Is this legal ? ... phone telemarketing question

[Mikey]

For the last 3 weeks.........
Everyday, i've been getting a phone call ------ a recording ----
About mortgaging my home (which I have none).......

I usually just hang up on the recording....

Today, I sat through it to the end.......

After 6 1/2 minutes......

The call directed me to an automated answering machine...

In other words,
There was no real person for me to yell at and to tell STOP CALLING ME...

Just wondering....

Is this legal--- on their part ?

[Marvelmania]

Yes, it is legal. Go to donotcall.gov and sign the do not call registry. It takes about 2 weeks before it works but it does take care of 90% of the telemarketing calls. Worked like a charm for me.

[Mikey]

That sucks......

It's basically like having to get on a list to not be molested -- if you choose not to be.

Why does THE GOV let this happen to begin with ?

[Marvelmania]

I don't understand it either MIke. A while back a lot of the laws changed regarding this and collection practices. Even the do not call lists have exceptions and collections calls can even be made 7 days a week during certain time periods. You'd think Sunday would be relief from any of these calls but it's not.

[mitchedwards]

You could drop your land line and just have a Cel. Telemarketers cant call you on it

[Customslab]

mitch i thought they just said it was ok for them to call a cell phone

[johnmiic]

Mike,

A guy I worked with told me if you instruct them to "take me off your list and don not call me again," they have to remove you from their list. Use that exact first 1/2 the phrase because if they hang up on you they won't hear it. Why not leave a mesage with those instructions? See if it works?

[Hulk]

mitch i thought they just said it was ok for them to call a cell phone

Nope...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

[Customslab]

well thats good to know

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Makes me wonder how long until someone figgers out how to spam a cell. It's only a matter of time....

Don C.

[Dave Mc]

I guess telemarkers that you can hang up on are better than door to door salemen from back in the day that used to be knocking on your door all the time.

Spam has always been around, just changes with technology. Still, I find it offensive to get a call from a machine. I mean, if you're going to bug me trying to sell me something, at least do it live and in person so I can either ask questions about the product if I'm interested, or hang up on you in a loud manner if I'm not.

[Marvelmania]

I've always heard the best thing to do to a telemarketer is to ask them to hold on for a second and just lay the phone down for about 5 minutes. Takes up and wastes their time and keeps them from calling anyone else right away.

[Cosmicman]

Yes, it is legal. Go to donotcall.gov and sign the do not call registry. It takes about 2 weeks before it works but it does take care of 90% of the telemarketing calls. Worked like a charm for me.

Ha Ha
Those don't work!!!
I work for a mortgage company and they get their leads from http://www.salesgenie.com and bankruptcy websites. If you have had some kind of financial crisis they have your number. The famous "Do Not Call List" does not work with these websites. They will call you no matter what and don't care if you are on a "Do Not Call List."
A lot of people think that if they are on this "Do Not Call list" it saves them from everything. Wrong. If you leave your phone number on anything, they will find you and this "Do No Call" list will not protect you because Mortgage people are not really considered telemarketers.
Might as well change your number or just deal with it. By law, there is nothing you can do. They will find you through paper work somehow that you have signed or left on an application for credit.
It sucks.

Lesson #1 when dealing with Mortage people. Be nice. Don't be a dick.
If you are hostile, swear, hang up or threaten them. They will get you back by pushing the "call back" number. It will tell the next person to call you back the next day. It's annoying but it is there way of paying you back for being an ***.
Best way to deal with them. Be nice, polite and say, "I am not interested but thank you."
Ten bucks says you won't hear from them again for at least year.
If it's a machine that keeps calling you. Sit through it, and wait to you either talk to someone or get a answering machine voice mail and leave a message.
If these guys think they have a lead, they will pursue you until you tell them you don't have crap.

Yes, once again this is annoying. I work with these people. I am their tech support that makes their computers run and bug you (ducks from tomatoes flying at me). So, try these steps. It should work.

[Mikey]

I guess telemarkers that you can hang up on are better than door to door salemen from back in the day that used to be knocking on your door all the time.

Reminds me of the old days (the 70's and 80's) when the Johova Witnesses would come around at least once a month ......
They'd always bring their kids, so you're ashamed to slam the door in their faces.

I remember telling one couple that came.... I'm Catholic and my religion teaches me yous are all evil.

They turned around and left without saying one word :)

I used to also tell them i'm Jewish.....

Another time I told them I was a Satan Worshipper :)

[Marvelmania]

I never said it was 100% effective did I? And BTW I've never had a call from a mortgage company. The ones i usually get are for "free" vacations and subscriptions. Stuff like that.

[jwyblejr]

Caller ID is your best bet. Most of the time it tells you who's calling. Only drawback is when you get an "unknown name and number" message. Even those I tend to ignore.

[ctc]

>I guess telemarkers that you can hang up on are better than door to door salemen from back in the day that used to be knocking on your door all the time.

I get both... in astounding amounts. Because of this, I've found a few good ways to deal with them:

-"I'm sorry; I just started University and have no extra money."
-"Gomen kudasai. Bokuga, Eigo wakarimasen. Anatawa Nippongo dekimasuka?"
-For door to door folks, I wait 'til they finish their sphiel, and start mine for Recruitment. Then I hand them an enlistment form. (I have a stack of 'em by the door.)

Don C.

[Comic Book Geek]

The first couple of years that I worked at home I got about 2 calls a day (Before the no call lists) My work can be mindless repetition so I would play along and mess with them. My favorite telemarketer was Olan Mills Photography.

Once I asked, "You know how some people believe that it you have your picture taken it steals your soul?"
Telemarketer answers, "Yes, I've heard of that."
"Do you think it's true?"
"No, I personally don't believe that?"
"... Why?"
"Um... uh... Well, because it takes you so long to get your soul."
"How long does it take?"
"Well... at least 9 months."
"Nine months? Oh, I get it. Well, I'm not so sure if it steals your soul or not. so I'm not going to have my picture taken until I'm sure."
"Uh... are you sure?"
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to lose my soul over a free 8x10, would you?"
"... uh, no."

I've got about a dozen great telemarketer stories. It almost makes me wish I didn't have the no call list... almost.

[Adam West]

You could drop your land line and just have a Cel. Telemarketers cant call you on it

Wrong...I get telemarketing calls on my cell phone all the time. They are usually in Spanish and are a recorded message. Irks me since I purchase cell phone cards and use what I need rather than a monthly plan so they are wasting my minutes to check my voicemail.

There are many loopholes in the do not call list. I have caller id and simply don't pick up the phone if is a number that I do not recognize.

If you do want to get back at a telemarketer and have the time, talk their ear off and get really excited about their product. Keep them on for as long as possible...and then tell them you don't want it at the end and hang up.

For junk mail, rip up the contents and send it back to them in their prepaid envelope.

[ramsey37]

For junk mail, rip up the contents and send it back to them in their prepaid envelope.
I've been doing that one for years. Sometimes it takes the sender awhile to catch on, but eventually they get the message and stop sending me solicitations ;)
George

[ctc]

>For junk mail, rip up the contents and send it back to them in their prepaid envelope.

I saw a comedian who suggested using the prepaid envelopes to send different companies all them fast food cupons you get in the mail...

Don C.

[tmthor]

You could drop your land line and just have a Cel. Telemarketers cant call you on it
Right now they can't but it does come up every couple of years just like internet taxes