The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry

2 May 2007

The Federal Trade Commission assures that cell phone numbers will not be released to telemarketers at any time in the near future despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet.

In addition, according to the agency, it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the DNC Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.

The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:

Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.

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Comments

Rating: +15

mkgeary@sbcglobal.net - 13 May 2007

I noticed this was updated 2May2007 @ 2:16pm. However, I received a call on my cell phone from "Budget Freight 323-354-3367" on 12May2007 @ 10:30am advertising Viagra and Cialis. So much for "Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone."

Rating: +3

Jeff - 20 May 2007

A cell phone number being on the "no-call" list means nothing. Companies will get numbers anyway they can and it is not difficult to get the prefixes for cells and have a person or a computer to start dialing umbers in sequence. Alas, the best to do is to block them or ignore them.

Rating: +2

catalin - 13 Dec 2007

My cell carrier cannot block calls. And it's pretty hard to "ignore" when it wakes you up when you're sleeping. So your comment is definitely not helpful.

Rating: +13

Fed-Up - 30 Dec 2007

Check the features on your cellphone. I have one under "options" that asks " Add to Reject List?" If I add the number then my phone will not ring and they will get an unanswered or voicemail if you have it. When you look at your phone later it will show on the screen as a missed call. You can also save the number in your address book as "jerk" or something else appropiate.

Rating: -4

Cocoab - 27 Feb 2008

So, what kind of cell phone do you have? I think I need the call block feature coz I have been getting midnight telemarketing calls.

Thx!

Rating: +3

agravated mama - 20 May 2008

just to let everyone know, if you recieve any non-personal calls from any company after 9pm your time its illegal and the company can be sued! federal law, I learned that while working in the debt collection field years ago!

Rating: +2

Naive - 26 Mar 2008

Thanks for that info. I found the "Add to Reject List" option on my Samsung phone. I'll use that on all my harassing calls now.

Rating: +18

anj - 4 Jan 2008

If your cellphone has different tunes for "Caller ID" save the number that calls you and then pick as the ringtone "No Ring" and it will not wake you and will go voice mail. I have a problem with a caller that rings me very later. And I found by playin around with different ringtones that I could assign "No Ring"
hope this helps.

Rating: +6

StarGazer - 30 Jan 2008

Thanks for the idea of "No Ring". Mine is called "none" and I can't wait to see how it really works for this. I've been getting the calls for several weeks now.

Rating: +1

suzeq - 5 Apr 2008

hey, i just did the same thing, got calls from a guy i was chatting with. He called my # continuously and im'd me almost all day Everyday. I just put his # as Trouble in my list and "none"for the ring. Scary. I told him too much too soon. Sorry and didnt tell him what i did. I wont give out my number so quickly anymore.

Rating: 0

sweetpea - 2 Apr 2008

Your suggestion works with regard to assigning "none" or "no ringer" to the contact in your cell phone (it might depend on the model tho--I have a Katana & Katana II that works with). I just tried it with my home phone. I placed a call to my cell from my home phone. The number showed on the Caller ID, yet no ring, even when the ringer was at level 8. It is an awesome trick. If your phone is on, it rings (as if it were on silent), then goes into voice mail, but your cell phone will not have an audible ring tone associated with the contact. At least it is some piece of mind.

Rating: 0

Nicole in Alaska - 15 May 2008

I only wish my lame cell phone had that option. I've been getting telemarketing calls for weeks on my cell phone from 2 numbers and they don't speak English, so when I tell them to stop calling, it is pointless. When I upgrade my phone I'll have to look for one with that option.

Thanks for the info!

Rating: -3

Hey Me - 12 Mar 2008

Try the feature on your phone that turns off the ringer while you are sleeping. It becomes easier to ignore then.

Rating: +3

pinkfreakinc - 7 Apr 2008

You might also have a setting (depending on what type of cell phone you have) to only allow the callers, who are in your contacts, to call.

Rating: +1

nonya - 18 Apr 2008

sue them.

Rating: -1

urab - 24 May 2008

thats why cell phones can be turned off, or set to silent.

Rating: +1

Marietta - 14 Jun 2008

Simple of course BUT if you have family, and most do, we WANT them to be able to reach us if they need to!

Rating: 0

haq - 6 hours 8 minutes ago

Try turning your phone off while you're sleeping. That way you won't be disturbed while you're asleep.

Rating: +7

Laura - 10 Jan 2008

actually if your cell phone is on the do not call registry you can file a complaint for the numbers that do keep calling you and if enough are filed they will go after them.

Rating: +4

Stan - 20 Feb 2008

Sorry Laura,

That does NOT work if they are calling via VOIP into the US from a foreign county. They LAUGH at the do not call list!

Rating: +1

nonya - 18 Apr 2008

they laugh at the no call list but the business that hired them to call is liable for the violations to the dnc.

Rating: +1

CW - 19 May 2008

Calling to complain to the 'Do Not Call Registry' does not work....I have complained so many times about them and they still continue to call me all the time.....I have even called 'them' and demanded that they take my number out of their system....and it worked for a month or so....then here the calls come again....'someone' is giving my number out to these telemarkers...sure wish there was a foolproof way to eliminate them from my life and my phone.

