We don't want your stupid book!Stop calling us!(a vent...longish(

[WillyJ]

Well, here's my opinion. . .


You did tell them no the first time, and I agree they should have stopped calling. . . but it is possible that somehow that fact got lost in the shuffle, and according to their info they hadn't gotten a "yay" or a "nay" yet. . .


I don't necessarily think it's so much that you're being too harsh about it, as much as you seem to be feeling purposely harassed, when it could just be a simple error on their part. . .

Now if they had called 36 times and you answered and said no 36 times and they kept calling (or even if they kept it up after you said no 2 or 3 times) then I think you would be being harassed.

Sounds to me more like different kids at different times calling from the same place (the band room at the high school maybe?) and probably going by a list and not realizing you had said no once all ready and have been purposefully not answering since. . .

My advice is: next time they call, answer. . be polite; don't bring up the 36 or whatever non-answered calls because it's probably not the same person/kid who called every time; but make it clear you have told them you weren't interested once before, you're still not interested, and ask that they please not call again.

Theeeenn. . if they keep calling you go to further extremes like blocking their number; reporting them to someone; confronting the school principle; etc.


As far as the kids coming to the door: if there are really that many of them then I can see how that would get a bit irritating. . .

If you're really that offended at the idea of giving your local school(s) a nickel more then you have to; then buy a big dog, put up a "No Trespassing" sign, and run the sprinklers a lot. . .

But if it's more about being upset and fed-up with a constant annoyance. . and deep down you realize that maybe by giving a few extra bucks to the neighborhood school might not be such a bad investment because those kids are going to grow up and be your neighbors, employees, doctors, police officiers, etc. and the better they do now, the better it'll be for you later. . .

Then figure out a dollar amount you can live with; give it to the school in one lump sum once or twice a year; tell them to split it up or use it where it can do the most good. . . and then buy a big dog, put up a "No Trespassing" sign, and run the sprinklers a lot. . .

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

she didn't answer the phone 36 times. what happened was she said no the first time, and then hasn't answered the phone since. the "no" may have gotten lost in the shuffle. and if this is being done by a professional company(and from what's coming up on the caller id, it seems likely), if you don't answer the phone, the computer doesn't register that a call was made -- and you get put back into the queue and get called again.

 

[dixiegirl]

With all of the phone calls and doorbells I hear in my house of someone selling something, I can certainly understand where she is coming from. I used to get on average 10-15 (literally) calls a night - and that was on the low end! Plus, it seems we have a steady flow on door knockers hitting us too.
I myself used to do the door to door thing in grade school, etc. but it seems to be out of hand these days. I have a no soliciting sign on my door, have caller ID, and also put myself on the no calls please list. The calls now average maybe 1-2 a night and very few doorbells. Hope this helps.

 

[4greatboys]

Originally posted by jipsy


Follow the instructions and no telemarketer can call you. If they do, it's a hefty fine. I don't know what Texas charges, but the FTC will charge $11,000 per violation once they implement the national call registry.



Now that seems a bit extreme to me. They are just school kids trying to raise money for a good cause. It may be a pain getting those phone calls but what good would it do the school or the kids to end up with a fine when trying to raise money. Call the principal if you like or the band director but lets not get carried away. Those kids raise money for things the school cannot usually afford. Having 4 kids I personally know its not always cheap but always for a good cause.

 

[Tiggeroo]

you haven't ruled out having children. Some day when you do, do you want them to go to a school with no band, or choir, or football team, etc...Get to know your neighborhood kids and support a few things for them. Buy things you know you will use. I would think a young single couple would actually get alot of use out of the coupon book, but if not maybe buy fruit at Christmas, or a raffle ticket or two. You are contributing to a nicer neighborhood. Obviously don't buy if you can't afford it, but if you can and over a year you put in $100. dollars you will be helping out the good kids at school. The kids who are in trouble are not usually the ones knocking on doors. Also, those parents will remember you when you have kids.

