I. Am. A. Horrible. Person.

[mikoyan29]

My mom gets those calls every so often. She ignores them.

[Ghel]

I still ocassionally get collection (or perhaps scam) calls for my SIL, even though she moved out years ago. Actually, she moved back in a couple weeks ago, but I still told the collection agent/scammer that she no longer lived there, but I might be able to get a message to her. The woman was really nice about it and said she'd remove our number (and no calls back, so she must have). I took down the information, hung up, and turned to SIL, who was in the same room. "Does <company> mean anything to you?" "No." <crumple, toss>

ETA: Oh, and about the ATM. Was your ATM actually broken, or did the SC simply not want to pay the fee?

[thatcrazyredhead]

I was wondering how you resolved that little issue! I recall you mentioning in elsewhere at least once, and I have to say that what you did was absolutely brilliant!

I find that since I disconnected my land line that calls like that have pretty much stopped. I've gotten a couple of telemarketing calls on my cellphone though, both from the same place - the first time the guy told me that 'everybody has cellphones these days' when I told him to take me of the list, and the second time I flat out told him that I have a cellphone and that I pay for my minutes...and he hasn't called back since then LOL

Thanks!

I don't know what the rule is here about those kinds of calls to cell phones, but I should look into it. We don't have a land line, and both of our cell numbers are on the National Do Not Call List, but that didn't come into play here because Mr. Redhead had given these people his number in the first place.

[Imogene]

Indian Lady: Hello I'm looking to speak with Georgia.

Two thoughts:
1) I don't think phones can get more than ten people on a chat at one time... I could be wrong...
2) Is she on your mind?

[Kanalah]

Hubby occasionally gets on me for refusing to answer my phone if I don't recognize the number.

So when he's home I have him answer and deal with the telemarketers that somehow got my cell number.

He doesn't bother me about it so much anymore. I do answer most calls that come from an in-state area code.

[zombiequeen]

My husband's grandparents, who I'm living with now, will ALWAYS answer the freaking phone, even if they know it's a scam. They do it because they like to argue, and they aren't allowed to pick fights with me anymore.
It's annoying as all heck when they pick up a telemarketer call ONE MINUTE before my husband is supposed to call on break.

Yes, they have fallen for at least five phone scams in the past year!

[Andara Bledin]

From what I understand, if you provide a company with your work phone number, they may use that number to contact you until the point where either you or the company tell them they are no longer allowed. The same goes for any phone contact - the moment either the debtor or the person whose phone line it is say no, they are supposed to stop.

The only form of contact that you cannot make them not use is via the mail.

^-.-^

[Marian_Paroo]

I like the idea of giving them the Jenny number. But this one could be fun, too:
985-655-2500 <--- the Rick Roll number.

[Gaki]

From what I understand, if you provide a company with your work phone number, they may use that number to contact you until the point where either you or the company tell them they are no longer allowed. The same goes for any phone contact - the moment either the debtor or the person whose phone line it is say no, they are supposed to stop.

The only form of contact that you cannot make them not use is via the mail.

^-.-^

But here's the problem: They're not a REAL company. So they do what they want.

[fireheart]

But here's the problem: They're not a REAL company. So they do what they want.

Which is when you tell them that you have managed to write down their number and will be forwarding it to the police.

[Gaki]

Which is when you tell them that you have managed to write down their number and will be forwarding it to the police.

They GIVE you a number to call. They call from about 10 or so different numbers and then when they have you hooked in and you think something is legitimate they give you a number to call which is different every time and totally bogus. I think she said it's an automated service or something like it but she never stops to read it. The po-po can't do ANYTHING for these folks and they know that. But they're not calling ME, they're calling the STORE so whoever's there is whoever picks up the phone. I can't do a thing about it unless luck would have it I be the one who picks up the phone.

[fireheart]

They GIVE you a number to call. They call from about 10 or so different numbers and then when they have you hooked in and you think something is legitimate they give you a number to call which is different every time and totally bogus. I think she said it's an automated service or something like it but she never stops to read it. The po-po can't do ANYTHING for these folks and they know that. But they're not calling ME, they're calling the STORE so whoever's there is whoever picks up the phone. I can't do a thing about it unless luck would have it I be the one who picks up the phone.