Rating: +6

OUCHTHATBURNS - 10 Mar 2008

someone made a comment about sequential dialing.

This is illegal in the US, and dialing software doesn't support it, so it is unlikely that this is the case.

Some numbers calling have either found your number in marketing databases such as DMA (direct marketing association) and credit agencies, these are the calls subject to the do not call database.

There are also many calls from people that have existing relationships with a company (previous customer etc), in these cases they are NOT subject to the do not call list it only applies to cold calling people with no prior business relationship.

In this case You can tell them to put you on their do not call list, and not to call again, however that doesn't prevent them from calling you the first time, which is quite legal, and chances are they got the number from you at some point.

The lessson here is that if you don't want to be called on your cell, don't give it out to ANY business EVER. Only give it to people you know.
This includes on credit applications and businesses that you deal with...that is how they get cell numbers as there is no other listing.

Rating: +5

Rob - 9 Apr 2008

This is the only sensible post yet! People are so ignorant. If you owe company "A" some money, they contract company "B" to collect the debt. Also, when signing up for credit cards or any other application, even some software, you are asked if your name can be shared with third party companies whose products might interest you. I always say no but often the default is yes. Many companies also have "sister" companies that they are allowed to share information with. Banks do this in order to expedite applications or to offer products they think you might be intereted in. These are legal, but you can opt out.

Rating: +2

soon2bemrsb - 12 Apr 2008

Ok, that's not entirely true. As a former telemarketer, I can tell you, we got our numbers from 3 different sources. we had a listing of prefixes in the area we were calling and then strips of paper with number listed 0001, 0002, 0003, etc, and we just dialed them. We also had computer dialers that did basically the same thing, they just checked the do not call registry before they dialed them. We also tore pages out of local phone books when we could get them. So, yes, cell numbers can be called, no matter what. I know that my friend, who lives in another state, has the same prefix and area code for her home and cell numbers, and the two numbers are only a couple of digits different. This is because her home phone is through the cable company. Sorry man, but if you have a cell phone, eventually you are going to get telemarketing calls on it. sucks, but that's the way it is.

Rating: 0

evbob - 24 Apr 2008

Having been in the telemarketing business in the Sixties we were able to call anybody.We obtain these rather large books,with monthly updates.Cross referenced Listed by name address ss phone all kinds of ways(they even ask your neghbors) my favorite though was Unlisted numbers? Phone company even charged you extra239-1233 ,239-1235 Guess who has the unlisted number yes 239-1234.So if we did it by pen and ink certainly "a'int nothin new"

Rating: 0

brainy - 14 Jun 2008

Too much info!

Rating: 0

brainy - 14 Jun 2008

Too much info!

Rating: 0

nonyabusiness - 18 Apr 2008

actually dialing software has had sequential dialing options for over a decade. It is illegal since 2003, but if we have learned anything it is that if money is to be made people will break the law to get it. Also the feds do a really bad job of going after companies.

Rating: +6

Cher - 18 Mar 2008

Most people dish out their cell phone numbers and don't remember doing it is one way they get your numbers. Such as filling out stuff on the internet or filling out intries for free give aways or for free dinners or just like everytime I go to Lowe's to purchase something they ask me for my number and I always tell them sorry it's private.....NEVER USE YOUR CELL PHONE FOR PUBLIC MISC! They sell your info for profit,I AM VERY SELECTIVE IN WHO I GIVE MY CELL NUMBER TOO!

Rating: -76

oogles - 31 May 2007

we call any body with a business relationship with our customers... if you give your cell phone out thats what we call. National Do Not Call list is for cold calling only. We will put it in our systems that it is a cellphone if you tell us its a cellphone.. if you scream and rant.. we put it as a wrong number.. you'll be called by another division of our company less than a month later.

Rating: +7

GB - 7 Jun 2007

http://800notes.com/articles/Article.aspx/-4WfvN9rtQDJ-AjJWj5Peg

Rating: +19

Anonymous - 5 Jul 2007

That's unprofessional and immature.

No, people don't really need to scream and rant, however, from a consumer's perspective, I HATE telemarketing calls. If you want to take a job as a telemarketer, you have to know that most people don't want the calls. Why in the world would you want to put the number back into the database for someone else to call so that they can get yelled at, too? That's just stupid.

Rating: +18

Me - 21 Dec 2007

"If you want to take a job as a telemarketer, you have to know that most people don't want the calls. Why in the world would you want to put the number back into the database for someone else to call so that they can get yelled at, too? That's just stupid."

I've been a telemarketer in the past. I didn't take the job because it was my first choice, I took it because it was all I could find locally since I am not able to drive. I myself hate the calls. The best thing you can do to get rid of a telemarketer immediately is say "take me off your call list"... that was the only reason we'd be allowed to hang up off a call before making 3 rebuttals at the company I worked for.

Yes, even I sometimes felt continuing a call would be insensitive or pointless, but even in extreme circumstances usually we were required to continue the call... our bosses sometimes monitored the calls (it was a random thing) and if we got caught a couple times not making the "proper" (in their eyes) amount of rebuttals, we were written up and or fired.

Sometimes people wondered why we still called them if they are on the DNC registry. That was a good question... answer is, if you have a business relationship or have had within I think a year or so with the business or an affiliate of the business we were calling for, then it became legal.

