Telemarketing - Ditch the Pitch

[Mountain_Witch]

For those of you that are as fed up with Telemarketers as I am and don't happen to have the convenience of caller ID or any of those other gizmos that block unwanted callers from invading your phone line, here's some good information to read to help end some of those unwanted calls. The ones that really annoy me are the ones that leave those long prerecorded messages on your answering machine that seem to last forever or the ones that are activated by the sound of a voice.
I don't know how many times I've been sitting by my phone waiting for an important call to come thru, only to pick up the phone and have to deal with an obnoxious phone solicitor.

Under the Telemarketing Sales Rule, it is illegal for a telemarketer to call you once you've asked them not to. If they call you again anyway, report them to your state Attorney General.
California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General
The TSR also:
Restricts calling times to the hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Requires telemarketers to tell you it's a sales call and who's doing the selling before they make their pitch.

Prohibits telemarketers from lying or misrepresenting any information

For further information regarding this matter click here:
Telemarketing Fraud - Ditch the Pitch

[Stitches]

Grrr I hate the telemarketing calls that are machines.   I guess they don't want to waste their time if they mostly get hangups or no's.    Kinda impersonal and it offends me.  

The one's I hate the most are the ones that have the phone ring and when a live person answers, then they get on the line.    I've learned to deal with that one by hanging up when I hear no one on the line and then a background of people on other lines.   It gives me the impression that the telemarketer's time is more important than yours.  Putting you on hold waiting for them to get on.

I noticed a lot of telemarketing calls since I moved up here five years ago.    My husband noticed also that we are getting jury service summons a lot more.   I lived in San Diego for three years and got no summons but a month after moving to Wrightwood, I got one.   What's the deal, is there more crime in this county or a smaller pool of people to service.  

Sorry to go on but I hate telemarketers because with five kids there is NO convenient time for them to call me at all.  

[6nspirit]

I think that Jerry Seinfeld handled this problem better than anyone I have seen. He told the telemarketer that he didn't have time to discuss this right then, then asked for the telemarketer's home phone number and said he would call him back. I am never quick enough to remember this when I get a sales call, but think this is hilarious!

[MasterBlaster]

[smiley=user.gif]   I think what Jerry Seinfield actually said was something like "I can't speak with you right now, but if you will give your home phone number, and the time that you usually eat dinner, I'll get back to you."   A thought which I have often considered putting on my own answering machine.  I usually never answer my phone myself, but if I should and it's a Telemarketer I usually end up telling them what they can do with their "special" product...deal...offer, etc.

                  [smiley=toilet.gif]

[oldsub]

One day I got a call from Sears. They said their sales rep would be in Wrightwood the next day and would like to give me an estimate on painting my home. I went ahead and set up the appointment for when I would be at work. The house, by the way, was made of stone.

[Mountain_Witch]

I'll have to remember that Seinfeild line.

Another fun thing to do with Telemarketers, if you have the time, is by going into a sales speech of your own. It's pretty hilarious if you can be more persistent than them.

Or one that my brother taught me, act like your really super hard of hearing...it drives them nuts to have to repeat something more than 5 times.

I've even went as far to ask one if they could hold for a minute, laid the phone down and just left it there while I watched TV.

All in all, they are a real pain in the booty.

[WWRatOut]

I tell them the person they are asking for DIED.  

Then when they stutter out fake sympathy I act like I am going to go on and on and on and on about how sad we all are now the person is gone....  Once I start on the nitty gritty of how they went the telemarketers cannot get off the phone fast enough... and they must take me off their call list as I have never had the same telemarketer call me back again!

The only downside.... Once in awhile my spouse objects to hearing (s)he is dead...  go figure?    

[headchat]

I really like that, Rat, but I worry about karma.

I got a telezapper several months ago and it works for the computers but it doesn't work for the direct dial calls.  

I've thought of singing God Bless America or something like that but I'm usually so angry that I can only sputter.

Some say to just put the phone on the table and turn up the tv.  Actually that kind of stuff doesn't work because they just call back later.

We need to get stiffer laws and more explicit blocking systems.  This stuff is way out of hand.  So many old folks break their necks to get to the phone because it might be a loved one calling.

I think it is just plain cruel.

[WWRatOut]

When I was a kid I tried telemarketing.  They told me I was getting people to donate money to send Viet Nam wounded guys to a circus in town.  I was fervent.... and then I found out the entire thing was a SCAM!  On ME and on the people I was calling.  I quit the moment I heard and left without any pay after 4 days of calling.  All I remember is how RUDE people were to me and the horrible things they felt entitled to say to me.  I was so young, so naive, didn't know better.  Now that I do know a bit more.... I try to give them the benefit of the doubt and just duck the whole thing.... I try to amuse myself with it while being nice... they could be young and just trying to make a living as I once tried to... probably scammers, but.... Hey, get rid of them.  Say not interested, no thanks, don't call again and hang up.   But cussing and screaming should be for after all else has failed and you just need to vent your frustration.   Karma or not.... "They died..." is a magical phrase.... try it or not....    