 

[Kallison]

I don't see anything wrong with a NO Soliciting sign - except kids probably don't know what soliciting is. I don't blame you for not wishing to buy from every kid in the neighborhood either. I don't let my kids peddle their stuff door to door, only girl scout cookies because all the neighbors request them. Actually it is hard to sell that stuff because everyone we know have kids also trying to get rid of it or have grandkids. That is why I don't impose on my neighbors. I buy stuff from my friends son who is a Boy Scout and from my son's best friend who is raising money to go on a gifted trip. We don't get that many kids going door to door in our area thank goodness. I work in a school and I usually don't buy from the kids at school either, otherwise I would have no paycheck - lol, unless it is relatively cheap like $1.00.

 

[jipsy]

4greatboys I was saying that should be done IF THE CALLS are being made by a professional telemarketer company, which it sounds like they are. I would never advocate reporting a group of school kids. In that case, you should just call the band director and tell them to stop. I don't know why this hasn't already been done anyway.

 

[DisneyResearcher]

jipsy--we signed up for the Texas "no-Call' list so fast we burned up the wires in our house. Thanks to that,the calls have, for the most part,stopped but there are little loopholes that companies can use to get around the no-call list. One way is to be representing a non-profit orginization (like a school booster),which is why they keep calling. So far,in the last THREE days alone,we have recorded 18 calls from either the boosters OR an anon. caller whose number isn't revealed and who NEVER leaves a message. Could it be somebody just has their name/number hidden and realized they dialed the wrong number?Sure.I'd accept that theory a few times but not the number of times we've gotten called in the last three weeks. I thought it was ok the couple of times the band boosters or whoever called us back in Feb to remind us of a local election. That served a purpose and they left a nice,concise message.Fine. But they just keep calling!And calling!And calling!
I will buy few Girl Scout cookies because I don't mind supporting Girl Scouts. I was once a Girl Scout myself,so I understand about that. It doesn't bother me. Nor does the occassional Boy Scout,because my brother was a Boy Scout ages ago.
But the constant parade of kids at my door is about to make me go insane.The calls are making DH nuts.
You're right...I don't have kids..yet. And when I do, I'll tell them that unless they are having to sell these cheap,tacky items as a grade for school(like they'll fail if they don't),to take it back to the teacher and tell them they aren't allowed to solicit for sales.I'd rather give the school a check and KNOW where it's going, like a lot of people have said.
It also seems like a lot of parents are 'dumping' their kids into our neighborhood to solicit. I've met a fair number of the moms who live here and it seems to me (from talking to them at least)that probably about 50-60% of them homeschool their kids.I don't know if I"m just really getting hit by the other 40-50% who DON"T homeschool or if people are dumping their kids in MY neighborhood to go solicit.
Wouldn't be the first time kids have been 'dumped' in our neighborhood,for petesake.
Ask me later(when I am not so peeved)about the public-but-paid-for-by-HOA-members swimming pool.

DisneyResearcher

 

[jipsy]

DR call your phone company and ask them if they have something like call intercept. It only costs a few dollars a month, and those anonymous calls can't get through without announcing themselves. Even when they announce themselves, you have the choice of accepting the call, playing a no soliciting message or sending them to your voice mail.

I used to get 10-15 calls like that a night from telemarketers. Now I get none.

 

[DisneyResearcher]

We had that at one time,jipsy,but got it removed because DH's parents have an unlisted number,so it always came up Anon with no ph#.They got tired of having to explain themselves EVERY time they called so we got it taken off.There are times(like now)when I wish we'd kept it.

DR

 

[jipsy]

They can dial #72 or whatever your phone company requires, before they dial your number, and they don't have to go through that because it cancels their anony call.

And it's your phone, not theirs. You should have on it whatever you want; you didn't put a phone in for their convenience. You removed call intercept for them? Tell them to remove anony call for you.

 

[SonjaB]

Just an observation, but it's faster to answer the phone and deal with the situation in a straightforward manner, rather than listen to all the ringing.

 

[doxdogy]

Originally posted by DisneyResearcher
We had that at one time,jipsy,but got it removed because DH's parents have an unlisted number,so it always came up Anon with no ph#.They got tired of having to explain themselves EVERY time they called so we got it taken off.There are times(like now)when I wish we'd kept it.

DR

Do they live out of town? Because I have a non-published number and my father has a non-published number and when I make an intra state call, my name and number shows up.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I'm sorry this is OT but, I though you were a High School student.

Nevermind, I only read the first post before I responded.