DO NOT CALL

The other side of the coin, and no offence to anyone:

telemarketers...human beings who are kicked when they're down, yelled and screamed at, cursed and sworn on, the slam of the reciever hurts their ears, the brunt of callous jokes. Dare not tell your job for fear of humiliation.

This young, single mom/dad then goes home to his/her babies and tries to release the stress of working all night, in the best way she knows how. She tries hard, why are people so cruel. God Bless her and her children.

Am I a telemarketer? No, never have been.

Do I know any personally? Nope, but I bet they are kind hearted, loving, stressed, funny, hopeful people just like us.

I AM guilty of having them blocked on my phone.

I appreciate and feel for them, but my other half, like countless others, well let's just say...he doesn't have patience when it comes to tellemarketers. The golden rule flies out the window,he flies off the handle,(with them only) and I fly out the door. I refuse to listen!

I am woman, here me purr?


chick

I have a no soliciting sign on my door and it seems to work but they will then slip things intro the door jam, a card or flyer but thats all. The fewthat knock anyway, wen I open the door and they begin the pitch I just point to the sign and shut the door. I say the minute I kinow theres a telemarketer on the phone, "I am not interested." If they continue to speak I say, "hold on" lay the phone down and eventually they hang up. I guess they are just trying to make a living but they also try my patience...

Opps, I forgot(not hard these peri days)

Call your operator and get the attorney general's phone number for your state and ask to be taken off the list... no more calls.

Simple as that.

chick

Back in the good old days before answering machines, if I picked up the phone and the other party said "Mrs ..." that was the dead giveaway that it wasn't anyone who knew me.

I then proceded to start the Feminism 101 lecture, and the phone manners lecture (you DO NOT assume the identity of the person who picks up the phone) which could go on for hours. Usually they hung up on me. HA!

Somedays when I wasn't in Didactic Mode, when the telemarketer said "Mrs. His-Last-Name?" I simply said No and hung up the phone.

I have a friend who when he gets a call like that starts selling them something, whatever he can think of at the time. It's hilarious to hear and they usually hang up on Him.
smile

Preaching religion to them works too. However, I'm on the do not call registry and will still get calls from time to time. I always ask what the company is so I can report them. Quick hang up then.

You girls crack me up. I don't think I could be a quick enough thinker to try and sell something back to a telemarketer. Hmm. Maybe I should try it with my book. I've done the "hold on" thing and put the phone down until they eventually hang up. I agree that everyone has to make a living somehow. But I'm not sympathetic to these people because they chose to take the job. It wasn't my choice. I'm feeling cranky. Can't you tell?
Marie

Marie, how old are your kids? My daughter had an outrageous text messaging bill one month. She forked over the money too. Haven't had another one like it since.

I know a teenager who had over a $700.00 bill one month from phoning his girlfirend who lived less than a half hour away. All he had to was pick up his home phone and it would have been free. He had to pay the bill, but then didn't have the money for college books. His parents lost out because they had to pay his book fee.

Ahh...teens!

The parents lost out because they handled it wrong....No kid of mine would have ever gotten away with doing something like that and they both knew it. That is just ridiculous!!

Dotsie,
My kids are 14,13 and 11. My current bill is sitting next to the phone unopened. I'm almost afraid to see it. I really don't think that I will have charges in addition to the monthly fees. Keeping my fingers crossed, anyway. My oldest spent a week in Pittsburgh last week, and he took one of the cell phones. It should still be within our local calling area.

Now why would a kid use a cell phone (was it his?) to make a local call if the call from the land line would have been free? I don't understand that. I agree with Chatty. Had I been the parent, I wouldn't have bailed him out.

What is outrageous are the taxes on cell phones. We're paying double taxes here in PA.
Marie

You all are a treasure trove of info on how to deal with telemarketers. I'll admit - until Spam telemarkers were my number one pet peeve - then spam became number one - b/c of the WASTE of time. I turned spam into writing inspiration so made "peace" with this thorn in my flesh - so back to telemarketers as being my number one irritant.

Anyone else on do not call lists and they STILL call your number? I eventually got tired and created a spreadsheet that I click on immediately when the company identifies themselves I scan through the sheet, tell them that they called on such a such a day at such and such a time and I told them then that I had no interested in being bothered and please do not call back. I ask them if they enjoy lawsuits, and let them know I sure could put the extra money to use from the judgment awarded for their harassment. There IS that green ski-do, the honda goldwing I want, and let's not forget the 67 mustang convertible - plus I still haven't finished my reading room, oh, and yeah, a whirlpool outside would be awesome.

Usually after I become that much of a uhm...booger, they don't call again.

I hate getting that ugly with people though.

This past week I've been getting weird phone calls from various work at home outfits. It was quite irritating. After the third call, I asked the nice Southern woman where she got my name and number, because I am on the Do Not Call list. She said that someone had entered my name, address, phone number and email on their business website. I assured her it wasn't me. She thanked me for being polite about the whole thing, most people use profanities, etc., and she said she would remove my information from their company website. But I would have to tell other companies that call to do the same thing.
Earlier this week I received a phone call from someone at the Mike Ferry organization. Someone entered my information on their website. I haven't been in real estate for months.
I don't know who is doing it, but I have a feeling it's the same person who has been sending me baby formula samples and diaper coupons.
I'm not ambitious enough to create a spreadsheet, but I think it's a great idea. I think you handled that well. :-)
Marie