What is Digg?99 Comments
- Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+72Little Known Fact: Most big telemarketing agencies absolutely forbid their employees from hanging up on a potential customer for any reason whatsoever, except for outright obscenity. This can provide hours of entertainment for those so inclined. Argue, insult, talk dirty (just don't swear), or challenge the marital status of their parents. Just keep your cool and use your imagination. In most cases, they simply must listen.
Of course, they will try to talk you into ending the conversation. Stick to your guns and blather endlessly. Make it a game. Sing 'em a song. Record 'em, trade 'em - put 'em on a website! Make 'em squirm. Keep a list of which ones you can keep screwing with the longest. - mp817, on 10/12/2007, -5/+54Or you can use the Do Not call Registry.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+43I'm on that list, but the damn public opinion people always call once a week. =/
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+46Just remember... in the states... many of the telemarketers are people who can't get real jobs (i.e. ex-cons). My brother's girlfriend's dad use to run a job service and that was one place that they could always find someone with a record a job....
...the last thing I'd like to do is piss off someone who knows my name, phone number, and address.... especially when they just got done playing drop-the-soap. - metziel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+37And yours, too...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+38Any legal job is more respectable then recieving welfare ie a human parasite.
- chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23"Actually you don't need a landline to get DSL."
Fascinating. So I don't need a LINE to use a Digital Subscriber *Line*?
"why the hell would DSL line use copper to transfer information?"
My first guess would be physics. But then again, I think rain is wet, so what do I know?
"That's retarded."
I won't do it. It's just too easy. I'll be nice.
Nitrodist, read this please: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dsl - theratdotus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21i like to talk dirty to telemarketers.
"hello, will you be willing to take a survey"
"Sure! can i beat off to your voice while we do this though?" - Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20I have a button on my phone which automatically disconnects telemarketers. It's cleverly hidden beneath the receiver on the cradle, so as not to be obtrusive.
I bet you have one, too. - dmron, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19Easier solution: Get a cell phone, ditch your land line. You did know that telemarketing calls to cell phones were illegal, right kids?? :) Although I will admit, this is a good trick (the article I mean) if you MUST keep your land line :P
I've been land line free for almost 3 years and havent had one telemarketing call since... Yessssssss!! - bontux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15You need the actual telephone line (the copper wire). You do not need to have a phone service (a telephone # for your house) to get dsl.
- Oldboy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18This doesn't always work. I worked as a telemarketer for almost two years, and our dialing software wouldn't take a number off the list after hearing those tones. Instead, those of us working at the phones had to review the call to see if there was an official "This number has been disconnected" message after the tones. If not, we marked the number as good, set it to be called again the next day and moved on.
And you know, there's really no reason to string a telemarketer along or to be rude to them. Most of them are college kids desperately trying to make ends meet, as I was, and they really don't want to call you any more than you want to receive the call. The simplest way to deal with an unwanted telemarketing call is to simply say, "No thank you, I'm not interested, and I would like my number taken off your list." If the telemarketer is doing his/her job correctly, then you won't get another call from them. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14I picked up this great book at B&N a couple years back called "Fun With Phone Solicitors". It's a riot. Here's my favorites trick from the book: (S is solicitor, Y is you)
S: Good afternoon. Is this Ms. Smith?
Y: Yes, what can I -- No, Suzy! Put Daddy's power drill down!--I'm sorry. You were saying?
S: Uh, I'm calling with a special offer.
Y:Play with those matches outside, young man! -- I do apologize. Now, you said something about an offer?
S:Yes ma'am. For the next two weeks, we're offering--
Y: No, that's drain opener, not Kool-Aid! Now put it back in the cabinet! -- I'm sorry, what was that last part?
(continue until solicitor hangs up)
--or--
S: Hello, I'm calling from Acme International for Mr. Mueller.
Y: Your password?
S: Pardon me? Uh, as I said, I'm with Acme International, and I'm--
Y: [Insistently] Sir, your password!
S: I may have misdialed. Is this not 911-555-4321?
Y: [Press two buttons on your phone] We have a Code Yellow on line four...[Pause]...Affirmative. Initiating trace.
(solicitor hangs up)
*If the solicitor surprises you by holding on and trying to talk, just alternate pressing the 6 and 7 buttons on your phone (not too fast) to give the sound of an alarm.* - saska, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15It's so much more fun to string them along, though...
- Lososaurus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12IcanFLY, is their name Tony and looking for 'da monies'? If so, you might wanna call that guy back.
- closetosomet, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14tell that to my dsl modem which has to be plugged into a phone line to work.
- IcanFLY, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Woah.. what's this about illegal cell phone telemarketting? I get damn prerecorded telemarketers calling on my cell and leaving messages occasionally.
- djg38, on 10/12/2007, -7/+17You're simply 100% wrong with this comment. Telemarketing employs over 2 million of the most otherwise unemployable Americans, the elderly and those with disabilities. Not everyone working in the industry is a high school dropout teen looking for a summer job.
