anyone have this telemarketer problem?

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:09am

Every saturday, I get several phone calls in the morning and when I pick up, a voice recording is prompted to say that "this is an organization dealing with a matter of yours. Please press any key to speak with a senior representative."

The odd thing is that no organization is named and I can't think of any matters I have that would prompt this kind of unsolicited phone call in any case.

Has anyone else had this happen? Its getting annoying. The number shows up as "unknown" on my caller id.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:21am

Are you on the "do not call list?"

You can sign up here:

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

[Elphaba]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:21am

if you see that it's unknown, and it's Saturday morning, let your machine, or phone compaby voicemail answer......you'll be taken out of their system.

[artscallion]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 8:30am

This is the new gimmick companies use because they don't want to waste their time waiting to see if anyone picks up or not. This way you are the one who wastes your time on hold waiting for the next available "senior representative." In the meantime, the reps just get a steady stream of available people to talk to.

These are not just telemarketers. Valid companies that may have actual business with you use this system now. After getting (and ignoring) the same thing myself for weeks, I finally decided to pick up and see what it was. I held for about two minutes for the next rep, but I was determined to find out what it was and give them a piece of my mind at the least.

They finally picked up and it turned out to be my insurance company with a question on a claim. I chewed the supervisor out for about five minutes. I couldn't believe they were so blatantly sending out the message that their time was so much more valuable than their customers' time.

I hope this trend is not a vision for the future.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 8:37am

I second the "do not call list" recommendation.

Yesterday my mother answered the phone and thinking it was me calling she said, "Hola!" It was a telemarketer who replied, "Oh, I'll have to get someone to call you back who speaks Spanish."

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 9:45am

My problem is a bit different: my son signed up for all sorts of free things when the baby was due. As a result, he gave my phone number (he was living with me at the time). Now I get pre-recorded calls from Babys-R-Us, GAP for kids, Carters and a host of other calls.

I've learned that if you answer the phone with a "Yes" instead of "Hello", it doesn't activate the recording and I hang up when I hear silence. It's still a nuisance.

Updated On: 7/23/07 at 09:45 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 10:54am

The "do not call list" works, and it's legally binding.

That's a government listing that can be used against telemarketing companies in a court of law. They can sustain serious fines if they continue to call you.

It takes about six weeks to fully kick in, from the time you sign up, but it does work. I receive ZERO telemarketing cold calls now.

But read through it... there are certain groups that are exempt from the list, such as non-profits and religious organizations.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:07am

Thanks. I will sign up for the list.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:38am

From what I understand telemarketers CAN call you even if you are on the "Do Not Call" list if you do business with them or with any of their affililates....i.e. you bank can call you with offers, or any of their affiliates can call you as well.

So if you have purchased products from a vendor in the past, it may be difficult to get them to stop calling you.

[LionessInWinter]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:39am

I third the Do Not Call list. I also haven't had a single telemarketing call since it kicked in.
I occasionally get those recorded messages asking me to call about some account, but they always identify the company calling.

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:46am

Oh, we get calls from 866 numbers all the time and we just pick up the phone and hang it right back up. On Sturays it usually starts at about eight-thirty in the morning. The damn idiots are really lucky I haven't gone off on one of them yet.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 4:37pm

WindyCityActor---You're absolutely right. If it's a company you have done business with in the past, they still might call you unless you tell them not to, and (the magic words) "Please remove me from your calling list." I've had pretty good luck saying that in the past.

Telling them, "I'm not interested," is NOT the same thing as saying, "Take me off your list." If you say you're not interested, they will keep calling, until you ask to be removed from their list.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 5:25pm

The company called back again today (several times, in fact) and it seems this particular number is associated with identity theft according to a google search I did.

I asked to be taken off their list. It is operating out of Canada, so it seems the US listing does not apply.

Posted: 7/22/07 at 10:10pm

You can also get calls from collection agents-- even when they aren't calling you. I finally called back one persistant recording to find they were actually looking for someone other than me.....That sure was annoying.

[alterego]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:13pm

Alternatively, opt not to have your number listed in the phonebook.

[CJR]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:00am

Okay, I have this problem. Im on the national do not call list with both my cell phone and my home phone and I STILL get these irritating phone calls.

It IS a collection agency, but any debt I had was settled a long time ago (my father had owed money in my name and then he passed away. Long story). Anyway, they call at least 6 times a week -- usually more -- and INSIST I owe them money.... however, I've never even heard of their company OR ordered anything from the company they say they're representing.

It's frustrating. At 7pm on a Saturday, I should NOT be getting these kinds of calls on my cell phone. Likewise, 7 or 8am ANY day of the week.

Im guessing, they have me confused with another Heather Smith (considering this wasn't something they'd have a social on file for), but one would think (or at least hope) they'd figure it out and leave me alone after at least a dozen times of telling them as much!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:51pm

Try these

pick up the phone, and set it down, and do nothing.

pick up the phone and start speaking your version of a foreign language, gibberish, whatever

pick up the phone, scream, and yell 'HONEY, WE WON. WE WON THAT TRIP.' Profusely thank the person on the other end. They will never call you again. (this is my fathers favorite thing to do)

or, pick up the phone, listen for a minute, than politely ask for the persons phome phone number so you can call them back. When they say they cannot give it to you, ask why THEY feel they can call you at home. Then slam the phone down. I find adding the word a**hole, adds a nice touch

[Mamie]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:59pm

Just pick it up and say "Hold on please". Set it down and go back to sleep.

Unfortunately it's true that businesses you've had dealings with in the past can call you and they do use computers to dial you up and start the message. This message usually tells you to hold on for an important message from one of their agents. The office I work in gets bombarded with these messages every day and there's not a thing I can do about them. I have to wait for the message to run itself out and then wait for a human being to get on the phone before I can tell them to stop calling. In the meantime I've wasted so much time and our phones are locked up with these jerks. I am trying my hardest to hold out for the human so I can tell them what I think of their methods and the fact that those methods alone will keep us from doing business with them again.

[chicolini]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:03pm

CJR-

When is the last time you've checked your credit report? Like you said, it's probably just confusion over your name, but a credit check can help you find out if somebody has opened an account somewhere using your info.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:06pm

"pick up the phone, and set it down, and do nothing."

I found that instead of doing nothing after setting the phone down, if you set the reciever near your TV speakers and put on some really dirty (verbal) Gay Porn, they tend to drop you like a hot potatoe. Not sure why -

[Mamie]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:09pm

Gee - I never tried that. I guess I'll have to get some....

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:26pm

My cell number is unlisted, and I have been called by collection agencies looking for two different individuals. After I got the 10th recorded message in my voice mail, I called back their number...after I contacted them a third time, I read them the riot act...and threaten to sue them for harassment.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:27pm

Telemarketers and collection agencies aren't the same thing, unfortunately.

You should try to clear that up, and I agree the best way is by pulling your credit report and finding out what's going on.

But collection agencies don't fall under the same guidelines as telemarketers.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:56pm

I know that Buisness to Buisness calls are exempt , so if you are running a buisness out of your home and getting calls from telemarketers there is not much you can do

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:30pm

The most irritating calls are from The Roundabout Theater and The Metropolitan Opera. I've done business with both. They call at about 6 PM and try to sell me subscriptions. I ask them to take my name off their list but to little avail. The NY Philharmonic seems to have honored my request for no more calls.

Now whenever I buy tickets for the Roundabout or The Met, I try to do it at the box office. I save on the service charges and am not asked to give my phone number.

BTW: when I AM asked to give my phone number, I give them the local Dial-A-Prayer. They can call that number and talk to Jesus.