being monitored and they recorded it, he's as good as fired for that comment.

 

[SuiteDisney]

I can only hope.

 

[Disney Doll]

I do not even speak to telemarketers. If I hear one on the other end of the phone, I just hang up. Sometimes I say "No thank you" before I hang up and sometimes I don't.

I am generally not a rude person, and I know the telemarketer is trying to do a job etc, but I truly consider that an invasion into my home.

 

[Towncrier]

I agree that telemarketers should be outlawed. One time, my son answered the phone and played the fool to a telemarketer. When the guy on the other end of the line figured out what was going on, he hung up. A minute later, the phone rang again. This time nobody answered. When the answering machine picked up, the same guy who had called before started screaming into the phone. My daughter (who was around 10yo at the time) was scared to death. She had nightmares for days about this guy. She was afraid that, since he knew our phone number, he would also know our address and that he would come over to our house and do something bad. If I only knew who it was that called, I would have pressed charges.

Another time, an insurance salesman called one Saturday. I had once carried a policy with this company, but I had cashed it in and told the salesman that I wasn't interested. A week later, the same insurance company called again. I told the man (who I wrongly assumed was the same one who had called a week earlier) that I was surprised that they had called me so soon, especially after I had made it clear that I wasn't interested. I hung up. The phone immediately rang. Again, I let the machine get it. The salesman started cursing at me for being rude. I saved that tape and was tempted to send a copy of it to the insurance company that he represented. The kicker is that this salesman was (as are all salemen for Presbyterian Ministers Fund) a retired minister!!!

More recently, the AMVETS have been using a company call "Professionally Speaking" or something like that to do their fund raising. Sue got a call from someone on Thursday. He identified himself as Mike. She politely asked to be put on their don't call list. Friday, she got another call from Professionally Speaking, again canvasing for the AMVETS. This time it was Ed. Sue told her that she had been contacted the previous day. "Are you certain it was us?" the telemarketer replied. Sue said that it was and again requested to be put on the do not call list. As she was telling me this story, the phone rang. Since I had just called for service for our television set, I picked up the phone even though the caller ID did not identify the caller. Believe it or not, it was the guys from Professionally Speaking wanting a donation for the AMVETS. I went ballistic. I told the telemarketer that we had been called twice by his organization. "Are you certain it was us?" he asked. I told him that Mike and Ed had both called and that if they called again, that I take whatever legal means necessary to get them to stop calling me. Before I hung up, I told them in no uncertain terms to put us on their do not call list.

When I'm home, we don't answer the phone for fear of getting a telemarketer. And email is becoming the same way. I guess that everyone is entitled to make a living, but I am sick and tired of unsolicited phone call, emails, and junk mail.

Whew. I feel better now. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[WDWHound]

Check and see if your state has a no call list. Texas has one and it worked wonders for us. It is illegal to call anyone on the list for the purpose of selling to them. Telemarketers are required to purchase and use the list. It cost $2 to sign up, but I almost never receive sales calls anymore.

 

[janette]

Here's a link to a list of States with a DNC list. It is the best way to stop calls. If your state doesn't have one register with the Direct Marketing Association on the same site. It is used by most telemarketers. DMA State Do Not Call

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Laura.. I have to tell you.. your answer made me laugh right out loud.. GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!

I hate telemarketers....and they always call at dinner time...or when we are doing something important...At any rate, I have a patented answer I use.. I said.. Sorry, I do not do any telephone soliciting....stops them dead in their tracks... but I still like your answer better.. Teehee..

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Here are a couple of things that have worked for me.

A local company was calling harassing my Mom nearly every day trying to sell siding, gutters, etc. They would not take no for an answer. It just so happened I was there the day they called and said they were sending someone out to give an estimate the next day at whatever o'clock. Mom got really upset and said no you are not! (Her home had recently been broken into).

I got on the internet and found the number for the corporate offices of said company. A quick call to the number gave me voicemail and also a number to call in case of emergency. Can you guess what I did next?

I got what I presume to be a pretty high up in the company and proceeded to tell him that harassment charges would be filed the next day if there were any more sales calls to this number from his company.

A few minutes later he called back, apologized all over himself and said there would be NO MORE CALLS. And there haven't been.

That one was good, but this is my favorite.

I was having "one of those days" that we all have now and then. The phone rang, and I had to drop everything to answer it. When the guy mispronounced my name, I just sternly said....

"I am in NO MOOD so if you are a telemarketer I suggest you just hang up now and save yourself an *** chewing!"

His response?

"uh... Ok, ma'am, I hope your day gets better!" Click

I am going to use this one on a regular basis!!!!

 

[DebbieB]

PA does have a "do not call" list. I signed up for it a couple of months ago and the calls have started to cut down. If you signed up by 9/15 you are supposed to be off the lists by 11/1

http://www.nocallsplease.com/

 

[julie_yet]

[color=0066ff]We always screen our calls so we don't have to talk to them.
If they screw up my mom's name she just says that person doesn't live here.[/color]

 

[Michelle]

Good for you, Laura!

Every time a telemarketer calls I ask to be put on a "do not call" list and it WORKS. I VERY rarely get any telemarketing calls at all anymore, and it's wonderful. I used to get tons of them so I know requesting to be put on the list works, at least in California.

I have never experienced one who said NO, though, and I think your response was perfect, Laura!

 

[nativetxn]

There is no do not call list for Michigan My telezapper helps but lots of the telemarketers are finding ways around that

I feel bad for the employees, I know they are just trying to make a living, but telemarketers drive me crazy

 

[Katie]

i first say..no thank you..if they won't shut up then...i just say hang on...and then put the phone down. Lord know how long they stay on...but they aren't making any money doing nothing..and I am saving someone a phone call in the long run!