| DaleB |
Mine have dropped off to near zero since the Opt Out law was passed, etc.
I have had 3 calls from the same guy this last week. I usually let the message unit answer, and of course he does not leave a message. I answered once and he began a spiel about a Junior Police League, etc. etc..
I just said, "not interested.." and hung up. I should have told him not to call back.
But here is the real kicker. The caller ID shows his number, and it is originating from a bank in San Diego, more specifically La Mesa. So I will call the bank's customer service number on Monday and lodge a complaint. I am sure they would be interested if one of their business phones is being used for other solicitations. I hope they fire his butt....what an idiot..I'm sure he never thought of the caller ID.....banks need to pay more and raise their standards so they can get people with integrity handling our money. Grrrrrr.... |
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| Blackura |
Not sure about your local laws, Dale. Here in NY, we've had a "Do Not Call" law for a while now, and calls have dropped to zero from commercial enterprises. There is a loophole in the law though, for not-for-profits and of course, for politicians.
So the phone rings during the annoying political seasons (before primaries and elections) and also sometimes for little leagues, PBA, and that sort of thing.
I suspect your caller *may* have had permission from the boss to use the bank phone for community service/not-for-profit use, but who knows?
I used to have a phone number that was just one digit off a local pizza delivery phone number. Now *that* was annoying! |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackura
I suspect your caller *may* have had permission from the boss to use the bank phone for community service/not-for-profit use, but who knows?
That's possible, but I would think businesses are more leary of doing that now with the recent legislation allowing more people to opt out. Plus the guy calls me 3 times. No mental giant working there.....
This is not a local call either by the way...maybe does not cost him anything.... |
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| JMT2004 |
The phone solicitations have dropped to near zero at home. I do have two gripes though…
First:
Direct TV salesmen continue to call with the hopes of hooking a new subscriber, BUT I have been an avid customer for years. :confused:
Second:
Both Sprint cell phones have been receiving text solicitations. :1pat: Amazing, the desperate measures companies are willing to take. |
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| XStatic |
quote:
Originally posted by JMT2004
The phone solicitations have dropped to near zero at home. I do have two gripes though…
First:
Direct TV salesmen continue to call with the hopes of hooking a new subscriber, BUT I have been an avid customer for years. :confused:
Second:
Both Sprint cell phones have been receiving text solicitations. :1pat: Amazing, the desperate measures companies are willing to take.
I haven't been called in a couple years but I just switched to DirectTV from Dish and DTV has called about 20 times already with premium package promotions, etc. They kept getting my wife and I kept telling her to tell them not to call anymore, she kept forgetting and said one time they hung up on her when she started to ask for such.
Finally I talked to them and asked them to take me off their list.
Coincidently? I also have received automated calls from satellite installers and the recordings start out by saying something like "We have been informed that you are looking to improve your TV viewing experience"
I thins DirectTV is really working on getting on y bad side! |
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| BlueStreak |
| Mine as well, has almost dropped to zero. I get them from charities and my LD carrier. I suspect with the political season gearing up, we'll need to get ready for a new onslaught of calls. |
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| Dale MDX |
Those calls from police organizations, fire organizations, etc. are basically scams, at least by my definition. I'm talking about the ones where you're buying a ticket to some event, and may be asked to donate the ticket. The problem is that the actual police or fire organization gets almost nothing out of the deal. (But it's more than they would get without the event being held, which is I guess why they go for it). Obviously, it's not a police or fire dept. employee that's calling you, it's a telemarketer. The telemarketing company gets almost all of the proceeds, out of which they have to pay the "talent" of course. One figure I heard a few years ago is that the organization gets approximately 50 cents. The rest of the $15 or whatever the cost of the ticket is goes elsewhere. So it ends up an incredibly inefficient way to donate to "charity." If it's worth it to you to just buy the ticket to go to the event, that's fine, of course.
