Posted on 09/16/2012 8:22:59 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
So much for silence from telemarketers at the cherished dinner hour, or any other hour of the day.
Complaints to the government are up sharply about unwanted phone solicitations, raising questions about how well the federal "do-not-call" registry is working. The biggest category of complaint: those annoying prerecorded pitches called robocalls that hawk everything from lower credit card interest rates to new windows for your home.
Robert Madison, 43, of Shawnee, Kan., says he gets automated calls almost daily from "Ann, with credit services," offering to lower his interest rates.
"I am completely fed up," Madison said in an interview. "I've repeatedly asked them to take me off their call list." When he challenges their right to call, the solicitors become combative, he said. "There's just nothing that they won't do."
Madison, who works for a software company, says his phone number has been on the do-not-call list for years. Since he hasn't made any progress getting "Ann" to stop calling, Madison has started to file complaints about her to the Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the list.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Seriously, the above could be written:
raising questions about how well the federal {fill in the blank} is working.
It was getting out of control at our home. When I asked some guy why he was calling when we were on the ‘do not call’ list, he screamed that he wished I was anally raped and got AIDS. (I pleasantly asked him if that was how he was conceived.)
I tried to track him down, they had spoofed their number to show a WV number. I called the WV atty general and some woman who answered the phone got vicious and said I couldn’t prove the call originated in WV.
So, I bought a Panasonic cordless phone. With a 100 call number block feature. They call, I permanently block their number. Yesterday, someone tried to call and the words ‘call blocked’ came up.
Those telemarketers need hard time in a general prison population if they are caught.
Mississippi just B-Slapped one of them. My wife and I turned in several complaints and were wondering if it would do any good, but it looks like they were just waiting until they had enough evidence to ensure a victory.
The calls start out with, “This is Rachel, from card member services...”
I bought an answering machine , works great
My answering machine stops me having to get the robo-calls - they just don’t leave a message (not foolproof though — a couple have jumped in during the message with the “credit services” pitch). They are relentless — multi-daily calls.
As soon as I get to speak to a human I break into screams and say that The COUNT has died, but while he was alive he hated Obama.
Works every time.
“I bought an answering machine...”
Years ago (prior to the Do Not Call list), a lot of folks didn’t have an answering machine. The calls typically started at 5:00 p.m. with us and lasted until past 10:00 at night. I counted over 35 calls one evening.. thus, everyone started screening their calls. Everyone got an answering machine as well. There were times you had to clear twenty or thirty calls in the morning. I’ve noticed a rise in the calls now (even though we are on the Do Not Call list). However, they are the voice activated ones... I truly hope we don’t go back to the “good ole’ days”. IMHO.
They hammer my house after my credit card statement comes out. Its troubling to me that this anonymous entity with untraceable phone numbers knows when my balance hits their “prospect” threshold.
just set the machine to announce only.
Rachel is who keeps calling me too.....almost every single day. And it doesn’t matter if you punch 1 or not. They can get the answering maching and just keep calling.
what happened to that zapper device. It gave three tones and the system removed you as a disconnected number.
There is an easy way to deal with this: don’t answer your home phone. Anyone who knows us will know our cell number. If its not a number I recognize on the cell then I refuse the call.
Thanks. I’ll check for that option.
Have been getting calls from 999-999-92114. That is not a mis-type. It’s a phishing scam. My cell phone doesn’t ring unless the number is in my contacts list.
I see on the handset numbers and sometimes cities (lately they’ve been coming from different places in Washington state - I’m in TX). I just let the voice message take it if it isn’t someone I know. And if for some reason I don’t recognize a number of a person or service I want to talk with, I figure they’ll leave a message.
I seriously think the fed gov do not call list is a scam. They offer this service but yet, nothing is done, no matter the number of complaints filed.
I have Verizon for phone and internet. I called Verizon to ask about how to block numbers, as I don’t want my phone ringing and then having to go to voice-mail. Verizon said they can’t do that, actually, they said can’t block numbers (against the law, she said).
I use my answering machine to screen calls and block the numbers through the machine. . .but in a matter of days, they are back at it again.
On a rare occasion, I answer, wait for the “person” to come on the line, then BLOW A WHISTLE INTO THE PHONE.
There is much joy in hearing the telemarketer scream in pain.
Telemarketers have less self-respect and human dignity than TSA screeners.
hehe
I use a canister signal horn sold for boat use!
Those telemarketers need hard time in a general prison population if they are caught.
The calls start out with, “This is Rachel, from card member services...”
I would give serious consideration to ANY pol who would ‘rid me of this turbulent lot. ‘
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.