Posted on 09/21/2012 4:01:38 PM PDT by Livin_large
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....
The agency said this month that it was mailing refund checks to more than 4,000 consumers nationwide who were caught up in a scam where the telemarketer used robocalls from names like "Heather from card services" to pitch worthless credit card rate reduction programs for an up-front fee. Checks to consumers range from $31 to $1,300 depending on how much was lost.
To file a complaint with the FTC, people can go online to www.ftc.gov or call 888-382-1222 to report their experience for possible enforcement.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
I used to string them along like that, have them wait, then hand the phone to my toddler.
Get yourself a 20-consonant Polish name and phony SS and CC numbers. Play along. Ask them to spell the name back to you several times, correcting them each time. Do the same with the phony numbers. Keep them on the line as long as you can while they make minimum wage.
Make a contest of it. See who can eat up the most time.
Honestly, you’d think that they’d get tired of calling the same people day-in day-out and not getting a bite. But that’s why I’m not successful in business.
For the recording that says all agents are busy, please leave your name and number.... I have on a yellow postit, the name and phone number for the special agent in charge of the local FBI office.
“For the recording that says all agents are busy, please leave your name and number.... I have on a yellow postit, the name and phone number for the special agent in charge of the local FBI office.”
That’s a great idea. I just got a call from “Miss lower your interest rates” about 1 hour ago. I’m getting these calls just about every night at dinner time, and I’ve had it. Luckily, I have caller ID so usually I just don’t answer if I see an alien or toll free number, but tonite I made a mistake and reflexively picked up the phone. My bad. There she was, in all her glory, verbally striking once again with that tedious interest rate rap. I’m gunning for her now. I will let loose with my own verbiage next time, and she’s not going to appreciate it. Tit for tat, toots. Girl Scout motto, you had better be prepared.
“The FTC.”
“They oversee and regulate all telemarketing”.
Should it be the responsibility of the F.T.C. (tax payers), to reimburse people who were scammed?
I agree with you, but the idea is the FTC was supposed to prevent this and didn't. Sucks you and I get to pay.
My landline number is one digit off from a Jewish deli not far from my home. I usually get one call per day, asking if we were open. I usually answer with my most theatrical Irish brogue. “ Sure an you’ve reached the rectory of St. Ambrose’s. Tthis is Monsignor McCarthy. How may I help you, my child?” We usually have a good laugh then I give them the correct number. One of these days I’m going to march into that deli and demand a full meal for all the business I’ve sent their way.
Those calls usually wake me up in the late morning...I got tired of even hearing their voice, you argue and they call a few days later, also robocall....I decided to not argue, and not hang up...let them go on and on after I throw the phone on the bed and go make myself some coffee...it cut down on some of the calls...let them waste their time talking with my bedspread...Hang up the phone about 1/2 hour later....
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