Telemarketing does stink, especially at early hours... just say 'take me off your call list'... that's the only phrase that *we* were allowed to take out of the database anyway. Yelling and screaming unfortunately (I don't claim to understand this) required that we still give three rebuttals.

I don't know other companies' policies, but I hope that will help some.

Rating: +7

Lazarus Long - 21 Dec 2007

Dear "Me",
Thanks for the info, and I know that what you're saying is true.
My wife did a stint in TM, as have many who fell through the cracks in the job market at some time.
What we really need is for some of the transient "Inside" folks to assist us in creating a "DO CALL" list of those up the food chain at these firms. There has to be a way to reach them, why not the way they reach us?

Rating: +7

Alinsky - 12 Mar 2008

When you know the name of the company that has called, use the Internet or government company-registration sources to get names of company director(s) or owners. Then look them up via an online or 411 telephone directory, and call them at whatever time you see fit and explain your problem. Of course this won't always work, some executives keep unlisted home numbers. But there are ways of tracking people down. I do rcommend being polite when you call them at 4 am from a payphone. And not at all rude or harassing. Don't surrender the moral high ground.

Rating: +5

Ken - 1 Feb 2008

The phrase that I use and it comes out so naturally is:

"I'm sorry, I don't do telemarketing over the phone".

Then I just hang up and the person on the other end doesn't know what to say or do as I have already hung up!

Rating: +5

MisTre - 21 Feb 2008

Me - good info and thanks. My son worked for a customer satisfaction survey company during HS and 1st year of collage (until his job was outsourced to India). It wasn't telemarketing but he was verbally abused on a daily basis by people that were being pestered to death by unwanted calls; he never took it personally. But as you said, he was under strict direction to keep their number on the call list if he was hung up on, ignored, had horns blown in his ears, was screamed at or told to go f^%ck himself, until and unless the survey was completed by the car purchaser, or until and unless that car purchaser specifically asked to be "placed on your do not call list". At my son's workplace if a person said take me off your list it did no good; they had to request a placement on a do not call list. All these companies have a way around sanity and courtesy it seems. Hope the folks in India are enjoying the experience!

Rating: +1

Heather - 22 Mar 2008

I wish that dont call back is true bcs it is not. Ive asked on to put me off the list and guess what they next day get another from the same company

Rating: +7

marienne - 4 Apr 2008

So true. They will call anyway and non-profits say they can call even if you are on the DNC list. I know someone who was a telemarketer and know some of their tacktics. Number one thing, do not bug your customers. So I say I'm a customer. Selling vinyl siding? Well, my house is brick. Credit card? Cool, I'll need one when I'm done with my bankruptcy. Coming to my front door "selling God", then I love God too, why don't they join my cult? - Many of these things I have said to them have worked quite nice. And since I sound young, I say to them I'm a minor when they ask for me personally, when I'm 35. Or I tell them I'll get Mom and put them on hold, especially those ones that CID says cellular. And my fav that I found on a forum somewhere - "I don't have anything because I just got out of prison for killing my husband".... dial tone!

Rating: 0

Marietta - 14 Jun 2008

Great ideas! My favorite was one a friend used as a college student years ago. He was also instructing in small planes at the time. When he had calls or drop-bys to his apartment for life insurance [a common one for college students at the time at least], he would great them with delight, saying "Great, I've been wanting to get some life insurance since I started doing so much crop dusting!" No repeat contacts there!

Rating: +23

Driven Mad By Telemarketers - 18 Jul 2007

My mother is trying to recover from heart surgery....in the privacy of her own home. Why on earth should she be woken up and subjected to a rude sales pitch? And everytime I am woken up by these same calls I assume I am receiving an emergency phone call saying that my 81 year old mother has passed away.

Your stupid, smart as* remark about "not giving my number out" is infuriating. If you are working for a telemarketing firm you should truly think about all the hidden damage you people do to people's lives.

Rating: +11

Lori - 21 Aug 2007

Amen! I've been in that same situation with a mom recovering from heart surgery with complications and I know how it can be. It's very stressful. Even without a stressful situation, people shouldn't be bothered in the privacy of their own home, especially when I'm paying for that phone service and I didn't know that by chosing to PAY for phone service that I was inviting everyone trying to sale everything in the world to call MY HOME. If I want to buy something, then I will go and solicit. I don't need someone invading my privacy! In my opinion, people that resort to making a living telemarketing don't really care about people anyway.

Rating: +6

AS - 12 Sep 2007

One of the best ways I know of to shake telemarketers is to tell them someone in the family is very ill or dying. I used to work for such a company, and we put all these numbers on a "Do Not Call Back" list. If you just hang up on the caller, you can be sure the number will go back in the database and they will keep calling back. The reason for this is that telemarketers have to answer to bosses and client companies. They don't want a lot of Refusals on their call sheets...too many of these and they could lose their jobs or their clients. But Illness/Death in the household is not marked as a Refusal, and the company will usually be happy to take you off their list.