If anyone has better info, speak up. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by Dale MDX
Those calls from police organizations, fire organizations, etc. are basically scams, at least by my definition. I'm talking about the ones where you're buying a ticket to some event, and may be asked to donate the ticket. The problem is that the actual police or fire organization gets almost nothing out of the deal. (But it's more than they would get without the event being held, which is I guess why they go for it). Obviously, it's not a police or fire dept. employee that's calling you, it's a telemarketer. The telemarketing company gets almost all of the proceeds, out of which they have to pay the "talent" of course. One figure I heard a few years ago is that the organization gets approximately 50 cents. The rest of the $15 or whatever the cost of the ticket is goes elsewhere. So it ends up an incredibly inefficient way to donate to "charity." If it's worth it to you to just buy the ticket to go to the event, that's fine, of course.
If anyone has better info, speak up.
OH, but they also give you a COPS sticker to put in your window :)
Seroiusly, if anyone really wants to support law enforcement, they can donate first-hand to PAL or special donations of things, not just money to local programs set up by the FD and PDs. |
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| BaldEagle |
For over 2 months I have had zero solicitation calls. :29:
Oh wait. Maybe that is because we moved out of our home and did not have a home phone (only cell) until recently...Why don't they call the homeless:1pat:
Don't miss them. |
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| neide |
I gave up on the DNC list, didn't seem to make any difference.
What I did instead is switch to Vonage and got two phone lines. I kept my old phone number, and that's the one I give to CC companies, banks, whatever requires a phone number from me, but I've got no phone hooked up to it, I just retrieve the voice mail (on line) when it comes in. Then I added a new line, and only give the number to my friends and family.
Since we did this, I've gotten zero unsolicited calls, and my total phone bill, including long distance, is <40 bucks. Not bad. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by neide
I gave up on the DNC list, didn't seem to make any difference.
What I did instead is switch to Vonage and got two phone lines. I kept my old phone number, and that's the one I give to CC companies, banks, whatever requires a phone number from me, but I've got no phone hooked up to it, I just retrieve the voice mail (on line) when it comes in. Then I added a new line, and only give the number to my friends and family.
Since we did this, I've gotten zero unsolicited calls, and my total phone bill, including long distance, is <40 bucks. Not bad.
Smart move! Have been on the Vonage waiting list for keeping my same number. Presently, they can not do that in my area. |
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| Lance Crowley |
Down to close to zero, MN has had a "do not call list" for a couple of years and the numbers had gone down, the national list has helped even more. Also the recent ruling that the law as legal, doesn't that sound strange, has helped.
Once in a while I get one and I always ask them to wait while I find paper and pen, most of the time they hang up right there. If they're still there and then ask them to "slowly" spell the name of their company and phone #, in every case the next sound is click. |
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| mgtr |
Virtually zero calls in both SC and FL. Good to see something work, for a change. Interestingly, I sort of miss the occasional call. I had adopted the policy of engaging the caller in discussions, wasting their time. My best line was "Do you tell your mother what a crappy job you have?" I could generally get them laughing.
Of course, as a retiree, some would argue I have nothing better to do with my time! Overall, though, happy to see them gone. Now, if we could fix the spam problem .... |
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| DaleB |
Here is the update on my phone solicitation problem. This may be of concern for mostly SoCal people.
The Spring Valley (near San Diego) branch of Commmunity 1st National Bank has one of their phone numbers being 'hijacked' apparently.
When this dumbo calls it shows up with the bank's name and the bank's branch MANAGER'S phone number!
It has already been reported to the phone company after several more complaints started coming in over the last few days.
I found the number again in my caller ID while I was out this afternoon.
They assured me it is NOT the manager, who disconnected his phone and is having all calls routed to his cell. Nice, huh? |
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| nightguy |
I've got Honda calling every day now. I'm on the state and fed do not call list. I'm not sure if I accidentally entered my home number when I ordered the Pilot brochure or if the dumb**** salesman put my home number in a database. I intentionally gave him my cell number and then he must have looked me up. I'm pretty sure it's the salesman's handywork.
Someone is gonna have a bad day on the phone. |
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| DaleB |
Must have fixed mine. Have not got anymore phantom 'bank' calls.
Recently, got a couple from Millward Brown, an office in Illinois!
No answer, just dead air, but company and number on Caller ID.
I found the company on the internet and emailed them about the problem. No response, but no calls either, so far. This is too weird. |
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