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AndyA (16,709 posts) Sat Aug 10, 2013, 11:52 AMAnything else besides Do Not Call List to stop telemarketers?For the first time in my life, I have a land line number that's listed. I got it because the alarm system required a land line. I probably should have made the number an unlisted, non-published one, but am tired of all the little $2-3 monthly fees for extras, so decided not to. After the number was connected, I added it to the Do Not Call Registry immediately. After a couple of weeks, the telemarketing calls began. I also got calls from collection agencies looking for some female who apparently used to have that number. After a month or two, the collection calls stopped, but the telemarketing calls didn't. I checked to make sure the number was listed as a "do not call" number, and it is. On some days, I was getting as many as 10 calls, which became very annoying as I have to stop what I'm doing to answer the phone. I called my phone company, and they put a block on my number to prevent anonymous and private numbers from ringing through. That helped reduce the calls by about half. The calls I still receive are not charities, political, or companies that I have a relationship with or have requested information from. They're of the "lower your credit card interest rates" or "we recently sent you a package, press 1 if you've received it, press 2 if you haven't" variety. I used to get spam faxes at the office, and spent a year filling out FCC complaints on them, sending a copy of the fax to the FCC and they never slowed down, despite getting letters back from the FCC that they were investigating. I think asking to have your number added to a company's do not call list is a scam. They remove your number from their list, then sell it to another company, and this is repeated over and over. Is there some secret I don't know about? I'm really getting sick of the calls, and some of the callers--once you get past the automated recording--are downright nasty when they realize you aren't interested and don't want to be bothered. If we had a governmental body that represented the people in this country, instead of opt out we'd have opt in, with stiff penalties for companies that call when they shouldn't, but of course we don't, since our representatives are owned by corporations. Would appreciate advice if anyone knows of something else that can be done to eliminate or reduce the calls, other than changing to an unlisted phone number--and even then I'm not sure it would make much difference.
brooklynite (13,436 posts) Sat Aug 10, 2013, 11:55 AM1. The answer is...noYou can report DNC violations, but spammers don't follow the rules.
dem in texas (202 posts) Sat Aug 10, 2013, 11:59 AM5. There's Nothing you can doI have a land line number that is listed. This has been my phone number for over 30 years and I want to be in the phone book and on information in case someone needs to reach me. I am signed up for the National do not call and the Texas do not call. Both are jokes, the telemarketers just ignore the laws. The only thing to do is to hang up and don't waste time and energy trying to stop it. It is like swatting mosquitoes. They'll come buzzing back. Move on, you have better things to do with your life.
Submariner (7,401 posts) Sat Aug 10, 2013, 12:31 PM17. I lost my cool a few years ago in a fit of anger told the telemarketer that if he called again "I would find him and kill him and his whole f*cking family". I was working on a night project sleeping during the day at the time, and he woke me up again. The telemarketer calls stopped immediately, but I decided not to blow my top like that again in case I was recorded the next time and got in trouble with the cops.
Th1onein (6,311 posts) Sat Aug 10, 2013, 01:10 PM18. I get calls from telemarketers all the time. Let me tell you what I do.I am actually NICE to them. I am kind and compassionate, and if I find that I actually can use the product that they are selling, and can afford it, I buy it. The reason that I have this attitude is because I used to BE a telemarketer. I raised my two children in this way. Along with waitressing, etc. I put myself through college in this way. Along with raising a chronically ill child. I was never asked to do anything illegal, and I never did anything illegal. I just earned extra money, so that I could support my family. I'm tired of the demonization of telemarketers. They aren't all crooks. They aren't trying to interrupt your dinner hour. They are just regular human beings, most of them honest and decent, trying to make an honest and decent living. Try changing your attitude about telemarketers. It might do you a world of good.
AndyA (16,709 posts) Sat Aug 10, 2013, 02:22 PM 27. I understand the people on the other end are just doing their jobs.I don't have a beef with them, unless they get nasty with me, and they do get nasty sometimes. I've been nice for almost a year now, asking them to please add my number to their do not call list. Unfortunately, this hasn't worked for some, as they continue to call. I recognize the script, I've heard it so often. You'd think companies would be smart enough to not call numbers on the Do Not Call List, because obviously, whoever is at that number isn't interested in receiving calls of this nature. Seems their time and money would be better spent calling numbers that aren't on the list. While you may view it as demonization of telemarketers, I view it as a repeated annoying interruption of my time. I do not have a phone number to be hounded by calls of this nature, I have it for my own convenience and security. I have made my preferences known by listing my number on the Do Not Call List, and they are ignoring it and intruding on my time by calling. My attitude has degraded over the many months of phone calls, in which my request to not call is repeatedly ignored. The companies calling me at this point are indeed doing something illegal, as my number has been on the Do Not Call List for over 10 months, and these calls do not meet any of the exceptions. I have no problem with folks earning an honest living, but at this point the companies calling me aren't abiding by the law.
millennialmax (274 posts) Sat Aug 10, 2013, 02:12 PM23. What's real great is when they call YOU and put you on HOLD.
Another example of a "government" solution to a problem being totally ineffective. Especially when you realize that some where there is another bunch of well paid government employees accomplishing absolutely nothing.
DUmmy stevenumbers has a crush on "Rachel from cardholder services".