Rating: +5

prepaidcell ssd - 15 Nov 2007

pre paid cell minutes are budgeted for medical use and governed by state assistance programs even rec/ help with medicine copays and telephone assistance and talking to each telemarketer or anyone is unaffordable since it is saved only for doctors/professionals/family emergency with very ill out of town family member in multiple organ failure, so leaving a message to that affect did not help and more money was spent over and over to change numbers and reset phones and money is wasted and only income is SSD barely surviving with decline in health due to stress, wondering if all
is that a joke to people? you know people's lives... have become a joke playing on the phone... creating life/death situations... increased medical costs when doctor bills arent paid now... and so badly needed...

IT IS REDICULOUS

SORRY BUT HAD TO SAY SOMETHING HERE... THERE IS NO ARGUMENT IT IS ABUSIVE AND OUT OF CONTROL

nobody has listened or cared and nobody stops this insane stupidity

Rating: +1

rediculous - 7 Apr 2008

Does anyone understand this? What "insane stupidity"? "increased medical costs" due to people inventing sick relatives when speaking with telemarketers? Or due to the telemarketers themselves? Sorry, I'm lost here.

Rating: -1

voice for the common sense - 12 Jun 2008

I'm sorry to hear that you are having both financial and health problems. However, may I ask why you have the time and energy to read through dozens of lame (mostly repetitive, rants) and write comments here and there?

If you really are that stressed, then get some sleep. Watching TV or surfing internet all day is not "resting." Go outside, move around, and stop staying up so late wasting time on trivial things.

If you are so desperate for money that talking a few minutes on the phone would kill you, then don't answer them. If it's a really important phone call, people will leave you message, and you just listen to that and decide whether you want to spend the precious minutes on it or not.

Stop whining, and deal with your problems. If you're getting multiple calls from TMs, why still answer any unknown caller IDs? Why are you spending your precious time on internet reading and writing posts, when it's a "life/death situation"? Go out there and make some money, or at least do something that will actually help you, and no, complaining is not it.

Rating: 0

Dar - 11 Dec 2007

That is true. I used to work at a University social science dept. doing surveys by phone. If we call someone and they threaten us with a lawyer then the call is erased from the list. Same goes, if an employee get too many refusals it will reflect on his or her's job evaluation.

Rating: +14

Exiled - 11 Sep 2007

I worked for such a company for all of half an hour. Decided I just couldn't be that rude.

Rating: +1

IHATE TELEMARKERS - 7 Nov 2007

wow,that's a very scary situation. id be hecka freaked out D-: did u register ur number to dnc registry?

Rating: -3

David - 13 Mar 2008

You know what they say it is you do when you assume something, don't you? It is hard for me to imagine why anyone would guess, or assume, who is calling before looking at the phone or answering it. All you have to do is remember your psychic abilities are seriously lacking and stop relying on them for identifying callers. If your assumptions are so harmful to yourself, then knock it off. It is bad for you. By the way, your mom is going to live to be 120 years of age despite her telephone.

Rating: -3

satan - 23 Aug 2007

What's wrong with you?

Rating: +8

John Q - 7 Sep 2007

And it's companies like yours that make Americans want to throw their phones into a lake around dinner time.

Thanks oogles.

/sarcasm

Rating: -7

Brandon - 8 Feb 2008

Please do

Rating: +15

I want privacy! - 16 Sep 2007

Oogles: You idiot!! it's people like you who made me decide to put my home and cell phone number on the Do Not Call list. My home phone number is for ME to receive calls from my family and friends ONLY - not to be harassed by telemarketers. When I say do not call, that's exactly what I mean - DO NOT CALL!!! What part of do not call don't you understand? You telemarketers should find an occupation that does not harass the general public. Likewise, my cell phone is also for me to make calls, and I don't even turn it on unless I'm expecting a call from someone or I need to call someone when I'm away from home. So, Oogles and all you other telemarketers, LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

Rating: +6

David - 29 Jan 2008

I know I'm probably just adding more flammable material to the Stupid bonfire, but public telephone service has never offered 'privacy' or given 100% control to the subscriber. In simplistic terms, your telephones are part of wide-reaching network of telephones, which enable you to contact someone in your town, your country, and basically everyone else in the world who has a telephone. The trade-off for that amazing luxury is that anyone in the world can call you. They seldom do.

If you want to have full control and make sure that only your family and friends can call you, you will need to set up your own private system and give each of the lucky few in your inner circle a dedicated phone.

Living in society means that you can't realistically have an expectation of total and complete privacy. You can't control who might mail a letter to you, deliver flowers to your door, or stop you on the street and ask for directions. But you can choose not thrown away the letter, not answer the doorbell, or to ignore the person on the street. Alternatively, you can also choose to live in a isolated cave as a hermit

And you can also choose not to answer your phone if you don't recognize the number. Or you could choose to be civil and sympathetic to the poor guy who had to take a crummy telemarketing job and simply say ' No thanks, and please take me off your list.'

Do you really believe that any of those telemarketing employees actually enjoys the constant barrage of verbally abuse, insults and rejection? And for minimum wage?

Rating: -17

Brandon - 8 Feb 2008

Well said David.

However, I make $10 + commission. Great thing about sales. No other job where you can make so much money.

The fact that I sell a product that people acutely want (Vacations) does help.

