Another telemarketer help thread

[MacBaine]

Ok, I posted about this a little over a month ago.. but it happened again and I need some help. I got another call from an automated dialer/recording. The entire message goes as follows:

"He, this is XXXX, please call me at 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx extension xxxxx reference number xxxxxxx. Again, that's 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx extension xxxxx reference number xxxxxxx."

That's all. I have no idea what it is about, what company it is for, etc. I know that calls like this are not allowed in Illinois... but I haven't been able to find anywhere that tells me what I can do about it as far as filing a complaint. Filing a police report, as someplace suggested, doesn't sound like the thing to do. Is there any site online where I can submit a complaint or something? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[SherEPunjab]

on a similar note, i get TONS, TONS of damn telemarketers. I've become quite efficient at hanging up on them after the 3rd word or so. As soon as they slaughter one of my family member's names, i hang up. I know its a telemarketer.

hey, DOES TELE-ZAPPER WORK? I saw it at Big Lots. I was thinking of buying it but it isn't cheap, and I'm concerned it will block international calls like from India or something???

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: SherEPunjab
on a similar note, i get TONS, TONS of damn telemarketers. I've become quite efficient at hanging up on them after the 3rd word or so. As soon as they slaughter one of my family member's names, i hang up. I know its a telemarketer.

hey, DOES TELE-ZAPPER WORK? I saw it at Big Lots. I was thinking of buying it but it isn't cheap, and I'm concerned it will block international calls like from India or something???

I don't think it would block those calls, I think it just sends out a tone at the beginning of every incoming call that signals the telemarketer's computer to remove your number. Haven't tried it though.

 

[KC5AV]

I've heard the telezapper does work, but there is an easier solution. If you will just let your answering machine pick up for a while, you can get the recorded tones that you hear when you dial a number that has been disconnected. The computer system that the telemarketters use reads that tone as if your number is no good anymore.

I got the tones somewhere. I'll try to track down the link and post it here later. It's worth a try before wasting money on a telezapper... since it does essentially the same thing.

 

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: KC5AV
I've heard the telezapper does work, but there is an easier solution. If you will just let your answering machine pick up for a while, you can get the recorded tones that you hear when you dial a number that has been disconnected. The computer system that the telemarketters use reads that tone as if your number is no good anymore.

I got the tones somewhere. I'll try to track down the link and post it here later. It's worth a try before wasting money on a telezapper... since it does essentially the same thing.

thats an easier solution? a lot of my friends and other legitimate callers hang up when they hear the answering tone.

 

[xSauronx]

ignore, hang up

if you feel so inclined, you could return the call, and ask to be reomved from their list

dont some states have laws against them keeping you on a list when you request removal?

anyway, i know its aggravating to get the call, but i dont see that its worth me spending money to get something to cut the call off by itself, im only so lazy

 

[tk149]

Sounds like you're late on a Credit Card payment, and the Default department is gunning for you.

No, seriously, I know <cough> a certain person <cough> who got calls like this from being late on payments.

If you call that number, remember to block caller ID first, so if it really is a telemarketer they can't track your number. I think it's *69 or *72 or something like that.

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: tk149
Sounds like you're late on a Credit Card payment, and the Default department is gunning for you.

No, seriously, I know <cough> a certain person <cough> who got calls like this from being late on payments.

If you call that number, remember to block caller ID first, so if it really is a telemarketer they can't track your number. I think it's *69 or *72 or something like that.

It's not that, we don't have a problem with that. I just want to know what I can do, cause I saw a while back that you can sue for like $500 an infraction for receiving a recorded message.

 

[Farmall]

My local phone company got this anti-telemarketer program, its the best $1.95 a month I ever spent. when someone with a unlisted or blocked phone # calls my house they get a recording "This # does not except phone calls from telemarketers, if you would like to complete the call press 1". I have had the service for 2 months now and haven't gotten one telemarketer call since.

<-- Is definetly liking the new program!

 

[MrHappyMonkey]

telemarketers are fun to mess with. If its a boring day and have nothing to do, I will act interested in what ever the heck the telemarketer is selling. I will proceed to ask them questions completely unreleated to what they are selling (such as how to make Salsa). Its pretty funny since they just repeat words from their notes. Than after you've wasted enough time, just hang up.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: MacBaine
Ok, I posted about this a little over a month ago.. but it happened again and I need some help. I got another call from an automated dialer/recording. The entire message goes as follows:

"He, this is XXXX, please call me at 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx extension xxxxx reference number xxxxxxx. Again, that's 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx extension xxxxx reference number xxxxxxx."

That's all. I have no idea what it is about, what company it is for, etc. I know that calls like this are not allowed in Illinois... but I haven't been able to find anywhere that tells me what I can do about it as far as filing a complaint. Filing a police report, as someplace suggested, doesn't sound like the thing to do. Is there any site online where I can submit a complaint or something? Any help would be appreciated.

I did get that exact call, it was from a collection agency. It was about a final natural gas bill from our old house that never found us at our new address. Took care of it easily, but you should call just to make sure what it is about. Not worth a ding on your credit if it is something simple.

