Getting off telemarketing call lists

[zxczxc]

http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offtelephonedave

I found about this site. Is this site legit? You can register online for $5 or you can mail it in for free.

 

[RevJim]

I signed up for this years ago and it didn't make any difference in the amount of telemarketing calls I got.

Recently my telco (Verizon) started offering "no caller ID call blocking" for $5/mo. I signed up for it and haven't gotten a single telemarketing call since. I think it's worth every penny. YMMV.

Call intercept from Verizon

 

[KAMAZON]

Linked

 

[resinboy]

good idea, but it amazes me how these companies figure out ways to make more money: 1)caller id, so you can screen the calls, 2) Hey, mask my id so customers won't know I'm a telemarketer, 3) (verizon) pay us more, and we'll let you see who they really are.
I remember when I got callerID, it was golden for about 6 months
Resinboy

 

[EDiT]

Originally posted by: resinboy
good idea, but it amazes me how these companies figure out ways to make more money: 1)caller id, so you can screen the calls, 2) Hey, mask my id so customers won't know I'm a telemarketer, 3) (verizon) pay us more, and we'll let you see who they really are.

You forgot 4.) Allow us to list a number for caller id that cannot be dialed or blocked.
We were paying Qworst over $50 a month for a phone line to try to avoid telemarketers, and kept getting called by a specific number. We couldn't dial it, and couldn't block it (even though we payed for call blocking). Turned out it was Qworst telemarketers. We now pay $13 a month and don't have any ringers turned on. No more telemarketers!

Back to on-topic, keep an eye on this site. Within 6 months they should be starting the national do not call list. It also has other interesting info about changes to ftc regulations, including the requirement for telemarketers to start supporting caller id.

 

[olson2cm]

EDiT, thanks for the link. It is nice to see that something national is being proposed to stop this nonsense. I personally think it is BS that caller ID does't display the phone numbers of telemarketers. It is that fact that makes me refuse to pay for such a service as CallerID.

 

[CardFrog]

The phone companies also play both sides and sell lists of names to telemarketing companies. I know this, because I buy them for a living. Which brings me to my next point, a lot of people work in the telemarketing industry, and there are some very good deals out there. If you don't want what they sell, just tell them no.

 

[nekote]

Seems legit, but the $5 is a crock!

When the form for mail in is generated, it also creates a 7 digit ID:
UNIQUE TRACKING NUMBER*: 1234567

And specifies the mailing address:
TELEPHONE PREFERENCE SERVICE
ATTN: Dept 1234567
DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 282
CARMEL NY 10512

Gee, will the data entry people just enter the "UNIQUE TRACKING NUMBER*: 1234567"?
Or will they RETYPE what has already been entered and submitted?

Duhhh!
I wonder if they will even bother to actually open envelopes w/ATTN: Dept 1234567 on it?

 

[Dacus]

Thank You
I just sent mine in.

 

[nekote]

BTW, in the last week or two, my local TV consumer reporter said there would be a national system that would become operational after the first of the year.

Think this is it, or will we have to register with somebody else, too?

I feel sorry for those many poor souls who are going to lose their telemarketing job.
What less appealing / lower paying job is next for them?
Chicken plucking?

 

[RideFree]

Which brings me to my next point, a lot of people work in the telemarketing industry, and there are some very good deals out there. If you don't want what they sell, just tell them no.

I can't believe someone hasn't jumped you for this!
My phone is a private means of communication in the same vein as conversation. If I wanted to be continuously interrupted with stupidshit I/we don't care to hear, I'd invite by brother-in-law to stop by!:|

 

[resinboy]

ridefree: LOL

Resinboy

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Just tell them "no thanks, please take me off your list" Before you know it your calls will go to zero. It didn't even take all that long either.

 

[elwood03]

I've got to agree with Ride Free. I get home from work most days and have 10-20 unavailables and it doesn't stop there.

How do you tell the pre-recorded messages that call not to call you back!! It's getting out of control - these no call lists and all this stuff are long overdue.

