Telemarketers

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

hx009

Senior member
Nov 26, 1999
989
0
0
Originally posted by: MotionMan
Originally posted by: Parasitic
Originally posted by: MotionMan
Originally posted by: chris7b
CALLER ID FTW

Only pick up numbers you recognize

QFT.

MotionMan

I'm a student and that costs extra.

What does it cost a month for you: About a six-pack's worth? It is worth it.

MotionMan

Except caller ID is worthless for screening anymore. 90% of the crap calls come up "unknown number", "restricted", or "800 service". The problem with avoiding those calls is that sometimes legit businesses that I deal with come up with the exact same things.
 

fierydemise

Platinum Member
Apr 16, 2005
2,056
2
81
I usually tell them "Oh he died last week" then laugh as they act all apologetic, failing that (which does happen on occasion) I switch to Hebrew or German
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,124
12
81
Originally posted by: hx009
Originally posted by: MotionMan
Originally posted by: Parasitic
Originally posted by: MotionMan
Originally posted by: chris7b
CALLER ID FTW

Only pick up numbers you recognize

QFT.

MotionMan

I'm a student and that costs extra.

What does it cost a month for you: About a six-pack's worth? It is worth it.

MotionMan

Except caller ID is worthless for screening anymore. 90% of the crap calls come up "unknown number", "restricted", or "800 service". The problem with avoiding those calls is that sometimes legit businesses that I deal with come up with the exact same things.

No legit business blocks CallerID. In any event, that is illegal in my state, so if they pull that crap on me, I will report them. However, I have NEVER had that happen to me. EVERY SINGLE one of the telemarketing calls I have received in the last, oh, 3 years, Caller ID showed their name or number.

If your state does not have or enforce such a law, move. ;)

MotionMan
 

BUTCH1

Lifer
Jul 15, 2000
20,433
1,769
126
Buy one of those compressed air horns and blast it right into the phone,
I don't pay bellsouth $23 a month so someone can waste my time pitching me..
 

Parasitic

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2002
4,000
2
0
Originally posted by: BUTCH1
Buy one of those compressed air horns and blast it right into the phone,
I don't pay bellsouth $23 a month so someone can waste my time pitching me..

Good idea. How much do those air horns run?
 

slpaulson

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2000
4,414
14
81
Originally posted by: Parasitic
So when I get calls like this I just either hang up midway or pretend like I don't speak English.

One time I was studying with a friend, and a telemarketer called, so my friend started speaking Spanish. About a minute later she got a call from a telemarketer speaking Spanish. That was pretty sweet.
 

Matt2

Diamond Member
Jul 28, 2001
4,762
0
0
I effing HATE telemarketers.

The last two people to have my phone number were obviously in huge credit debt. I get calls at 7am all the way to 10pm for "Robin" and "Bradley" from collection agency, devvt absolvers, mortgage companies, banks, etc... Everytime I tell them that they dont have this phone number anymore and to stop calling, but they dont believe me and keep calling back. It's borderline harassment.
 

Mardeth

Platinum Member
Jul 24, 2002
2,608
0
0
Just put the phone down and do what you were doing. It would be interesting to see how long theyll talk before realizing.
 

Matt2

Diamond Member
Jul 28, 2001
4,762
0
0
Has anyone received telemarketer calls on their cell phone?

I kept getting missed calls from a wierd number on the celly. Finally answered it and it was one of those automated messages about being pre-approved for a home loan. I thought it was wierd and then my GF started to get calls from the same number.
 

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,613
11,256
136
One of my ex-girlfriends did telemarketing for a couple weeks. One time a guy started trying to have phone sex with her and kept her on the phone for over 30 minutes. The place she worked had a no hangup policy so she just had to stay on the line until he hung up.

Originally posted by: MotionMan
No legit business blocks CallerID. In any event, that is illegal in my state, so if they pull that crap on me, I will report them. However, I have NEVER had that happen to me. EVERY SINGLE one of the telemarketing calls I have received in the last, oh, 3 years, Caller ID showed their name or number.

If your state does not have or enforce such a law, move. ;)

MotionMan

I did a lot of interviewing this year and a lot of the companies I was interviewing with didn't show up on my caller ID - these are companies with names like Boeing and GE. Although this was on my cell phone, so maybe landlines are different.

Originally posted by: Matt2
Has anyone received telemarketer calls on their cell phone?

I kept getting missed calls from a wierd number on the celly. Finally answered it and it was one of those automated messages about being pre-approved for a home loan. I thought it was wierd and then my GF started to get calls from the same number.

I have gotten a handful for student loan consolidation, drives me crazy.

 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: Parasitic
Originally posted by: TallBill
I've never had to deal with telemarketers.

Lucky SOB.

I think its because I've never had a regular land line. Always just VOIP or cell. Really not sure, but I just dont get calls.
 

BrownTown

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
5,314
1
0
Originally posted by: Zorba
One of my ex-girlfriends did telemarketing for a couple weeks. One time a guy started trying to have phone sex with her and kept her on the phone for over 30 minutes. The place she worked had a no hangup policy so she just had to stay on the line until he hung up.

oh d@mn, that would be a good one. Especially with those chicks from India and you start talking dirty to them their heads will probably esplodes!
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
930
126
I personally screen my calls. If the number on caller ID is someone I recognize, or have saved as "Dad, Sister, Bob, Troy, Ralph, Harvey", etc., I will answer the call. If it's private or a strange area code or 888/ 800 prefix, I'll let it ring into voice mail. Almost none of the the private, 800 or strange, ever leave a voice mail.

My care meter is set to zero for those types of calls. The way I look at it, is if it's really something important or life threatening, they will find a way to get my attention....prolly by voice mail.

It keeps my life manageable. :)
 

pstylesss

Platinum Member
Mar 21, 2007
2,914
0
0
I don't think the do not call list is in effect anymore... Recently we've been receiving many more calls.

Something my dad used to do years ago was tell them that the entire family died in a car crash or something... that got us crossed off their call list.
 

angminas

Diamond Member
Dec 17, 2006
3,331
26
91
If you string them along and waste their time you're acting just like them. Do the mature thing- just hang up.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: angminas
If you string them along and waste their time you're acting just like them. Do the mature thing- just hang up.

If you waste their time then you're saving someone elses time!
 
May 31, 2001
15,326
2
0
"... and if you act now, you can receive our service for a year! Can I sign you up?"

"You fscking prick, the doctor said I only have two weeks to live!" *CLICK!*

"You know what? I told myself that if I got ONE MORE damned telemarketer call tonight I was going to blow my head off. Thanks a lot asshole." *Rack the slide of a shotgun near the mouthpiece of the phone* "Goodbye." *CLICK!*