Rating: +1

thewayitis - 20 Feb 2008

maybe that's the kind of attitude that makes people not like you...you probably make more than most people you sell to. and definatly more than most you aggravate. Then they have to pay the bill when you & your persistant collegues keep aggravating the piss out of them and using up their damn minutes...

Rating: +4

j - 25 Feb 2008

LOSER! When I want to go on vacation I will arrange that myself, not wait for some loser TM to call me.

Rating: +1

Guest - 4 Jun 2008

I can think of quite a few jobs where you can make that and much more. Most require education though, or at least some skills, and generally don't harm the society and the individuals within it.

While I understand that sometimes one takes whatever job he can get, we live in a society which still provides quite a few options. As such, one's choice of occupation can be held against him, and being a telemarketer's quite an unsavory occupation.

Rating: +4

paid society - 27 Mar 2008

David, you are dead wrong. The network I pay to use is *private*, which is why I must pay for it. Its use is sold to me by private corporations. To the degree it is public, i.e. administered by the gov't, i.e. paid by tax-payers is an example of corporate welfare and socialized capitalism.

In any case, here is where your argument hits a wall, pun intended:
the streets and sidewalks are public space. You may follow them up until my front door (or lawn or wherever the space I pay for begins). If I ask you to leave my door and you don't, I call the cops and you are cited or arrested. If you enter my home, that is home-invasion and you are put in jail.

I ask them to go away and they don't. I put up a "no solicitors" sign, in the form of the DNC registry, and they violate or circumvent the law to harass me and violate my privacy and peace, disrespectfully, sometimes illegally.

I shouldn't be forced to "live as a hermit" or not answer my phone, so that I can avoid people/corps that take advantage of a "free society". Rights must be balanced in any society. We don't live in a truly "free society", we live in a paid society. Whether I like it or not, I must pay for my phone service, for my private space. These people should pay me to enter my network space, just as I must pay my telco provider.

Rating: +2

polar - 12 Jun 2008

Paid society definitely has a point, but, like what David said, "Living in society means that you can't realistically have an expectation of total and complete privacy"

Walking into your home without permission is trespassing, but it's not illegal to knock on your door and give you a introduction. You have the right to ignore him, turn him away, or ask him to come into your house for a cup of tea.

With phone calls-they can call you as long as it's within a reasonable time set by the law (8am~9pm), and you can ignore them, turn them away, or accept their offer. You can ask them to take your # off, and report them if you don't.

I noticed that sometimes TMers and door-to-door salesman have really good offers, probably because they'd be out of business without attractive offers. Many of them (esp credit card, debt solutions, etc) are nothing but junks, and instead of just getting frustrated, you should mess with their heads, call them back until they get annoyed, or unleash your anger on them.

Stop whining, and start giving solutions-tell people tricks like barring #s, setting ringtones to silent when unknown caller IDs, etc.

Rating: +1

TM's, find a better job: Monster.com! - 12 Feb 2008

Did someone suggest getting a pager up above? Seriously? LOL... are those even made anymore???
Ok, but more to the point, it's not just the telemarketers we should be concerned about. It's also the companies that are supplying these TM's with a list of numbers. True, some have auto dialers, dialing random numbers, but others are commissioned by respectable companies (Cable companies for example) to try to acquire new customers or sell current customers new services. So in a way they are also to blame. Even though the cable company or whomever may have your number, we never gave them permission to do what they want with it. So it is a privacy issue.
As for telemarketers not being able to find other jobs? Yeah not quite... TM is sales. You want to work in sales? Go work somewhere respectable like an electronics store or car dealership. You make commissions better that way, because people actually WANT those things. Hence them going to your store in the first place!

Rating: +6

Voice of Reason - 12 Mar 2008

David--very good reply!
ALL You Good Folks--The person making the call is NOT the problem. The business's that hire them are the problem. (Don't kill the messenger)
As someone earlier said; If the business did not make money this way they would not do business this way. (hmmm - So maybe it is not the fault of business either.) Maybe it is the dumb ones who buy from them over the phone, maybe that is where the problem lies. But, Hey! How you going to stop other people from being dumb?

Rating: +1

moral condemnation = economic resistance - 27 Mar 2008

It is dumb to accept pay (especially what TMrs earn) to annoy other humans in their private sphere – their home, their telecommunication services which they pay for. The way to stop them from being dumb is to make it cost them (in terms of self-esteem and conscience, possibly wasted sale time). This in turn will make the businesses they work for not make enough money to justify the costs of TM.

I'm initially vaguely polite to most tm'ers because I recognize they are workers close to the bottom of the foodchain and greater blame lies at the top of the companies, even if people are responsible at every rung. However, if their job is made unpleasant, less people will want to do it, which will drive up labor costs, which will force companies to consider the costs more carefully, which may result in less TM calls. So, politeness is against my basic economic interests.

Rating: 0

JJ - 8 May 2008

"It is dumb to accept pay (especially what TMrs earn) to annoy other humans in their private sphere"

As much as I hate telemarketers, oftentimes people who take these jobs can't find work anywhere else (like the person a ways up who needed a workplace within walking distance, or people who have disabilities - it doesn't take much to use a phone). You're saying it's dumb for them to take one of the only jobs available to them so they can pay their living expenses? Think about that...