- EochaidRiata, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10The best thing to do is enter the number into Google and you can usually find the location they are calling from, sometimes even a picture of the building they work in. Combine that with Google Earth to see the surrounding area and you can have a little fun with them. Ask them if they parked in the front of the building by the fountain or on the side by the pond, etc....
- bsoric, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Somehow my mobile (cellphone) number got on a telemarketer's list. You don't insult them, just talk about something completely off topic. Or act like you called tech support for you computer.
- VeganG, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Hanging up puts your number on the Recall List. They assume that it was an accidental disconnection. I worked as a telemarketer for a while (it's the only job I ever walked out on, I couldn't take it anymore).
- jerrygofixit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10"Oh, and one more thing... try to be polite when you ask to be placed on the DNC and don't just hang up right away either. We don't have to select DNC from the list... cursor might slip to callback :-P But seriously."
That's funny, my friend got someone fired because he had the call,time,number,organization,callers name and convo recorded when he specifically told them to take him off. He threatened harassment but it got 'taken care of'. Watch that cursor next time! We're not all as dumb as you look. - mecole21, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8The best was in the dorms where theyd call every phone along the hallway in order... we used to have lots of fun with that...
- bloodmoney, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Here is the best thing to do.....get them talking then put the phone down and walk away. Waste their time like they have just wasted yours.
- cliffzdude, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Regardless of your name, reply to telemarketer with:
Jimmy no live here! Jimmy no live here! Why you call? Jimmy no live here!
Works every time... ...and you get a nice chuckle. - heavyd14, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Most of the calls I get from law enforcement or fireman's charities usually aren't. They are all scams. Never give money over the phone, get it in writing.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6The more sophisticated telemarketers actually use tone detection, so sending those tones WILL actually work. However, most of these clowns are anything but sophisticated, and will still persist with their nuisance calls.
- lenwood, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5This actually works. Once, the same telemarketer had been calling me for days, trying to get through to my boss. Finally, I'd had it. When she called I told her my boss was in a meeting, but that I'd get him out because he's interested in their service. I came back ~5 mins later and said he knew she was on the phone and was wrapping up the meeting. I think I strung her out for like 35 minutes or something obscene like that. She never called back again.
I wish I could find a way to tick off the jerks that keep calling my home machine. - VeganG, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6"The simplest way to deal with an unwanted telemarketing call is to simply say, "No thank you, I'm not interested, and I would like my number taken off your list." If the telemarketer is doing his/her job correctly, then you won't get another call from them."
Yep. "Take me off the list" is the magical phrase. After you say that, it's illegal for that call center to call you back. Ever. For anything. Even if it's for something entirely different.
If you merely state how uninterested you are, you WILL get called back.
Also, please realize that these people are required by their jobs to give one, sometimes two, rebuttals to your disinterest. Be patient, because I'm sure they dislike having to give the rebuttals as much as you dislike being told how "wrong" you are about your disinterest. - theone3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I just forward them to our dedicated telemarketing response team. The PABX here doesn't work so well though, the hold tone sounds suspiciously a call ended tone.
- theoallardyce, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"...the last thing I'd like to do is piss off someone who knows my name, phone number, and address.... especially when they just got done playing drop-the-soap."
I was under the impression that they didn't know any of that - the telemarketer just gets connected to phone number after phone number by the computer and they don't actually need to see any of the information other than maybe your first name to make the call more personal? If this isn't the case then that's pretty outrageous - maybe not for the US where they play hard and fast with your personal info but for Europe where companies are legally bound to keep your information safe - this is the whole point of the data protection act. - jerrygofixit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"why the hell would DSL line use copper to transfer information?"
Why the hell is the sky blue? That's outrageous! Are you saying they don't use copper wire? We're all fiber-optic now right? Considering the distance of most DSL is 14,000 FT maximum from the node and all right.
EDIT: Sorry, jumped at it too quick, read the post above me, I'm obviously not as nice as chrono13 :-/. - heavyd14, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The only problem with the telezapper is that it plays those sounds every time you get a call. That is annoying to anyone who calls you.
Also, in my area they have a thing called "Reverse 911." It gets activated in the event of a "situation" at the nearby nuclear plant along with the emergency broadcast system. If you have Telezapper, you don't get the call. - aquax, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8>What the hell is wrong with you people ? what is wrong with him signing his name. I always sign my name AND list
>my url on EVERY SINGLE MESSAGE I SEND (there are expceptions) its just SOP - its the way the net works.
Why do you link to your website that looks like it was made in 1997 and never updated since then? Personally, I would be embarrassed to have my name next to that crap. - drwiii, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4If you use the open-source Asterisk PBX, there's a function you can stick in your dialplan that'll spit the SIT tones out before it rings your inside line. Google for "Zapateller"
- mhearne, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I've been on the "Do Not Call" list for Texas since it first became available. It did stop most of the telemarketers, but it doesn't stop politicians and charities.
Most of the politicians just play a short recorded message just before an election, but the charities are really annoying to me. They usually say they represent law enforcement, want to save the kids or buy bullet-proof vests or some other such thing.