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: Sluggo

Originally posted by: MacBaine
Ok, I posted about this a little over a month ago.. but it happened again and I need some help. I got another call from an automated dialer/recording. The entire message goes as follows:

"He, this is XXXX, please call me at 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx extension xxxxx reference number xxxxxxx. Again, that's 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx extension xxxxx reference number xxxxxxx."

That's all. I have no idea what it is about, what company it is for, etc. I know that calls like this are not allowed in Illinois... but I haven't been able to find anywhere that tells me what I can do about it as far as filing a complaint. Filing a police report, as someplace suggested, doesn't sound like the thing to do. Is there any site online where I can submit a complaint or something? Any help would be appreciated.

I did get that exact call, it was from a collection agency. It was about a final natural gas bill from our old house that never found us at our new address. Took care of it easily, but you should call just to make sure what it is about. Not worth a ding on your credit if it is something simple.

The thing is, if it was some sort of agency, wouldn't they have told me? And the number they gave me wasn't a toll free number.

 

[SherEPunjab]

To address some comments here:

i'm not late on any payments

it was fine to ignore and hangup but i get 5 calls a day at least now. i'm sick of it.

having fun would be okay with one a day but i have too many and quite frankly they call at the worst times.

i'm very keen on trying this telezapper thing but cannot afford to miss even one international call.

 

[Metalloid]

Originally posted by: MrHappyMonkey
telemarketers are fun to mess with. If its a boring day and have nothing to do, I will act interested in what ever the heck the telemarketer is selling. I will proceed to ask them questions completely unreleated to what they are selling (such as how to make Salsa). Its pretty funny since they just repeat words from their notes. Than after you've wasted enough time, just hang up.

I agree. It is fun to answer the phone by saying "Tiger Stadium, second base, how can I help you?"

 

[LeStEr]

Telemarketers have gotten to be extremly anoying at my house. Its at the point where we literally get 3-5 calls per day from multiple and in some cases the same telemarker over and over again. Another thing is they just hang up when they hear a guys voice so whenever my dad or I see its one of the numbers we pick up and talk in a girly voice and then tell them to never call again.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: Sluggo

Originally posted by: MacBaine
Ok, I posted about this a little over a month ago.. but it happened again and I need some help. I got another call from an automated dialer/recording. The entire message goes as follows:

"He, this is XXXX, please call me at 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx extension xxxxx reference number xxxxxxx. Again, that's 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx extension xxxxx reference number xxxxxxx."

That's all. I have no idea what it is about, what company it is for, etc. I know that calls like this are not allowed in Illinois... but I haven't been able to find anywhere that tells me what I can do about it as far as filing a complaint. Filing a police report, as someplace suggested, doesn't sound like the thing to do. Is there any site online where I can submit a complaint or something? Any help would be appreciated.

I did get that exact call, it was from a collection agency. It was about a final natural gas bill from our old house that never found us at our new address. Took care of it easily, but you should call just to make sure what it is about. Not worth a ding on your credit if it is something simple.

The thing is, if it was some sort of agency, wouldn't they have told me? And the number they gave me wasn't a toll free number.

My call wasnt toll free, and they didnt tell me anything about who/why/how till I called back.

 

[kyutip]

I have a telezapper and it works great. I used to get 5-6 telemarketer calls per day, and the telezapper
cuts it down to one or none.

You will NOT lose your International call. I receive International call everyday from my sister in Taiwan.
The way telezapper work is they zap your phone number on the telemarketer's computer list by giving
a signal that your phone was disconneted. But it only works if the computer dials your number.
If there is a live person that dials your number, you can NOT zapped them. You still have to tell them
to take your name off the list. 90% off the time, it is the computer that dials your number.
And thus you can't eliminate 100% of the telemarketer's call

Because you can only zap computer calls, you can still receive any call from your friend from anywhere
(even India), as long as your family or friends do not call you using computer automated service.

 

[tk149]

I'm too lazy to look through it myself, but here's the Federal Trade Commission's website:

FTC.gov

 

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: kyutip
I have a telezapper and it works great. I used to get 5-6 telemarketer calls per day, and the telezapper
cuts it down to one or none.

You will NOT lose your International call. I receive International call everyday from my sister in Taiwan.
The way telezapper work is they zap your phone number on the telemarketer's computer list by giving
a signal that your phone was disconneted. But it only works if the computer dials your number.
If there is a live person that dials your number, you can NOT zapped them. You still have to tell them
to take your name off the list. 90% off the time, it is the computer that dials your number.
And thus you can't eliminate 100% of the telemarketer's call

Because you can only zap computer calls, you can still receive any call from your friend from anywhere
(even India), as long as your family or friends do not call you using computer automated service.

Thank you Kyutip! Having someone who can confirm calls from Asia are not blocked. alleviates any doubts I had. I think I'll purchase this from Big Lots. it was 20 or 30 dollars it hink.

 

[Ornery]

Hello, McFly! Your other topic is still available and contains that info and links!