I would rather see these sorts of people working on "warm calls" though, customers with whom there is already a business connection. They're less likely to get upset about the call, and more likely to actually buy the pitched product.

Rating: 0

Econ 101 - 30 Jun 2008

JJ, you've missed the point. It is not true that these people "can't find work anywhere else". They can easily and immediately go work at the McDonald's drive-thru or as a janitor at Bally's or any number of other jobs. What you really mean is "can't find work anywhere else at an equivalent pay rate". Thus, your objection to the comment by "moral condemnation" fails, because that person's entire point was to make the job less attractive to workers, which drives down supply, which drives up costs, therefore decreasing the profits of the TM companies.

Rating: +10

topgun - 9 Oct 2007

Your response is one of the reasons you are in telemarketing. You are not intelligent enough to do anything else. Telemarketing is another name for telephone sales. Tell me when you have ever sold anything to anyone who was mad at you. Guess you didn't figure that out when preparing to take the GED.

Rating: 0

SMM - 28 Nov 2007

This one is my favorite so far =oD
Too true, topgun!!!

Rating: +1

JoBobCapitalist - 18 Dec 2007

I agree that telemarketing can be a pain in the butt. What so many of you seem to forget is that for you to make a paycheck, someone usually has to sell something to someone. No matter when you make a purchase, they use sales tactics on you.

Telemarketing wouldn't exist if people didn't buy things. If you don't want phone calls (and I don't mean those companies that buy phone lists or spam your phone with auto-dialers) be careful when you provide information for anything. If you fill out a form for a free vacation, expect to get calls from companies selling vacations. That is called lead generation.

I refuse to give my number to anyone without a full understanding of why they want it. The hardware store, Radioshack, Best Buy...all those guys sell or rent their lists, so don't give them your number. If you do, you have no right to complain.

Finally, regarding the invective spewed by so many, you are actually worse than those you attempt to denigrate. You can't think of anything else to say to refute the validity of a telemarketer so you revert to name calling. That shows a lack of class on your part.

Telemarketing is a huge part of commerce in our capitalist society. Maybe you would prefer to work or live in a socialist country, or even a dicatorship of some sort? Take the good with the bad, and stop using nasty words to cover up your own inadequate ability to raise a reasonable argument against telemarketing

Rating: +1

lse - 30 Dec 2007

An excellent message. When you live in the fantastic United States of America, everyone has the right to make a living, not just those who you personally approve of! Get on the DNC list and deal politely with the calls that still slip through - the more government regulation, the less freedom we have. I, for one, am not willing to give up more of my freedoms so the government can try harder to 'protect' your dinner hour!

Being a TM is a way to make a living - it says nothing at all about your intelligence or capabilities. I can easily think of several situations in which it would be the best job choice - examples [1] physically handicapped - cannot get out to a different job,[2] mother when babysitting costs as much as they could earn.

Rating: +3

Had it up to here with stupidity - 1 May 2008

"Being a TM is a way to make a living"

So is being a mugger.

The difference, of course, is that the mugger doesn't pretend to be anything other than a common crook. The mugger doesn't drape himself in the flag as he helps himself to your wallet.

Telemarketscum are the bottom of the barrel. They are the kind of crook who thinks he has a "right" to send you crapmail, sent postage-due -- disguised as a letter from your Aunt Tilly, so that you'll pay for it before discovering that it's crapmail.

I *PAY* for my telephone, I *PAY* for my telephone service, and my TIME is not free. There are a finite amount of hours allotted to me in this life, and EACH hour STOLEN by a piece of telemarketscum is an hour that has been STOLEN from my LIFE.

Hell is not sufficient a reward for these human weeds -- but it will have to suffice.

For anyone considering a (LMAO!) "career" as a telemarketscum -- do the world a favor -- jump under a bus.

Rating: +5

Tired of Excuses - 8 Jan 2008

"I agree that telemarketing can be a pain in the butt. What so many of you seem to forget is that for you to make a paycheck, someone usually has to sell something to someone. No matter when you make a purchase, they use sales tactics on you."

That's not always true and telemarketing isn't the only way to sell something. Especially with the World Wide Web. Telemarketing targets the ignorant and is run by the ignorant. You just annoy the rest of us.

Face it, your lines about the DNC list don't work. The list doesn't work. Cell phones get calls and they shouldn't. You don't care. You just try to give excuses. Don't like what people say about you? Get a better job.

Rating: 0

Stan - 5 Jun 2008

I disagree that the DNC list doesn't work,it does work, i receive about 1 or 2 calls a year TMC i just tell them to remove my number. Those that do not remove my number a complaint is filed against the company,its just that simple. Its the crooks that do not abide by the DNC list. If anyone getting calls,report them. They maybe slow but they do get the crooks in the end and they do pay dearly.

Rating: +5

cyberscan - 10 Jan 2008

There is a free open source PBX platform called Asterisk or Asterisk@home. This program combined with Caller ID and a cheap computer card ($30) can put an end to all interruptions from unwanted calls. I set mine up, and only once in a great while does an unwanted call make it through. All the others on the filter list get the standard telco message "Beep Beep Beep, You have reached a number that is disconnected or no longer in service. If you feel you reached this message in error, please check the number and try again."

