Non-stop harassing sales phone calls
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I do not get these at all on the cell. My office phone yes. But I have not bothered to try the DNC list on that. I always get credit offers in the mail and the phone as if they don't already know I wouldn't be given any credit, no way.... I just look over, see the "800" number pick up the receiver, put it down.
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By the way, from experience, the DNC ("Do Not Call")list is no guarantee. However, for us, it may have been that we did not update or renew our "registration". These people look for loopholes, such as they believe they do not fit whatever categories are spelled out in the law.
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depending on my mood:
• don't answer numbers i don't know (this is what i do most of the time)
• an immediate "NO" then hang up
• since they called you to talk about something you definitely don't want to be talking about, turn the tables:
••• start talking about the weather
••• ask them their views on abortion etc
••• ask for help on a problem you're having ("how do i push pull a curved surface in sketchup?" etc)
••• tell them how bad their job is and sway them towards making a change in their life/job choices..
••• flirt with them "hey, your voice sounds sexy".. male or female- doesn't matter
••• basically, try to see if you can get them to hang up on you
..
•but the end goal is to be used as an example bad call re: "this call is being recorded for quality assurance and training purposes"[but #1 & 2 are my usual go-tos.. I'm definitely guilty of all the others though
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Once or twice I have used the method I heard on a radio broadcast...
[EDIT: Solo has found a similar video a few posts later...]Caller: May I speak with Mr xxx?
Me: May I ask how you know Mr xxx?
Caller: I don't, but I calling...
Me: [interrupting] But our records show that you call this number regularly...
Me: [aside] Don't move the body until the CSI get here...
Me: I put it to you that you are the secret lover of Mr xxx...
Caller: Me? No...
Me: [interrupting] But you call him regularly. May I ask where you were at around 11pm last night?
Caller: I fail to see how...
Me: [interrupting] We must speak with you further. Please do not hang up. Please remain by your telephone. We know where you are. Officers are on their way to interview you....
Caller: But...
Me: [interrupting] Please remain calm. I am sure you can help us with our inquiries, and perhaps even establish your innocence...
Hang up.
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Here there is a law that they MUST tell me (in advance of any conversation) that they are going to record our conversation. Now of course it is hard to ask where they got my number from (especially that those poor call center women do not have a flying fart where the numbers come from). So to quickly shake them off, I insist NOT to record my talking to them. This stumps them as that's out of what these poor ladies and gents have been trained to do.
I simply do not want to hear anything about the service they're offering until they turn recording off. If they don't I simply hang off.
The other thing is: they usually start with "questions". Until they tell me who they are and in whose benefit (and in which business) they are trying to make contact with me, I do not sy a word.
Finally, what I found especially successful: when an unknown number calls me (by "unknown" I mean the rare ones that do not display the number itself - clear indicator of a call center trying to disguise) I answer the phone saying "Yes, this is the Pécs (my home town) mortuary. How can I help you?" They usually hang up.
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So after reading all these post the question is: What specific action should/ can be taken be taken to stop these types of calls? My contention is you have the power ,but some time and effort on your part beyond just getting then to hang up etc. will be required.
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Even the US government is asking for help on this problem! http://robocall.challenge.gov/
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My trick is to ask them to "hang on a sec" and then go make a cup of coffee or do something else, they called me so its their money they are wasting plus their time, and after about 10 minutes I just hang up...
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I do that, too. Also fun: handing the phone to your four-year old.
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In the UK a few weeks ago there was a landmark case.
A guy successfully sued such a cold-calling company after he asked them to stop and they continued.
He noted all of their calls then sent then invoiced for his time used in answering the calls and I think also the loss of use of the phone to him during these calls.
When they didn't pay he took them to the county-court and was awarded costs and they were ordered to pay/fined... -
Well thanks for the advice. I have found that if you veer off subject, they will hang up. So taking up their time is usually a lost cause. I have tried to trace the numbers to find the identity of the company, however, it appears that it is a disguised number and not traceable to the company by me.
However, I may have found the solution. I have a Galaxy II phone. In the call list if I do a long press a menu pops up, with "add this number to the reject call list". So I have long pressed the dozen numbers that I recognized as coming from phone sales. Hope this works.
So thanks for the discussion. Seems I am not alone. Actually I feel sorry for the sales personnel. In theses trying times, I guess I should respect someone trying to earn a living instead of waiting on the gov't check.
However, still would like to pass the call off to our Representatives. The time they are spending answering calls is less time they have to find something else to muck-up.
Ken
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Ken, I think your best bet is to enter your number in the Do Not Call list, as others have suggested. I did that years ago, and I haven't had a call from a telemarketer since. You'll still get the odd call from companies you do business with (if you allow them), charities, and political candidates, though.
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@daniel said:
Ken, I think your best bet is to enter your number in the Do Not Call list, as others have suggested. I did that years ago, and I haven't had a call from a telemarketer since. You'll still get the odd call from companies you do business with (if you allow them), charities, and political candidates, though.
Thanks
I have entered my numbers, home and cells some time ago. However, it just doesn't seem to work. I have found that my phone a Galaxy II has a function called, "Add to Reject List". And this works very well. I went though my call log and put over a dozen different numbers on the "Add to Reject List". If you do a Google search on, 425-320-5064,425-390-8920 and 360-529-5966 you will see that I am not alone with these pests. With the most sales calls being made over the Internet now, it is easy to establish a fake number.
Years ago, when I had Bell South land line, I was getting calls that rang once then seem to hang up. I had a trace made by Bell South and they traced the calls to a prison in FL. Bell South gave me that much information, however, they would not give me the actual place the calls were being made from. Another case of laws protecting someone.
It seems there was a way to call my number, do some electronic trick and make long distance calls without paying.
I fixed the above problem by switch to VOI. Told Bell South, since they had no interest in protecting my number or phone usage, I was leaving. Note, I wasn't charged for any long distance calls, it did however tie up my line.
So, I have solved my problem with my cells phones. Now, if someone would make a home phone that uses apps and I could get the "add to reject list" app, I would be set.
Again thanks for the help
Ken
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@unknownuser said:
Now, if someone would make a home phone that uses apps
home phone ?? what's that?
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Occasionally I ask them to come over and take a bath to talk about it, then stop talking and wait for them to respond.
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@d12dozr said:
Even the US government is asking for help on this problem! http://robocall.challenge.gov/
Some what associated problem , but how do you know that link is legit? Does not look like it to me when they do not provide any identity info??
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@mac1 said:
...how do you know that link is legit? Does not look like it to me when they do not provide any identity info??
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@mac1 said:
@d12dozr said:
Even the US government is asking for help on this problem! http://robocall.challenge.gov/
Some what associated problem , but how do you know that link is legit? Does not look like it to me when they do not provide any identity info??
uhhhh.. a lot of those robocalls are from politicians..
awesome country we have here..
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