Honest people, good deals - that's a load of BS. I don't answer any calls that come up "unavailable" or "out of the area" If you are an honest person doing honest business, let your name show up on the caller ID!

 

[xsquid]

It's actually better to check and see if your state provides this servive. Mine does and for a few bucks the state attorney puts you on a no-call list and it works really well.

Here's a list.

No call

 

[Namuna]

Actually, I enjoy telemarketer calls...If it's a live person, I might let them spew their jargon for about 5 seconds (give them false hope that I'm actually listening) and then say "no thanks" as my hand is slamming the handset down (every so often I hear them say "but wait..." right before the hangup)

If it's a machine it's not quite as satisfying though.

...How long before someone makes an email version of no-spam list?

 

[Wiz]

I just tell them I'll have to think about it for awhile and ask if I can please have their home phone number so I can call them back after I've considered their offer.
When they refuse I tell them to never call my number again and to take me off their list.

Maybe I'm an a$$hole, but I don't get many calls any more.

 

[nebula]

My wife is ruthless with these people if she's in the right mood. We canceled our long distance and just use our free LD on our cells. One day, someone called and wanted to give us long distance...

wife: we don't use long distance.
droid: well, do you have a backup plan?
wife: what? do you have an extra car for a backup plan?

click... It gave us a nice chuckle that evening.

I'd check into the free lists before you pay for this. My wife signed us up on the do not call list for free, doesn't go into effect until... um two days Maybe this was a State thing, not sure.

 

[SteveSimpson]

here's a Slashdot discussion
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/12/18/2043243&mode=thread&tid=158
which references this article
http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/849058.asp
about a future national no-call list.

I love this part:
The Direct Marketing Association is threatening to sue to save U.S. consumers from the potential loss of buying opportunities."

 

[SafetyDance]

Change your phone number every 6 months or so.

Mike

 

[givemesomedeals]

Here in Indiana it is great, we have a no call list, and I have been on it for like 8 months now and I honestly don't think I have received one telemarketer

Indiana actually takes the telemarketers to court on this.

 

[Tarobap]

Originally posted by: SafetyDance
Change your phone number every 6 months or so.

Mike

Hahahahaha . . .

Just give them your cell phone number and go hide in a no signal area just before they call . . . you can do it . . . yeah . . . really.

I think legally if you tell them to take you off the list, they have to . . . at least in Virginia . . .

 

[SafetyDance]

Telemarketers are not allowed to call cell phones under any circumstance.

Mike

 

[FLaMEagle]

Ehhh, do this instead.. and for FREE:

Works like Telezapper

Great little thing too. Don't spend $35 on a Telezapper from radioshack or even $5. Make your own.

Enjoy

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: Tarobap

I think legally if you tell them to take you off the list, they have to . . . at least in Virginia . . .

Actually its a federal law that each telemarketer must maintain a do not call list. If they call you something like 3 times after you tell them not too, you can get $500 from them. However, since each one needs a differant list, you'd have to get on each companies list. The national do not call list will work for all telemarketers.

Speaking of telemarketers, did you know that in July, the FCC passed a ruling saying that telephone companies can now sell/trade to almost anyone, information about WHO YOU CALL (phone numbers and locations), the times you called them, and things like that? Totally moronic of them. Basically they ruled that instead of being opt in (telephone companies had to ask you for permission to sell this stuff) that infomartion is now OPT OUT (telephone companies can sell it unless you specifically tell them they can't) And no one even noticed them doing that, thats the sad thing.

Telemarketer calling: Sir, we noticed you called this company 3 times in the last month, could we persuade you to switch to our product/service instead?

Or how about, Insurance company calling: Sir, we noticed you called your doctor an excesive amount this month, we are going to switch you to a higher rate.

Or even worse, political party calling: Sir we noticed you donated to this political group, we want some of the action.

You can think up progressively worth scenarios.

Personally, I called up my local telephone company and told them they couldn't sell my personal call info like that. There's a phrase you have to tell them, its CPNI (Customer Proprietary Network Information). If you tell them not to sell that info, they can't.

I have more information if anyone is interested, including links to the official news releases from the ftc.gov site.