Rating: 0

Lil' Bit - 21 Apr 2008

Quick, Henry, The Flit! Explain your secret weapon and I'll buy it.

Rating: +1

zack - 12 Feb 2008

"We have people who have GED's and PhD's. Intelligence isn't the over-riding factor of who is or isn't successful. Desire and drive are. You can have a masters and be one of those knocking on our doors begging for a job."

Never really thought of Telemarketers as the Soldiers of Democracy - saving us from godless Communism!
Why are we wasting our Purple hearts on the Brave soldiers fighting in Iraq - we should just give them out to the telemarketers !!!

Rating: 0

Stan - 5 Jun 2008

It has been proven time and time again that telemarketers do not have the freedom of speech because its not speech what you do. Your trying to sell products and that doesn't have anything to do with free speech. Just think,your choice of work was so out of control that a DNC list had to be made. Hardly worthy of receiving a purple heart for,but many of your business's have been fined out of business :)

Rating: +1

Not JoBob - 22 Apr 2008

JoBob,

Yes, in capitalist America you almost have to sell something to make a living. We don't manufacture anything anymore and we don't know crud compared to other supposedly less-educated nations. Now isn't that pathetic? Speaks volumes about what we have become as a nation.

Rating: -1

smupa - 28 May 2008

you're absolutely right...only in america...this kind of stuff would'nt be allowed in some of the other political arenas you have mentioned...as the greedy americans we have become...we want everything right now...no matter the cost...so one of the end results is you get these annoying calls at dinner time, night time...any time!!! It is the price paid for being a capitalist.

Rating: +2

JoBobCapitalist - 18 Dec 2007

In Response to TopGun "Your response is one of the reasons you are in telemarketing. You are not intelligent enough to do anything else. Telemarketing is another name for telephone sales. Tell me when you have ever sold anything to anyone who was mad at you. Guess you didn't figure that out when preparing to take the GED."

I have been in many businesses where telemarketing is a core component of the business model. I am in software now, and we have a 30 person telesales team. Every day we have people with bachelors and masters degrees begging to join our team, because we have outstanding products and an impeccable reputation. Some people don't want to hear from us...we make sure they get a DNC tag in the database and filter them out. We have no interest in talking to people who don't want to talk to us.

We have people who have GED's and PhD's. Intelligence isn't the over-riding factor of who is or isn't successful. Desire and drive are. You can have a masters and be one of those knocking on our doors begging for a job.

Again, another vitriolic post from someone (TopGun) who obviously doesn't think things through, and instead spouts whatever venomous garbage with no thought to what kind of filth that garbage contains.

Rating: +2

Tired Of Excuses - 8 Jan 2008

There are a lot of people with degrees that are still idiots. Anyone who justifies telemarketing is proof. You, for example.

If you weren't lying about the "we have no interest in talking to people who don't want to talk to us" line, you'd not cold call. You don't care. Admit it. We're not stupid.

Rating: +1

zack - 11 Feb 2008

Are you for real man ?
You have PhDs AND GEDs - wow !!!!!
Man if I didnt have my Masters already
I would got myself a GED so I could
get this dream job !!!

Rating: -1

zack - 12 Feb 2008

Rating: +1

David - 13 Mar 2008

The over-riding factor is the amount of disdain for fellow human beings is what it sounds like to me. Isn't it how troubled a is person about harrassing innocent people in an attempt to seperate them from their money? You might call that "making a living", but that label doesn't justify your actions or earn you an honest wage. You are human filth and a waste of skin, and nothing you say can justify what you do to other people. I know you blame the victim and are too stupid for this to discourage you, but you need to know how you are thought of for your own good. Have a nice day.

Rating: +2

800Notes EXPOSED - 3 Apr 2008

Call centers on automation can't even ACCESS numbers on the DNC list! Like I said, Bob (and you 100% right), they don't read a damn thing on the DNC site! All they do is whimper and complain because they have some issue with someone else in real life and they are too scared to deal with that.

Rating: +1

Not JoBob II - 22 Apr 2008

Oh, it's in the BUSINESS MODEL. DRIVE and AMBITION. That makes it ok.

Some people really do drink the koolaid, don't they?

I'm old enough to remember when honor and respect were more desired than looking good or having carloads of money. That's been replaced with worshipping at the altar of the almighty dolla!

So hence, lovely business innovations like telemarketing.

If you have to sell someone something they probably don't want or need it. Leave some things to God and fate, will ya?

Rating: -3

Kamkor - 23 Dec 2007

I am glad that everyone thinks that Telemarketers don't have souls, or are stupid, non graduates of high school or college.

Where I am from, we had a telemarketing center. This center employed upwards of 200 people full time. Mothers, Fathers, students. Normal people. The ONLY reason that people worked there was because minimum wage was 5.15 and they started people at 10+ an hour to do "phone sales".

I think people who worked there were smart, because they could A) Get a job at a fast food, retail etc. job and make 5.15 an hour. or B) Have a full time job making 10+ an hour.

It is not up to the telemarketers who they call, we wouldent know until the customer was actually on the line who we were talking to.

That center closed, and people cheered. "No More Telemarketers!!!"

What about the 200+ people who worked, there, supported families on that as well.

