Posted on 05/04/2006 9:30:44 AM PDT by HOTTIEBOY
HottieGirl, bless her heart I love her to death, is somewhat gullible. She almost fell for the oldest trick in the book.
Well, its not really a trick, just a missleading marketing strategy to get you to buy an elaborate water filtration system that can run into the thousands $$$.
Here's how it started:
Last week I noticed a vile sitting on the counter. It came in the mail and had "water test division" on it. I didn't give it another thought. HottieGirl, being the responsible citizen she is, fills it full of tap water and puts it back in the business reply envelope. (redflag#1)
I thought, for a second, this is either routine testing or the ole water filter scam. Besides, if my water company needs to test my water, they will. Somehow. I am sure they do it everyday.
Those thoughts ran through my mind in an instant and were gone and forgotten about just as fast. Well, yesterday, I got home and HottieGirl was on the phone.
"It's the Health Department", she says. "They want to come by here one day and retest our water. They said that it would only take 45 minutes and it would be free". (why wouldn't it be free? redflag#2)
I asked, "Is that THE Health Department? As in The Department of Health?" and if so why are they calling me if my water is bad. Shouldn't the DOH be contacting my water company? (redflag#3)
She asked what the name of their place was. They said they were the water testing division of health services and we have a few minerals in our water that may be harmfull and require further in-home testing. (minerals, well duh redflag#4) (in-home testing redflag#5)
HottieGirl asked me if I was going to be home early one afternoon this week so they can come by and test it. "NO!", I said, "Hang up that phone. Tell them we ain't buying."
She said she would call them back and told me she can't talk to the DOH that way. Bless her heart. I informed her that she was talking to a water filter company that claims they are an official entity. They tell you that you and you family are going to die if you don't have one of their filtration systems installed in your home.
I told her that if I have a problem with my water, the water company will address it.
This is partly a funny story but I also wanted to get it out there in FReeper land so that some of you that may not be familiar with it will know. Selling water filters is fine, but I don't want someone going around posing as an official agency, scaring people into buying. Imagine how many little old ladies fell for it.
Is this the Grace Johnson Water Filter Company?
You damn skippy! If Wally World doesn't carry it, I don't need it. On another note, have some fun with these people. Send them a sample of pee and when they contact you to tell you how bad your water is, tell them you already have one of their filters and that's where the sample came from.
I like to lead them on so that they think they have a live one. Especially telemarketers. I try to sell them used oil filters.
I suppose this situation could be more entertaining if you were to accidentally confuse thier water return vial and the urine sample your doctor wanted.
LOL! Never thought of that. I will come up with something in case they call back.
The BEST thing that is.
You might want to add the word "best" before the word "thing" in your post. Either that, or learn to go without supper for a month or so... :0 )
I tell you what, sometimes I just shake my head. God love er. But then again sometimes I do things....
But I can imagine my 80year old grandmother falling for this. She gets worried over the least little thing.
Mrs. Theknow and I have gotten no less than a call per day since we moved in Dec. 23rd. last year.
Other calls are for home security. I did sign up and got a free system installed from a reputable company. Then cancelled the service. Don't think too many crooks are going to stick around listening to the loud horn noise until the cops show up.
Same here with credit cards. They offer you 0% for 6 months. I use it to pay off my existing card and surely another offer the same will come in 6 months time.
"HottieGirl, bless her heart I love her to death, is somewhat gullible. She almost fell for the oldest trick in the book....Here's how it started:"
With "I do"
Not yet...
I went through about six or seven cards and card company number 2 or 3, I forget, sent me another card giving me 12 months of 0% as a "Welcome Back" present.
Hottiegirl is a little old lady?
(I'm confused)
Report them! I worked for a Rain Soft distributor, doing telemarketing. May the Lord forgive me, but I needed the job. Eventually I was promoted to calling existing customers for annual maintenance, but ended up trying to talk them out of suing the distributor. This particular outfit sent out ex-cons to unsuspecting families to browbeat them into buying a 5k whole house water treatment system.
The typical scam is that they set up booths at fairs and trade shows, and people will fill out a slip for a drawing. Even if you are on a "do not call list", filling out that entry negates that. Those "leads" are recycled forever. Renters, single parents(in most circumstances), retirees, and a couple of other categories, are not considered. There has to be income potential before the mark is given the sales pitch. These all come scripted, and woe betide you if you go off script.
This is one of the harshest ways to try and earn a living. As for posing as a government agency, that is a crime. I hope you have some way to track down whoever is doing this, and turn them in!
My 95 year old Belgian grandma would say something like "I don't need my damn water tested, go to hell"! God love her.
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