Unwanted telemarketing calls!

[Palsgraf]

Yes, I'm on the Do Not Call list.

Come to think of it, I believe it was someone here who told me about it!

Which means I've already posted about this (years ago).

"Card Services" continues to call, despite my being on the DNC list.

Their number on my caller ID is different each time ... if that's really their numbers.

331-000-3217 doesn't look like an actual number to me.

Neither does 305-000-3525.

Often it's just "Unavailable" or "Private Caller."

Their introductory message pitches reducing my credit card interest rates. "Press nine to speak with an operator about reducing your interest rates today! Or press 8 to be taken off our calling list."

But each time I pressed 8, the message just started over again.

I finally pressed 9, but the operator hung up on me when I asked to be taken off their list.

I've tried just asking for their mailing address or phone number, but again they just hang up on me.

Today, I played along for a while ...

"Do you have $4,000 in credit card debt?"

"Oh, no. I wish it was just $4,000. Mine is more like $100,000. I'm sorry, I guess I don't qualify for -"

"A hundred thousand?!"

"Yeh, something like that. I've stopped trying to keep track. I wish I qualified for your program though 'cause I could really use -"

"Oh, sure! Of course you'll qualify!"

"Really? Um ... could I have your number there, just in case we get cut off? Because I think you've called me before and we were cut off."

She then told me I was only speaking with the Qualification Department.

I repeated my request.

After some silence, she gave me 866-944-6103.

I then told her that I was on the no calling list and started to ask her to stop calling me ... when she hung up.

Finally! I have their number!!

I called it and ... it was a not-in-use Verizon Conferencing number.

Damn.

I will find out who they are.

I will win.

Someday.

[tropicsgoddess]

What that company is doing is illegal. The only exception to calling people on the DNC list or not is the collection agencies. Try and look them up on BBB and submit a complaint. They can get heavy fines for unwanted solicitation to those that are on the DNC list.

[AV8R]

Yes, it's bigtime illegal and yes, the Do-Not-Call list has penalties associated with it which are enforced.

Document everything.

Or just have fun with 'em. Back in the days before the DNC list I used to keep a referee's whistle next to my phone. Heh heh heh.

EDIT: Most #'s these days are spoofs and as a general rule if you get one from an unfamiliar area code, just let it go to voice mail. FWIW "305" is FL I believe (home of scammer central) so I'd probably be even less likely to answer a call from there, unless it was someone I know personally (and I know a few people down that way).

[Misanthropical]

Those people are scam artist and you will never get the truth out of them. They try their best to sound official and take in people who are naive. The only thing they will do is try their best to separate people from their money.

They know damn good and well that what they are doing is illegal, they just don't care.

[pssorens]

The Better Business Bureau is worthless, contact the FCC. The BBB has no legal standing just being a loose organization of business. The FCC is a governmental agency and can bring real power to bear.

[Caveat Emptor]

Multiple violations:

- Not following the DNC List itself

- Not identifying themselves properly to a Caller ID

- Not having a valid method for removing people from their list

[Ree]

Or just have fun with 'em. Back in the days before the DNC list I used to keep a referee's whistle next to my phone. Heh heh heh.

Just a reminder that we do not condone that type of thing.

As annoying, and in this case, apparently illegal as their behaviour can be, many of the telemarketers are just people trying to put food on their table for their family, and they really don't have a say in the policies of the company they're working for.
They don't deserve to have their hearing damaged while doing their job, even if we may not like the job they have chosen to do.

Telemarketing threads tend to get a bit heated, so I will remind people to please not turn it into a way to beat or abuse the telemarketers.
Some of our members have been forced to take on those jobs, as those companies seem to be the only ones hiring at times.

Scammers are something else, of course, and in some cases, the "credit card" calls really are a scam rather than legitimate telemarketing.

[Misanthropical]

Thank you, Ree! I had to call a woman who owed the company I worked for money and she tried to blow a whistle in my ear. Luckily, she wasn't able to blow it very hard.

