08 April 2008

Telemarketing Troubles (And My Fix)

I had been getting a lot of telephone calls from telemarketers for Medicare supplemental insurance, mortgage insurance, magazine subscriptions, and other things.  They frequently started off by saying that this "is not a sales call" and they just want to "verify some information".  They'll have some bit of real information like, "Do you still live at...?", then follow up with questions about how much insurance I have or somesuch, trying to get me to give up information that they don't really have before going into the full pitch.

I am on the Do-Not-Call list and have made sure my listing was updated.  Apparently it's not working so well anymore, at least not for me.  I've tried many things in the past that ended up being more aggravating than satisfying... prank responses, hanging up, breaking in and saying "Please remove my name from your list", trying to explain that continuing to call someone on the Do-Not-Call list might get them in trouble, all to no avail.  Now, I don't feel like taking anyone to court very often, much less over something like this.  Maybe going through all the hassle of reporting offenders, documenting calls and times, and whatever other nonsense is "recommended" is worth it to some people.  I'm not one of them.

I have recently found a strangely satisfying response.  Do nothing.  After answering the phone and hearing the start of whatever pitch is being read from the script, I just set the phone down.  Then I just forget about it until I hear the off-the-hook tone and hang up.  Sometimes I'll listen just to see how long they'll go on trying to get a response, but usually not.  No more arguing about whether I should be called at all.  No more requests to be removed from the rolls.  No more trying to give reasons why I don't want to take advantage of their fabulous offer, especially since whatever reason I give just moves them to the next part of the script designed to counter my objection.

This is really working well too.  At first, I got a few repeat callers that started in on the same old speech and I set the phone down again.  It now seems that the calls are coming less often, at no cost to my blood-pressure.  Even the recorded sales calls (and I really hate those more than any other type) aren't coming anymore.  I haven't had one of those in weeks and the human-type calls have fallen off dramatically as well.

If you don't like telemarketing calls, try this.  Like I said, it's strangely satisfying in itself... the fact that it seems to be working is just gravy.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 15:15:46 | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 450 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Heh! I recently started doing the same thing with recorded calls. I've been telling the live ones to remove my number but I think your way is better. I only use the line for DSL at this point because I have not given the number out and it is unlisted. I will have to set up an answering machine to screen calls as it used to belong to a business but for now I do not mind leaving it on the desk while the call "cycles". I used to listen long enough to learn what company I would never do business with again but it is not productive now. I hate telemarketers. They steal the use of my phone service that I pay for to invade my privacy against my will and give nothing. They do not pay for the phone service they use (mine) to bother me. My land line is basically rendered useless to me. 

Posted by: Machinist at 08 April 2008@17:28:08 (yFIK0)

2 I've gotten a few on my cellphone and I just do the quick "Take me off your list" and immediately disconnect. I don't wait for an acknowledgment or anything, because some will keep trying anyway. My home phone I'll leave alone for an hour if they want to play that long, but my cell minutes are more precious. Four phones on one plan with shared minutes can be interesting to keep track of. When one is a 21 year old male college student, another is an 18 year old female high school student, and the third is my wife, it is MY fault if we go over in the month. Not quite sure how the math works on that, but I've been assured repeatedly that it's not THEIR fault.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 08 April 2008@17:38:46 (tarqT)

3 I deal with the telemarketers by hanging up on them as soon as I realize that they are what they are.  This usually means the call is over within ten seconds.  Usually I try to be rude about it, since they're being rude to me by calling.  Also, being on dialup for this computer helps.  A couple of hours a day when they can't call in because I'm on the line.

As for the cell phone--well, since I don't talk to people over the phone that much (even if they're not telemarketers), and only when I have to,   and don't need to bother with keeping up with friends, normally the only calls I get are about things I don't want to know about.  So I don't have one.  Not even to call 911.   But several people I know use prepaid phones and phone cards.  Have you tried that with your two offspring?  As for your wife--well, you're the one who's bothered about the minutes,  so that's why it's your fault.  If you didn't bother about it, no one would mind, and you would receive no blame.

Posted by: kishnevi at 08 April 2008@19:38:35 (FFHuv)

4 As for your wife--well, you're the one who's bothered about the minutes,

bwahahaha... that's funny!  My wife is the one who cares about the bill if the minutes go over, if I didn't catch hell for it, I wouldn't care at all.  I'd get an unlimited plan with unlimited internet phone service and every swoopy feature they offer.  It would be worth it to me never to have to think about it again.  The thing is, if we go 1 minute over for the month, I'm the one who catches it from wifey... not the kids or her.  Does that make sense to you?  Doesn't matter, it makes sense to her (bizarro female logic you know).  Please don't think she's a penny-pincher or a shrew, she's really good about everything else.  For some reason, the cellphone thing just presses her button even though she doesn't want to change our plan.  It's actually kind of funny most of the time and she puts up with a lot from me (I do a LOT of teasing... I know, I know, I'm so serious and subdued online it's hard to believe )

So part of my online duties include checking the wireless account online to make sure we're on track to stay under.  We have rollover, so I do have a cushion, but it's one that can be wiped out pretty quick when #1 son decides that he HAS to talk on his cell with his girlfriend all night instead of using the house phone.  Young love, heh.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 08 April 2008@21:12:32 (tarqT)

5 If I'm in the right mood (the wrong mood?), I'll chat with the telemarketer, get them laughing --- and take up as much of their $^#&@ time as possible so that they're talking to me and not making a sale. When I was less mature (even less mature), I'd do the same thing to folks who knocked on our door selling Bibles.

Posted by: Starry Fruit at 09 April 2008@15:58:15 (/vVjk)

6 Hi Starry!  Yep, I've tried that and got tired of my time being wasted.  This way, the only time that gets wasted is whatever time they choose to waste of their own.  No karmic rebound here!! 

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 09 April 2008@16:08:23 (tarqT)

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