Telemarketing Script

1 May 2007

Below is a list of questions to ask each telemarketer when they call you. Print these questions, and put them next to the phone. Telemarketers are required by law to answer each of these questions. Write the answers down and as well as the date, time of the call, and anything else that will help you remember the call.

What is your name?
What is the name and address of the company you represent?
Do you work for [company name] or do you work for a telemarketing firm? (Few companies do their own telemarketing, even when calling their own customers. Ask the person calling if they work for the company they are representing, or they work for a telemarketing firm.
What is the company phone number?
Please put my number on your "Do Not Call List". In essence, there are two Do Not Call lists - the National Registry and a company's internal do not call list. Most telemarketers, even those that are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry, are still required to maintain their own company-specific do not call list. If you are contacted by a company that is exempt from the National Registry, you can request to be placed on the company's internal do not call list. You can take advantage of this strategy even if you do not subscribe to the National Registry.
- If the company calling is a telemarketing firm, ask for your number to be put on both Do Not Call Lists: the telemarketing firm and the company they are representing.
- Also, ask whether they make calls for any other companies. If they say yes, ask them not to call you on behalf of any entity.
- If you ask a company with which you have an existing business relationship to put you on their company-specific do not call list, that company can no longer call, even if you continue doing business with them. If you request to be placed on the do not call list of a company with which you have an existing business relationship, your request will not apply to their affiliates. If an affiliate calls, you will have to request to be placed on that company's do not call list as well.
Please send me a copy of your "Do Not Call" policy. Companies are required to provide you with their Do Not Call Policy on demand.

After this they probably won't call you again. But save your notes, and if the company does call more then once (they are allowed to make one mistake) in a 12 month period, then you can file a complaint with your local small claims court.

Comments

Chas
31 May 2007
If you file a complaint with your local small claims court, for what do you ask? Don't you need a monetary amount? I really don't know.

Thx.
Reply !
William
31 May 2007
In a nutshell:

If the company calls you again after you requested to be put on their Do Not Call List, you may sue them for $500 for the first violation and for triple damages for each violation thereafter. You can also collect $500 plus triple damages if you can prove other violations which include calling your house before 8am or after 9pm local time (Telephone solicitation calls to your home before 8 am or after 9 pm are prohibited.)

And even if they never call you back, you can still take action against the company for damages. For example, the law requires that the company maintain a "Do Not Call List," and a written "Do not Call Policy" which they must provide to you on demand.

Since most companies do not have a written policy, they can be sued for not providing a copy of the policy.
Reply !
- Jeff replies to William
  2 Jun 2007
  Great info and it should be all over the site dude.
  Reply !
- Former Call Center Employee replies to William
  16 Nov 2009
  Make sure that you stay on the phone and get the confirmation number when you ask to be on the company's DO NOT CALL list. They are required to provide this information to you and this way you can make sure you actually were put on that list before hanging up. Some companies will not put you on the list if you simply state to be put on the list then hang up.
  Reply !
Scott
6 Jun 2007
Although this is great, I can say I have tried this numerous times in the past and gave up. Why? Because as soon as I started asking "what is your name" or asked for the address, they would hang up. So I would file a complaint. Never heard anything on any complaint I filed. Sometimes they called back, other times they would not. Some who were really rude would interrupt ME and tell me they could call me anytime they wanted to..such arrogance. And they wonder why so many people hate them.
Reply !
- madman replies to Scott
  9 Oct 2007
  You really have to do your research to nab telemarketers. first I recommend black book online which has a reverse directory and other useful info. Then you have to find the companys address and send them a certified letter demanding that they stop all calls. I did that and my local police department actually came to my house looked at the numerous times they had called me from the caller ID log on my phone he called the company in front of me and told them he was the police and that they need to stop calling and that if they did not the resident has the right to take them to court. The calls from that Co. finally stopped. It was hard to find all the info, but if you are determined you can. I had all the papers ready to go for small claims court.
  Reply !
- Lisa replies to Scott
  30 Jul 2008
  I know how you feel. I had one tell me point blank, be ready for me, Im going to call you every day at 8 am so have some coffee ready. Such rudeness. Tonight I got a call (the second just today alone) asking if a mr or mrs marquez was here. when i said this isnt their number anymore the broad asked me well maam are you the homeowner? Whats my bein the homeowner go to do with anything? THey have the wrong person! I hate em too but they show up on my caller id as Unknown Caller. Not sure what to do. I even got on the do not call registry.
  Reply !
Doug
8 Jun 2007
To get the info, I pretend interest, but ask for a phone number and the company name "to prevent fraud", which they provide to maybe get the sale. When I have it, I tell them to never call again, that it wastes their time to do so, I hate telemarketers etc.
Reply !
RHM
9 Jun 2007
Techniques such as these seldom work any more. These guys now usually hang up the moment you start being assertive and asking questions. They'll tersely give their first name and, when you ask to be put on their DNC list, they'll grunt "OK" and immediately hang up. I have the distinct impression that they then go on to their next call (time is money!) and never keep their promise. Proof? I get a call from the same outfit a month later. As for asking to speak with their supervisor, the new response is, "our supervisor isn't here at the moment." RHM
Reply !
- Cam replies to RHM
  4 Dec 2007
  All of the people here are generalizing! I am a telemarketer!! I do not do ANY of the complaints that are listed here! It is ROUGE agents who make the rest of us look horrible! Think about this people. DO I NEED TO EAT? DO I NEED A ROOF OVER MY HEAD? DO I HAVE TO PAY MY BILLS? YES YES AND YES! So you all may hate me. But I have a job to fulfill! Makes me sad to see so many people sterotype! Just becasue all of you have fantastic jobs, doesnt mean that I am not trying to make money as well. I am one of the friendly marketers! And I follow all rules set by my company. And furthermore it is against the law for us not to put you on the DO NOT CALL LIST! Please be more patient as we all need to make money to!
  Reply !
  - ASSertive replies to Cam
    3 Jan 2008
    Thieves need the money, roof over their heads etc, may be their existence is justifiable, just like yours?
    Reply !
    - jeff replies to ASSertive
      18 Apr 2008
      LOL good 1.
      Reply !
  - D replies to Cam
    8 Jan 2008
    you sound like an IRS agent.
    