Rating: +3

zack - 11 Feb 2008

We seem to established that Telemarketers are exploited people from economically challenged parts of the country. The reason these jobs have not been outsourced as yet is because its still cheaper to do these here than send them to India.

Rating: +4

Had it up to here with stupidity - 2 May 2008

"What about the 200+ people who worked, there, supported families on that as well."

What about them?

Tell 'em to take a number. I'll get back with them when I finish boo-hooing for the poor starving wives and rugrats of the muggers and pickpockets who are off doing time for THEIR crimes.

Of course, since I can't STOP until I *start*, I'd say that offhand, it'll be approximately "never" before I get back with your Poor Starving Telemarketscum.

Good grief, piss down my leg and tell me it's raining whydoncha. I'm supposed to feel SORRY for *scumbags* because they have to go out and find REAL work? LMAO!

Rating: +4

LSE - 29 Dec 2007

When I wonder why I have to remind students over an over to be courtious to everyone, I remind myself that perhaps those students are frequently exposed to a role model-parent who is abusive to strangers trying to make a living.
Model courtesy to your children - they really ARE watching and listening, even those teens who would never admit they are! So - model good, not bad, behaviors.

Rating: +3

I'm retired what's your excuse? - 3 Apr 2008

OK, telemarketing/service is bad enough, but don't dis the GED out of ignorance. Fact: The GED is an 8 hour test, which is proctored by a trained examiner. The test is normed so that ONLY 70% of 'high school graduating seniors' can pass it. Get it? That means that 30% of the students running around with high school diplomas couldn't pass the GED.

Rating: +1

Crystal in KY - 22 May 2008

Thanks for reminding us of this. In addition, those statistics are only for a passing grade. I'm certain the percentage of high school graduates who could actually excel on the GED would be even lower. I used to tutor GED students and most had reasons other than lack of intelligence for dropping out of high school.

Rating: 0

Singerstone - 7 May 2008

I'm sorry, but that GED statement was totally unfair.

Rating: -1

Robert - 17 Nov 2007

Hey Oogles...
Tell you company to get ready to lose a lot of money. And you may want to start looking for work in a different field.

Rating: +5

Jim - 26 Nov 2007

I get calls daily from some foriegn drug dealer pushing pain pills. I've tried being polite. I've tried being rude. I've tried contacting the DEA. So far nothing has worked. I have a relative who is in a position to trace the calls. When I get the address from which it comes from I will visit them in person and introduce them to some good Southern religion using a bat, iron pipe, or whatever is effective.

Sooner or later they will be found and someone even if not me will put the fear of the Lord in them and put them out of bussiness.

I found out a long time ago the court system doesn't work nearly as well as a good old fashion beating does. So if you continue to call me, I'll continue to look for you. I have the time and the energy.

Rating: +2

Lindy - 14 Dec 2007

Jim, I am with you. As a Southern girl and a temper to match, I have confronted people (if you would call them that)that have been rude to me for no apparent reason. One guy was shocked that I walked in to his place of business (in LA) and asked me why I spent the money to fly there. My answer was "I am a flight attendant and I get to fly for free. Now do I need to get you some Preparation H with your coffee?"

Rating: +2

i hate creditors - 31 Dec 2007

AWESOME!!!! let me know if you need some thugs to go along and help, i hate creditors and telemarkers and harassing phone calls!

Rating: +9

satan - 16 Jan 2008

geez, love to hear from followers of my church!

"I will visit them in person and introduce them to some good Southern religion using a bat, iron pipe, or whatever is effective."

JIM: why'd you say you're so. baptist? i don't believe jesus would approve of using a baseball bat on anyone, no matter how annoying they were......

PS - anyone who has "fear of the Lord" is serving the wrong lord.

Rating: 0

annoyed - 29 Nov 2007

isn't that nice.... believe it or not if we want the garbage you are trying to sell, we will find you... get a real GD job and stop annoying people by calling them when they would rather be dead then deal with scum like you

Rating: +4

Jane - 27 Dec 2007

This kind of attitude is one reason why most people hate telemarketing.

While some telemarketers are more respectful, (which I know can be very hard to be when in this business, due to random monitoring and being forced to repeat three times) others are rude and pushy, such as this.

Also, why would anyone knowingly give their number to a telemarketer they know will constantly call?

Rating: +3

Bobby - 6 Feb 2008

While I don't agree with the stated business practices, it does seem to be in line with the telemarketing industry's ethos.
Also, you make a good point that many people don't realize:
If you enter your number, cell or land line, and check the box saying that so and so can contact you, or agree to TOS, then you've granted special permission for your phone to receive calls. Read the fine print, and stop thinking you're getting a free lunch.
I had to explain to some friends that they had just sold their contact info to advertisers when they joined a club and got $5 free play.

Rating: -1

zack - 11 Feb 2008

OOgles

And thats exactly the what we are talking about - Lack of ETHICS and morality! Thank you for reinforcing the fact that telemarketers can be completely without any sense of what is right - they are ungoverned by laws and do not have a self induced sense of responsibility.

No laws, no sense of responsibility , no Governing Ethics, no morality -
All the negatives of a Free Market gone berserk.

Thanks OOgles - you explained a lot to the rest of us.

Rating: 0