I wasn't working for one of those scummy bill collectors who try to collect on 10 year old debt. The charge was 2 months behind, so she had no reason to try to damage my hearing.

I had all her information in front of me, so if she had blew on the whistle hard enough to damage my hearing I would have pressed charges and BossMan would have backed me up on it.

[blas]

That really sucks that a lot of them show up as private or blocked....

I get a lot of random calls from random numbers (I assume because I'm not on the DNC and because they are now harrassing cell phones) and I never, ever answer them. I immediately google the number and it always takes me to some site that helps you identify who is trying to call you. Almost always, it's some scam or telemarketing company.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

That's a scam.

Just don't answer any number that has the caller ID blocked or otherwise not in use.

[Andara Bledin]

It's a scam, and they're criminals, and the numbers they show usually are spoofed so don't actually belong to them.

They are probably run by some organized criminal group, and they're going to be around forever, just like the Nigerian thugs.

^-.-^

[infinitemonkies]

As annoying, and in this case, apparently illegal as their behaviour can be, many of the telemarketers are just people trying to put food on their table for their family, and they really don't have a say in the policies of the company they're working for.

Unless this has changed recently, US federal law requires telemarketing companies to maintain an internal do-not-call list in addition to the national list. If you asked to be placed on the internal list, and are not, the employee is PERSONALLY liable for fines starting at around $2000 and up. In addition, the company is subject to fines of $10,000 and up.

The hard part, of course, is both catching them and also proving it.

[Palsgraf]

Thanks for the link, RecoveringKinkoid!

I loved this post regarding one of those numbers:

"I like to press 9 or whatever they lure you into. Then I act like a bumbling old man and let them start to prey on me. I had one going for a full 15 minutes. I kept stammering around trying to find my wallet so I could give them my credit card. Then I made up a number and she said, "That's not a credit card number." I said, "Oh sorry, that's my library card. My eyes aren't too good." I kept talking in circles and kept her on the phone as long as I could. Then I said, "Lemme ask you a question" and I changed my voice back to my own and said, "What does DO NOT CALL mean to you?" [....] She was so mad because I had her going and had wasted her time. I laughed and told her I was glad I had wasted just a little bit of their time because they prey on people who don't know any better to get mixed up with a scam companies like hers."

[Palsgraf]

I filed a complaint with the Maryland Attorney General:

Thank you for your submission to the Consumer Protection Division.

Your reference number is: xxxxxx

The following is the information you have submitted on July 16, 2009 at 11:52 AM:

First Name: [Palsgraf]

. . . .

Business Name: unknown (identify themselves as "Cardholder Services" or "Card Center")

Business Address: unknown

Business City: unknown ("301" area code)

Business State: Maryland

. . . .

Please describe your dispute: I have been on the federal Do Not Call list for years. I received a telemarketing call from 301-882-9986 at 5:37 pm on 7/8/09. They call often, but usually with a bogus number on my Caller ID: 305-000-3525 at 1:28 pm on 7/9/09, "Private Caller" at 1:06 pm on 5/14/09, 331-000-3217 at 4:10 pm on 4/6/09 and at 10:01 am on 3/25/09, etc. I've pressed 8 - as their pitch message offered - to be taken off their calling list, but the message just started over. I've pressed 9 to speak with someone about lowering the interest rates on my credit cards and instead asked their sales reps to take me off their list but they just hang up. I've told them that I'm on the DNC list, and they just hang up. These numbers are posted repeatedly all over phone harassment Internet complaint sites. Can you make them stop?!

. . . .

Person complained to at the business: "Rachel" of "Cardholder Services" in their "Qualifications Department"

Have you filed with another agency? yes

Other agency: FTC - Do Not Call website

Have you contacted an attorney or filed a lawsuit? no

What would you like the business to do? Other Corrective Action

If "Other", please describe: Fine them. Jail them. Have the local fire department torch their business offices for a live burn exercise. Invite all their victims to come watch.

Please print this page for your records.

Yes, now I feel a little better.