Non-stop harassing sales phone calls
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Man, I am fed up with the constant barge of phone calls trying to fix my credit card or sell me a security system. I have tried to get disconnected by pressing number 2 to get off the list, to no avail.
I have started answering, "why in the hell are you calling me on my cell phone when I am driving". Still doesn't stop the vermin.
So, now I am looking for an app for my cell phone, that just by pressing a button I can forward the call to my US and State Senators and Congressional personnel.
I figure after a couple of sells calls to their home someone would start paying attention.
Or maybe an app that will answer the phone and put out a fake fax signal. It is my understanding that when the call is answered by a fax machine the number is removed. Now that would be nice. So all you programmer out there, get to work. Millions are waiting.
Just needed to vent.
Anyone else having this problem?
Ken
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Unfortunately, you have tried to opt out using their method. This just verifies you as a valid target. I am afraid it will continue. Maybe check with your service provider on solutions to the problem.
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^^ What he said. Never try to opt out of any unknown organization's robo call. I get them too; credit card, mortgage, charitable organizations, you name it. Incredibly frustrating and unfortunate, it means that I don't answer the phone at all unless I know the number, and that means that I miss calls that I do want. The calls have slowly decreased over time, but I still get them. The worst part is that they are spoofing numbers that render them untraceable, and that's illegal. I don't know what we can do, the DNC list seems to be worthless at this juncture and the government seems uninterested in prosecuting these wrongdoers.
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I have not followed the law recently , but have you entered the cell # on the don't call lsit?
Keep track of the calls( Will be hassle if you are driving), time etc and turn in to the state attorney general office. They can be fined for each call if you get it set so they are in violation of the list. I have my phone set to announce the name of the caller and will not answer others. If they don't leave a message then deletion decision is easy, if they leave one you have the needed info.
Talk to your provider they will have suggestions also.They will not want junk calls taking up band width.
You can fight back but will take some time and effort. Under stand the law and use that against them. If you are having problems many others are also.
I went through an issue on how insurance companies use the credit reports to increase rates even if you have not had an accident and credit report is good a few years back. Got the State Dept. of Regulatory Agency involved. -
in the UK asking 'who' they bought the list from, that included your number, is a question that they are legally obliged to supply...
Very few have an answer, but it seems they add you to their blacklist and don't ring back or sell your number on...john
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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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British Telecom Rep
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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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