Woman Gets Threatening Letter After Hanging Up On Telemarketer

KCRA Channel News ^ | December 8, 2004

[jb6]

El Paso Police Investigating Phone Call

UPDATED: 8:41 AM EST December 8, 2004

A Detroit-area woman received a threatening letter in the mail after hanging up on a telemarketer calling from Texas, according to Detroit TV station WDIV.

TELEMARKETER THREAT

Video: Woman Describes Telemarketing Threat How Do You Handle Telemarketers? Read Threatening Letter

Jill Beyer, of Waterford Township, Mich., said she received the letter about one week after she refused to donate money in a recent call from a telemarketer.

"He wanted a donation for the veterans' association, which the veterans don't get that much of that money. That's why I wouldn't donate to him," Beyer said.

Beyer (pictured, left) said the man refused to take no for an answer so she hung up the phone.

"I slammed the phone very hard," Beyer said.

The letter arrived postmarked from El Paso, Texas. The first lines read, "Before you are rude to another telemarketer, you should keep in mind that he or she has your phone number and your address. Many of them live in your own state and most don't give a (expletive)! " (Read Full Letter)

"It makes me nervous. Obviously he's not playing with a full deck and even my kids are nervous," Beyer said.

El Paso police are reportedly taking the threat seriously and are searching for the person who sent the letter. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[elmer fudd]

I have a friend who really gives them a hard time. He'll ask them if they've met Jesus and then ask them to pray with him or he'll tell them they sound really hot and ask what they're wearing, (he'll use that one on both women and men). If someone's over at his house he'll put the conversation on speaker phone and it's absolutely hilarious.

[foobeca]

Umm, telephone handset speakers are incapable of producing a sufficient volume to damage your hearing.

[Charlemagne on the Fox]

Well: 1. The person should NOT have written that letter. 2. I am happy to hear from telemarketers as I prefer people working rathter than stealing or taking government payments. Of course I rarely buy their products, but I certainly do NOT begrudge someone attempting to earn a living. There are afterall both unlisted numbers and no call lists. 3. I suspect again while a threatening letter was NOT right, that the woman probably was rude to the person on the call.

Thank you for the definitive word on this subject.

/sarcasm off

[FairOpinion]

"VERBAL caller ID"

Those are great, you don't have to be sitting next to that phone to know who is calling.

[Dont Mention the War]

Chances are your modem has a fax capability. You may even already have fax software on your hard drive, and if not, there are plenty of fax programs you can download for free. Then you can just leave the program running at night, let it pick up and receive the fax, and voila, you'll know who's calling. Then you can file a complaint with the FCC.

[Sivad]

I announce that I am busy and ask them for their home phone
numbers so I can call them later on. Works every time.

[Myrddin]

I tell telemarketers that I am sooo happy they called as no one ever calls me....I start to talk about the weather, my dog, made up health problems

My dad did the same thing. He was retired and had all the time in the world to screw with their heads.

[smoothsailing]

Telemarketing is just a job for many people.

I see nothing wrong in it.

We all make choices.

No one can force us to answer the phone.

[rawcatslyentist]

Well, My sister was involved/dating a telemarketer entremanure, and this is how most of them operate.
The telemktr co. "donates" an agreed upon amount to the "charity" whose name they will be using for an agreed upon time limit.
Bottom line. The "Charity" already got paid. Your donation goes to the telemktr.

My co-writer came up with an innovative way of handling telemktrs.
When they call, lead them on, say things like Yes I am Interested, Tell me all about it. Then lay the phone down, and walk away. This usually wastes about 5 mins of their time. And as good capitalists we all know what time is.

Shut down the Alphabet Channels (ABJazerra & Her Sister Stations)!
Vote with your Remote!

But, I Have A Plan
Zippo Hero
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes

[myvoice]

"My Bell company won't tell me who is calling me without my getting a subpoena..."

I know, isn't that the most dumbest thing you've ever heard!! So when I heard this I filed a police report and when the solicitor who was calling over and over again called again I told them what I did, they never called back. I don't know if I would have gotten a judge to issue the subpoena, I didn't have a chance to find out. If I cant tell who is calling me they don't get through. Beware the person who was calling showed a 1-800 number on my caller ID, however the number was not valid. The nerve!

[myvoice]

Besides at least you will know their identity.

[Hildy]

You know what's even worse than telemarketers? SURVEY TAKERS! When did this become an accepted practice. A stranger calls you on the phone and expects you to take time out of your life to answer questions about a product or service you truly don't give a rat's ass about? I mean it. The last one I took was about fast food restaurants. I made the mistake of thinking, ok, I go to some, I'll do it. What the heck. 20 minutes later I said to the woman, "is this almost done" she said, (I'm not kidding) "probably another 15 minutes. I said, no, we're done now. Who in their right mind spends 1/2 hour answering questions about fast food? What do I get out of it?

I don't even take political surveys anymore.

Today they called up and said they had some questions about Health Clubs. I wanted to give them a piece of my mind, but I was tired. I just told them I wasn't interested. 1/2 hour later another person called me and I lost it. I literally screamed, LEAVE ME ALONE. What happened to the "do not call" list. ARRRGGGHHHH

[martin_fierro]

Beyer (pictured, left) said the man refused to take no for an answer so she hung up the phone.

And now they know what she looks like.

[srm913]

Your Freeper name (FairOpinion) is obviously very apt. Cheers. I couldn't agree more with your telemarketing opinions.

[Cobra64]

I tell these morons that I'm having sex and would like to have an orgasm; then we'll call them back later. "What's your home number? And we'll get back to you."

[FairOpinion]

I feel the telemarketers have the right to do what they do, as long as they don't engage in threatening people, of course. Some people must talk to them and buy from them, or they wouldn't stay in business.

But I personally have no interest, and value my privacy, so I feel my solution is good for me and I don't need to yell at some poor person doing a job.

I personally don't mind junk regular mail, that I can peruse or throw away at my leisure.

[Cobra64]

You are correct. A telephone is not a right or a priveledge to anyone wanting to call you. If someone knocks on your door, you have the right to refuse entrance of that individual. In North Carolina, if someone tries to knock down your door, you have the right to shoot through the door. My Dad received so many telemarketing calls that he called the police for a trace. The found the perp and discovered that he was a criminal trying to discern when someone was home. The perp is in jail.

Of course, if I am home and a bad guy shows up, he will be a few ounces heavier with Pb fired from a Glock, Ruger or Sig... Beretta... gee, have to check the weapons inventory.

[Cobra64]

Tried that. Blew the condenser coil out of the phone.

[CurlyDave]

I tell telemarketers that I am sooo happy they called as no one ever calls me...

Ask if they will be your friend.

[Spirited]

Thank you for posting this. I hate receiving faxes. I call the number but they don't stop they just switch.

I have never and will never respond to a fax or a call with a consideration or a purchase. It doesn't seem to matter to any of them.

Thank you again. Now I have something that should be more effective.