Annoying Telemarketing

[Mr_Amazing]

It seems like every once in a few years, my phone number gets targeted by these idiots. I receive multiple calls a day and nobody ever responds on the other end. My number is already on the Do Not Call list, to top it off. Anybody else have these issues? This is my cell phone they are calling and it is extremely annoying.

[DavyRay]

Have you recently ended a relationship with someone who has your cell number?

For example:
Have you ever thought how annoying it would be to fill out online surveys using someone else's name, address, and phone number?

[Mr_Amazing]

Nope. That's the thing. I haven't alienated anybody in a long time. The calls all come from different numbers within the same area code (I know nobody from this area code). I filed a complaint regarding one of the numbers to the FCC, but because you can't get any information about the call other than the number, there's not much they can do.

[gaseousclay]

here's what you do:

- document the phone call. Google the phone# or simply ask the person on the phone who they are and that they not call you again. If they call again, ask for the manager and get his personal details. You should be able to find the company's info with a little detective work.

- contact your Attorney General's office and file a complaint with the documented info you obtained from the caller.

- when the company in question calls again, tell them that you've filed a complaint with the AG's office. They'll usually take you right off their list once you threaten them

[Kouros]

The people are not "calling" you from a telephone. The "call" originates from a computer. Threfore, the "do not call" list does not apply in this instance.

[Dalejr]

I get calls usually weekly if not daily from telemarketers and scammers. I don't bother to answer most of the time. The scumbags main target are seniors. One day they called telling me I or someone I knew entered my name in a draw and that I won a trip to the Caribbean yet started to ask me for personal info. I said hey buddy if I entered a draw all the info you need is on that ballot, I will await their arrival in the mail, have a nice day and hung up. I never got those tickets... :lol:

[mdunn]

If I'm busy i just hang up on them, if ive not got anything better to do i string them along and tell them overly personal (although false) things about myself.

Childish? Yes.
Amusing? Definitely!

[_JP_]

It could be a company from off shore using a war dialer.

[Luc]

I usually get it, they start talking, I either leave the phone unhooked next to the TV (when watching a movie, it's great). I sometimes go, oh yes, I'm really interested, just hang on a minute. I leave the phone there. Also childish from me but really funny.

[Pescara]

Did you check with your cell phone provider? Verizon lets you block up to five numbers.

[mattface]

You know how these guys talk fast, and don't pause so there is no opening for a reasonably polite person to respond that they are not interested? Right, well if you just set the phone down and go back to whatever you are doing, you don't need to be rude. let them finish their spiel however long that takes. If they're not going to listen, I'm certainly not going to listen. They might as well be talking to themselves.

[RockyNomad]

You know how these guys talk fast, and don't pause so there is no opening for a reasonably polite person to respond that they are not interested? Right, well if you just set the phone down and go back to whatever you are doing, you don't need to be rude. let them finish their spiel however long that takes. If they're not going to listen, I'm certainly not going to listen. They might as well be talking to themselves.

I did something like this once. I started by saying "hello" repeatedly as if I couldn't hear them. Then I told them I was really interested in their pitch and told them to hold on. I set the phone down and continued to watch TV. Can you believe it was eleven minutes before they finally hung up.

[jakespoppy]

I used to get calls from people wanting to install siding on our house. The pitch was always the same, the salesman wanted to put siding on my house so our neighbors could see how nice it is and then they would want siding too. The salesman just wanted to come to my house and explain the details. One day, I told the salesman I understood the value of advertising, so they could install their siding on my house and let whoever wanted to, drive by and see their newly installed siding if they would install mine for free. And since my time is valuable, too, they could come and spend as much time as they wanted explaining it, as long as they paid me $100 an hour for my time. The salesman sputtered and said he couldn't do that, so we agreed there wasn't anything else for us to discuss, and that company never called again.

[JBagKY]

here's what you do:

- document the phone call. Google the phone# or simply ask the person on the phone who they are and that they not call you again. If they call again, ask for the manager and get his personal details. You should be able to find the company's info with a little detective work.

- contact your Attorney General's office and file a complaint with the documented info you obtained from the caller.

- when the company in question calls again, tell them that you've filed a complaint with the AG's office. They'll usually take you right off their list once you threaten them

This is the mature way to handle it. However, who says that we are all mature? I am glad to hear some of the more inventive ways that you guys have handled them.

[ScoutHikerDad]

My wife and I both go by our middle names, so when someone calls asking for my 1st and last name, it's a dead giveaway. Other fun mature ways to have fun with telemarketers include the following:

If it's a woman, start breathing heavy, moaning like a perv. Ask "What are you wearing?" I've had them continue their spiel through this. Seriously.

When my kids were toddlers, I'd put 'em on to babble to these idiots.

Air horn!

Pretend to be deaf and have the associated difficulty speaking. Keep interrupting and asking them to repeat themselves.

Can you tell I HATE telemarketers and enjoy ruining their day? :thumbup1:

[Slim1023]

I get a lot more machine recorded telemarketers now than I do people calling.

[BingeAndPurge]

I tried to talk to a telemarketer about Jesus once. When he told me to go right ahead, I was so caught off guard that I kind of laughed and hung up the phone.