[oldsub]

I hard the DOT is calling people regarding our Sheepcreek thingy. That might be  worth a civil ( if possible) response.

[naturalist]

There are opt-out lists for telemarketing just like for junk mail--I'll try to find the address/URL so I can post it here.  But I have a technique that works so well, I must share it:
When the telemarketer asks for me, I answer with the question: "is this a telemarketer?" and people are so used to answering questions, they always say yes, then before they can say anything else, I politely tell them I don't accept calls at home and ask them to please take me off their list.  They usually say okay, sometimes they get their supervisor on the phone to confirm that, yes, I really do want to be taken off their list.  But I used to get a LOT more telemarketing calls than I do now, so I think it is working well.  AND, it doesn't waste my time or theirs, and it isn't rude to those poor saps who couldn't find a better job.  But best of all, it's effective--so if you REALLY  hate telemarketers, and want to get rid of them and not just torture them, try it--it works!  

[Wrightwood]

There are opt-out lists for telemarketing just like for junk mail--I'll try to find the address/URL so I can post it here.  But I have a technique that works so well, I must share it:
When the telemarketer asks for me, I answer with the question: "is this a telemarketer?" and people are so used to answering questions, they always say yes, then before they can say anything else, I politely tell them I don't accept calls at home and ask them to please take me off their list.  They usually say okay, sometimes they get their supervisor on the phone to confirm that, yes, I really do want to be taken off their list.  But I used to get a LOT more telemarketing calls than I do now, so I think it is working well.  AND, it doesn't waste my time or theirs, and it isn't rude to those poor saps who couldn't find a better job.  But best of all, it's effective--so if you REALLY  hate telemarketers, and want to get rid of them and not just torture them, try it--it works!  

You must be kidding me. You're just lucky you're not getting calls. Maybe you don't own a house and that makes a big difference.

Trying getting call after call from some "Septic Helper" company and your patience would not be like you're describing. Another one that runs in streaks is the Dish Network. You ask them to put you on there do not call list and they give you some run around, then ask for the supervisor and they say something like, "well it might take a while and we might call you again by accident."

I'm getting so worked up just writing this reply as the amount of time and frustration trying to get them to stop is unreal. We have a folder a 1/2" thick with notes on these pests that won't pay attention to the laws. In the folder are copies of the laws that we have to recite from time to time when they don't know better.

I love it when they call and you ask them to be put on the their "Do Not Call List". Then they ask you for your phone number.     Hello..... you just called me!!

[WWRatOut]

Another thing I do is tell them I am moving to Europe next month.  My mate likes that better than being dead.  

I get very few calls from live solicitors.....  I kinda miss 'em.  

I REALLY, REALLY HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE AND DETEST these stupid computerized calls where it sounds like a live person calling..... but ISN'T.  

GRRRRR  

[Wrightwood]

Another thing I do is tell them I am moving to Europe next month.  My mate likes that better than being dead.  

I get very few calls from live solicitors.....  I kinda miss 'em.  

I REALLY, REALLY HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE AND DETEST these stupid computerized calls where it sounds like a live person calling..... but ISN'T.  

GRRRRR  

These are computerized calls.
I just got fed up with them, pushed the button to speak with a rep., got zero cooperation when asked to be put on their "Do not call list", as required by federal law. Then asked to speak with their supervisor.

[Princess_FS]

Mountain_Witch...
What days of the week: "The TSR also: Restricts calling times to the hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m."

Stitches: "The one's I hate the most are the ones that have the phone ring and when a live person answers, then they get on the line."

I just read an article about a week or two ago about this. What happens is, the telemarketers call so many people on a computerized system and when someone picks up the phone, they are having to end their conversation and pick up the next available line. This means they are calling more people in a 15-min period then they could before in an hour period. So, when I pick up the phone and say hello, if no one says anything before I can say hello one more time, I'll hang up....if it's someone that I know that needed to talk to me...they'll call right back....telemarketers won't because you just disconnected their call.

It's crazy, but I understand they're trying to make some kind of a law now about telemarketers....I'm sure we'll be hearing about it within the next month or so.

[WWMtnGal]

If I answer the phone and there is no response within just a split second I know it is a computer call and I hang up.  Has worked well for me and now my friends know to answer fast when I say hello, otherwise I may hang up!!

[naturalist]

You must be kidding me. You're just lucky you're not getting calls. Maybe you don't own a house and that makes a big difference.

No, I used to get a LOT more calls, plus I got on an opt out list, just like you can for junk mail... now if I can just find that information to share: here it is!  This web site has information on opting out of junk mail lists and telemarketing lists and it really does help, though it doesn't completely eliminate the problem.  go to http://opt-out.cdt.org/

[Wrightwood]

[Arizona]

naturalist-Thnx for the info.  Really appreciate knowing how to fight these pests.

[Lola]