Anyone else get a telemarketing call where they just ask you to call a toll free number?

[MrBond]

So this morning I decided to sleep in a little rather than study, unfortunatly, at about 8:50, my phone rang and woke me up.

It sounds like a pre-recorded messege, the person on the other end never acknowledged me. The messege was basicly this.

"This messege is for Mr Winters. Please call him at 866-231-3155 (I think that's the number, I didn't write it down at the time). Again, this messege is for Mr Winters, the number again is 866-231-3155.

I called the number, it rang once, and a recording said "This call may be monitored for quality assurance". Being half asleep still, I just hung up and didn't wait for someone to come on.

Now I'm on the national Do Not Call list. It's decreased a lot of the calls, but I still get the occasional pre-recorded (You've just won a trip!!!") crap that I don't have the time to track down. I'm wondering if this is a new telemarketing approach they're using, because technically they don't try to sell anything when they call you. The only reason I even called back was some of my housemates are job-hunting and I didn't want to miss one of their callbacks.

I've already heard about the caller-id telemarketing where they call once and hang up, so there's something on your caller ID and a number, but at least you can ignore that if you don't have caller ID. This you can't ignore unless you just don't answer the phone.

 

[yoda291]

if YOU contact a company, they can circumvent the DNC list for a month I think. If you buy something from a company, they can circumvent the DNC list for up to a year. My guess is, this is how they do it.

 

[StageLeft]

Yeah I get them telling me to call back about a really good opportunity. I call back sometimes and when it's time to leave my message I make a very loud sound, like the one on dumb and dumber when carey offers to make the most annoying sound in the world.

 

[BAMAVOO]

Pay your bills!!!!!

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

That's what caller ID is for. I just screen out most of those calls. The ones that get through I just hang up on ususally. Especially if it's a pre-recorded message.

 

[LinuxIdiot]

Yea I got one from a 954 area code leaving a toll-free number identifying themselves as AT&T and to contact them i was like screw you. They have not called lately but for awhile it was 2 to 3 times daily for a couple of weeks sometimes even calling after 8 at nite :-\

 

[rahvin]

I'm on the national DNC list and I reported a violation of it a week ago.

 

[Vic]

Well, it's a weak and obvious attempt to violate the Federal Do Not Call list. The problem is that the initial call, where they ask you to call back, is still a sales contact whether that company thinks so or not. It obviously falls under the clause called a "dual-purpose" call, which is the one that keeps me from calling my old clients (who signed up for DNC) and wishing them a happy birthday.
I wouldn't bother reporting Federal DNC violations yet, as it is not yet being fully enforced. For one thing, it's still in the courts and is likely to die. If it doesn't die, then phone commerce as we know it will die and our economy will tank.
Most of you people stupidly think the law only affects telemarketers.... nothing could be further from the truth. The DNC law puts brokers, bankers, realtors, insurance agents, and more out of work. I can't even call my past clients if they signed up.

 

[FrOsTxxbYtE]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Yeah I get them telling me to call back about a really good opportunity. I call back sometimes and when it's time to leave my message I make a very loud sound, like the one on dumb and dumber when carey offers to make the most annoying sound in the world.

IMAO!!!!!!!!!

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: Vic
Well, it's a weak and obvious attempt to violate the Federal Do Not Call list. The problem is that the initial call, where they ask you to call back, is still a sales contact whether that company thinks so or not. It obviously falls under the clause called a "dual-purpose" call, which is the one that keeps me from calling my old clients (who signed up for DNC) and wishing them a happy birthday.
I wouldn't bother reporting Federal DNC violations yet, as it is not yet being fully enforced. For one thing, it's still in the courts and is likely to die. If it doesn't die, then phone commerce as we know it will die and our economy will tank.
Most of you people stupidly think the law only affects telemarketers.... nothing could be further from the truth. The DNC law puts brokers, bankers, realtors, insurance agents, and more out of work. I can't even call my past clients if they signed up.

Stay up on the news VIC, the DNC is being enforced the injunction was overturned. They announced over two weeks ago that they were going to fine ATT 3/4 of a million dollars for violations.

 

[OutHouse]

you just called barbados and you will have a $1,000 phone bill next month.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: rahvin
Stay up on the news VIC, the DNC is being enforced the injunction was overturned. They announced over two weeks ago that they were going to fine ATT 3/4 of a million dollars for violations.

Sigh... I just had a 3 hour seminar on DNC on Tuesday morning.
The DNC is being enforced "officially" but only because they have some 800 federal agents nationwide eager to collect hidden taxes (aka fines) for the government. Otherwise, it is still in the courts and will continue to be so for some time. No fines have yet been levied or enforced.

And AT&T was NOT fined for violations of the federal DNC, they were fined for violating their own DNC, a different law that goes back to '94, and one I agree with. That's the one where a telemarketer calls and the customer says, "Please put me on your do not call list," and then AT&T would call them back anyway. Entirely different scenario.

I suggest you stay up on the news, eh?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Citrix
you just called barbados and you will have a $1,000 phone bill next month.

That's area code 809

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
That's what caller ID is for. I just screen out most of those calls. The ones that get through I just hang up on ususally. Especially if it's a pre-recorded message.

Yeah but they are sneaky too in that some of those calls will leave messages on your VM. So whether you pick up or let it ring, its the same thing.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
That's what caller ID is for. I just screen out most of those calls. The ones that get through I just hang up on ususally. Especially if it's a pre-recorded message.

Yeah but they are sneaky too in that some of those calls will leave messages on your VM. So whether you pick up or let it ring, its the same thing.

If your number is signed up for the federal DNC, and a company calling for the purpose of offering the sale of a product or service dials your number and attempts to connect, then they have violated the law. They do not need to speak with you. If it shows on the caller ID or they leave a message on your voice mail, it is still a violation.
You people just don't know how deep the rabbit hole goes on this one, do you?