Nothing in ilfe is free [OT]

[KnowTheToe]

<http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/pending/callscam.asp>


Here is a link exposing a scam by telemarketers.


I still think the National Do Not Cal List is bogus because charities can still call and 80% of the soliciting calls I receive are from charities. You can claim to be a charity as long as you give some money to the cause you claim. It could be 1% and the law protects you.

 

[Blood Jester]

Do not call registry

I also think the registry has been subverted. It seems that politicians are using the registry to find people with unlisted numbers. I never got called by a politician's campaign before I signed the registry. Since then I've been called over a dozen times. Seems like an odd coincidence to me.


edit: dropped word

 

[Zerovoid]

I live in Minnesota, and signed up on the state's do not call list as soon as it became available. Before that, I got several advertising calls a day. Now I only get several a month, mostly from my telephone company. Its not perfect, but its a big improvement.

 

[Moxie]

If you are getting calls from charities you don't want, ask them to put you on their do not call list.

 

[KnowTheToe]

If you are getting calls from charities you don't want, ask them to put you on their do not call list.

I just play with them. Anyway, they buy new lists regularly and if your number is on the new list they can call you again. Asking to be removed from a list only helps as long as they use their current list. At least that was how I used calling lists I would purchase for work. Cold calling can actually be fun once you get over the fear of the word no.

 

[Praeco]

I signed up for the Massacusetts do not call list and I haven't received a solicitation call once since then. Thus far I have been very pleased with the results... I am not on the national list, so I can't vouch for its effectiveness.


What is bothering me now is the newer tactic of companies soliciting products upon your calling them... for example, if you call your phone company, they may try to sell you an expanded long distance plan. Frankly, if I'm calling in a complaint or problem, the last thing I am in the mood for is to buy more of their services.

 

[Pielorinho]

I just play with them. Anyway, they buy new lists regularly and if your number is on the new list they can call you again.

I'm not sure, but I think this is incorrect. The technical term I heard is their "in-house suppress list." They're supposed to put you on an ADDITIONAL list when you ask them not to call you again; when they get new calling lists, they're required to cross-reference the new list with the in-house suppress list, and knock off any numbers on the latter list. If a charity calls you again after you've asked to be put on the in-house suppress list, you can get them in all kinds of trouble.

Daniel

 

[Desdichado]

What is bothering me now is the newer tactic of companies soliciting products upon your calling them... for example, if you call your phone company, they may try to sell you an expanded long distance plan. Frankly, if I'm calling in a complaint or problem, the last thing I am in the mood for is to buy more of their services.

I've been bothered by this as well -- how smart do you have to be really to figure that one out?

 

[Greatwyrm]

I don't have it now, but at my prior residence, the phone company offered a call screening service. It worked with caller ID so that anybody that came up as blocked or unavailable, had to give their name, kind of like making a collect call. Then, the phone company called you while they were on hold and you got a message similar to "______ is calling for you. Press 1 to begin the call or hang up now."

Didn't get a single call after that. The only annoying thing was that my dad lived in a place without caller ID, so he had to identify himself whenever he called.

If your phone company offers this service, I recommend it at any price.

 

[2d6]

I don't have it now, but at my prior residence, the phone company offered a call screening service. It worked with caller ID so that anybody that came up as blocked or unavailable, had to give their name, kind of like making a collect call. Then, the phone company called you while they were on hold and you got a message similar to "______ is calling for you. Press 1 to begin the call or hang up now."

Didn't get a single call after that. The only annoying thing was that my dad lived in a place without caller ID, so he had to identify himself whenever he called.

If your phone company offers this service, I recommend it at any price.

I second that! In my area SBC offers Privacy Manager. I didn't get a TON of telemarketing calls, but I did get enough for it to be annoying. at 4.99/month I kept it for 6 months and during the time I had it and even now I get next to nill telemarking calls, and that includes charities, politiacal groups, etc.