Be a complete smartass and pick apart every one of their flaws?

[thatcrazyredhead]

There's so much fun to be had with this!

"She doesn't work here anymore. I think she fled to Mexico!"

"Actually, George is at home recovering from extensive surgery, if ya know what I mean."

"I don't know where you got your information, but Georgia is my dog."

"No, she's not here, but she should be out on parole in a few months."

"Yes, Georgia is here. She is wearing a blue shirt today. I like blue. It makes me think of the sky and the ocean. When I think of the ocean, I think of the beach and the waves crashing against the sand. I don't really like the sand very much, though, because it feels funny when it gets between my toes. Like sock fuzz. I'm wearing white socks today. White makes me think of big puffy clouds. I really like big puffy clouds. I like to look at them and find shapes of other things like bunny rabbits. I have a pet bunny rabbit at home! She is brown and fluffy and her name is Carrots. She used to have a brother named Peas, but Peas died of an infection. I had an infection once, it was really gross. My <insert body part here> swelled up to three times its normal size and turned bright red and I had to go to the doctor and she stabbed it with a needle and all this gross white stuff came out and she put me on antibiotics, but it turns out I'm allergic to the 'cillans, so I broke out in a rash all over and it was crazy itchy and..."

[Evandril]

Tell 'em "I'm sorry, the correct number to reach Georgia is 404-244-2600"...That's the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's 24 hour number

[Jester]

...they're the type of scam that threatens you and tries to scare you into paying some "debt" that you don't owe.

Interesting. And I'm beginning to think that I dealt with a scam a few years ago, which at the time I didn't think of as being a scam, but just some misunderstanding or, perhaps, a transaction I didn't remember.

To wit, I got a call from a collections agency saying I owed several hundred dollars to Zales jewelery store, which I found very interesting, as I don't really wear or buy jewelery. I HAD been shopping for an engagement ring for The Brit, but I had never bought anything, at least as far as I remembered. But I knew I HAD been in a Zales store, and may have signed up for one of their cards. (I have a horrible memory about a lot of things.) But $800 or so? No way. But that is what they said I ran up on said Zales card. I said that was not possible. They said they had my signature on file. I told them point blank, I'd love to see it. Sadly, it's at this point of the story that I can't remember quite what happened. I'm pretty sure the dude said they'd be happy to show me said signature, but they weren't going to mail me a copy of the documents, or I had to go into a store, or something weird. I dunno. But I haven't heard from them much since then. (Of course, the fact that I don't bother answering unrecognized numbers anymore probably helps.) The weird thing is, I am not sure if it was entirely a scam, as I could swear I got collection noticed in the mails from Zales themselves. My guess is that someone used my name to fraudulently get a card from Zales, and ran up some purchases on it. I could almost guess who it was, too.....my guess would be this one douchebag roommate I had years ago in the old apartment.

I think the next time I get something from Zales, I may just open it to see what it is. Especially if this is fucking with my credit. Hmmm....

IL: Do not hang up on me again! You are going to be prosecuted by the police! The police will come for you!

Prosecuted? For what? Hanging up on you? Yeah, good luck making that stick. About the ONLY way that would work would be if the police or DA were calling for someone as part of a criminal investigation and you hung up on them, they could try to stick you with an obstruction of justice charge. But other than that, fuck off.

Oh yes. I know of you. Hold on. Let me get the checklist the FBI left us. Ok. I'll need the following information, your name, company name, company address, A valid phone number, and the name of the owner or CEO of your company, Let's start with your name.

Good way to deal with them....put them on the defensive. I like it!

Hubby occasionally gets on me for refusing to answer my phone if I don't recognize the number.

I never answer the phone if I don't recognize the number, with basically only 2 exceptions:
1. If it's a 305 (local) area code, it's probably a valid call from someone who knows me or is seeking to hire a magician, or
2. If it's a random number shortly after I've ordered delivery from the local Chinese restaurant. I always have them call me when they get here, as I don't hear the door from my room (good walls in this apartment), and they have cell phones from Florida, New York, etc.