    no one likes me :(
    
    i am only doing my job:(
    Reply !
  - Dave Smith replies to Cam
    14 May 2008
    Hello,
    This same claim could be by any bank robber. Not one forced you into this job. You are not all bottom feeders? - Prove it!
    HE, he, one of the ""friendly marketers"" Yea, sure.
    
    And you always follow the law. Which is why after I tell you not to call again - you do.
    Reply !
  - Rob replies to Cam
    19 May 2008
    I used to be a collector. I am no longer a collector. I will never again be a collector. I will never be a telemarketer. There are other ways to make money. "DO I NEED TO EAT? DO I NEED A ROOF OVER MY HEAD? DO I HAVE TO PAY MY BILLS? YES YES AND YES!" Yeah right... And regarding sterotypes... You may be a friendly telemarketer, however you have chosen your profession. If you wish to have a clear conscience, why dont you use your skills to help rather than defend someone who is using you to make money for them. Right or wrong... Your choice.
    Reply !
  - Heather replies to Cam
    3 Jul 2008
    To quote Cool Hand Luke, "Just because it's your job doesn't make it right."
    Reply !
  - Frustrated Consumer replies to Cam
    30 Jul 2008
    whatever dude but when one of you guys call me asking for someone that does not live here and then when i say no, ask me if im the homeowner thats nonsense. what does my being the homeowner have to do with them having the wrong person. if i wanted your business i would call YOU! So you need to earn a living so what...call people that KNOW youre calling them (like charity places do). when someone says that whoever theyre calling for doesnt live here, and to please not call back...DONT call back! Especially after 9pm!
    Reply !
  - Telemarket Hater replies to Cam
    24 Apr 2009
    Please Find a new way to buy food and clothes. This business is evil.
    Reply !
  - Anon replies to Cam
    23 Jun 2009
    Do you need to eat? Do you neea room over your head? Do you have to pay bills? Probably. Do you need to do it at my cost? NO. I pay for my phone, not you. I have it for my convenience, not yours. Go get a real job!
    Reply !
    - THEbestINtheCOUNTRY replies to Anon
      7 Jul 2009
      I am a telemarketer....I gaurentee you there is NO WAY in the world you could do what I do and be successful at it....I take a lot of pride in what i do....I raise money for charities and without me doing so children would literally DIE!!!!!!!!
      Reply !
      - reality replies to THEbestINtheCOUNTRY
        26 Aug 2009
        Yes but some of those children are a product of their parents who are poor but still choose to buys cigarettes, or alcohol or drugs. So sometimes the best solution isn't to just feed the child for one day but to teach their parents how to live a better life. And to take their responsibilities seriously. I had a friend that was a litter younger than me and she was married. Her husband was lazy and would not keep a job for more than a month. She would try to work, but they had three children and she could not take care of both. They would ask to borrow $20 dollars to buy food or gas, and he would go to the movies first with it. Now you tell me which is better? Feed the kid for one day or teach the parents a better way of doing things.
        Reply !
  - Jaz replies to Cam
    22 Oct 2009
    Yeah why you people hate telemarketers, they are just doing their job and they just wanna earn money. Why people do scamming is because of you guys. you provoke them on doing so... and because of the things you tell them that hurts them,Now, for the reason why you hate them because you somehow rob other peoples money. Remember why you hate about other people is something you hate about yourself. Tell why do you hate telemarketers because you are also one of them robing others money!
    Reply !
  - Mooreorless replies to Cam
    17 Dec 2009
    I hear ya about needing to pay the bills but unfortunatly you are maybe one of the normal humans that actually listened. I am sorry you catch the rap for all the other horrible people that think torturing people is ok.
    Reply !

1 2 3 4 5 6

Phone Number Search