The thing is, they are so hard-sell and persistent, that I find them just as annoying as telemarketers. - heavyd14, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@IcanFLY
In the united states it is illegal to send unsolicited messages where the reciever is required to pay for the message. Messages includes phone calls and text messages. - Moysh007, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I just pretend not to speak english... my calls have gotton far fewer ....
- whatsthatsmell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3My brother puts his 4 yr old son on the phone. He loves talking and they just don't seem to get it. it's pretty damn entertaining!
- rusty0101, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3So far my favorite was some comedian's solution. He noted that no matter who is calling, at some point they have to ask you a question. At which point they are looking for a response from you that fits one of their scripted responses. The fact is your response doesn't have to have anything to do with the question provided. As an example:
Telemarketer (T): HI, I'm telemarketer with telemarketer contracting company, and we are in your neighborhood this week doing window replacements for the low, low price of $600 per pane of glass. Our windows are gauranteed for the lifetime of the glass to be free from breakage and [... some arbitrarily long monolog on the joys of getting new windows from this company ...] Can I interst you in a visit to give you a demonstration of the windows and a high quality estimate of the cost of replacement for you?
You (Y): I get to go outside tomorrow.
T: Um, that's nice, [more spiel] When can we set up a demonstration for you?
Y: I don't even have to wear a jacket.
etc. Obviously you can make this last as long as the telemarketer can stand it.
As to why some people would do this rather than ask to be nicely put on the Do Not Call list, Most of us have found that a DNC list lasts at most a couple of weeks. Then the company is re-organized, or everyone starts working for a different company, or something happens that means that the telemarketers feel it is completely ok to start calling you again. Similarly the 'Not interested" responses seem to be simply invites to be sold to even harder.
Somewhat effective means of reducing inbound calls. Cell phones. Cell phone numbers (Get a cell phone, then order up a land line transfering the cell phone number to the landline number.) Voice over IP providers in some cases do not publish your phon number in a phone book. Phone numbers requiring unknown callers to enter a number, or provide further information before the call can be completed.
As a strong deterant to people mis-filing your Do Not Call List request, take down the name of the caller, the date and time of the call, what company they work for, etc. and regularly check to see if a number or caller is calling you back. If they are, take them to small claims court. It does work. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Learn how to get a job that provides an actual service. It's not hard.
- DGSK387, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I've been a telemarketer for almost 2.5 years now. This "trick" has never worked. Maybe different company's telemarketing systems are different, but all the calls I receive I have to manually disposition them (choose Answering Machine, Callback, Disconnected, Not Interested, etc. from a Drop Down menu). And nothing stops me from dispositioning them incorrectly either.
Oh and from my experiences, the National DNC isn't effective. Companies whom you have or have done business with within the last 18 months can still legally contact you.
Oh, and one more thing... try to be polite when you ask to be placed on the DNC and don't just hang up right away either. We don't have to select DNC from the list... cursor might slip to callback :-P But seriously. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This is exactly how the TeleZapper works. It's been on the market for quite some time. When it detects that you've picked the phone up, it plays that tone. After awhile, the telemarketing calls supposedly drop off. Be warned, however: this technique only works on about half of the automated caller machines out there.
- beave, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I run Asterisk @ home as well. Aside from the SIT tone, the blacklist function works well again. My "blacklisted" number get sent to a "We're sorry, this number is no longer in service" message.
- mecole21, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2your an evil evil man
- Jaan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2They used to make something called a "Telezapper" which did the same thing. Since the Do Not Call registry they don't make them anymore, but my local Dollar Store has a pile of them for sale.
- Nerys, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Or the NEXT piss me off method. the dialing pool where the machine dials a bunch of numbers and on the first few get the joy of the telemarketer the rest get "dial tone"
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 4850lu73, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This article is not completely accurate.
I work in the comms sector and specifically sell both Progressive and Predictive diallers.
It is not only telesales/marketers that use diallers; Doctors surgery's, Estate agents, Debt collectors and many more besides all benefit from the use of diallers.
One of my company's largest contracts was in fact for a Government agency that provides help and support for 14-19 yr olds. The use our dialler to contact said teens with regular help and advice.
The NHS also use a dialler to call around patients to check availability for appointments. Imagine setting your phone to playback those tones to stop telemarketers and inadvertently block a call from the NHS telling you that the appointment for that life saving operation (example) has been moved forward.
Diallers have their uses, we just have to put up with their mis-use. - Nerys, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Honestly as long as the hours are not goofy telemarketers don't really bother me that much. I do simply say no thanks please remove me from your list.
WHAT I DO HATE WITH AN UTTER PASSION is when I answer the phone and its a freaking machine ! I hang up immediately. short of it being the president at which point i would stick around long enough to tell him where he can shove it I hang up immediately.
I do not recognize there right to call me this way !! its bad enough being put on hold when I call them I WILL NOT BE PUT ON HOLD WHEN YOU CALL ME !! you be on that freaking phone when I answer it !!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - super_spyder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Pizza places want land lines when you call them late at night, which i have been known to do, and it is a real pain in the ass when you are at a party and the house doesn't have a land line and you cant get your pizza fix at 11:30
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