OT Telemarketers

Renegade 13 · #1 November 6th, 2003, 01:35 AM

Another option:

One time my dad was phoned by a telemarketer from Quebec trying to sell, of all things, pens. Not just a few pens either, 900 pens. Now I don't know about you, but I have no use for 900 pens.

Anyways, my dad had some time to waste, so he strung the guy along for a long time, asking about this and that, pretending he was actually interested. Finally, about 45 minutes later, he says, "I don't need you damn pens" and hangs up.

Why is this a deterent? Well, as they were calling from Quebec, and we live in British Columbia, (a distance of about 2000 km) the long distance charges would be horrendous. That automatically put us on their do not call list. I guess they don't like spending lots of money on long distance for someone who was just going to jerk them around

narf poit chez BOOM · #2 November 6th, 2003, 01:48 AM

Quote:

We even got an option to block beggars (charities).

remember, there but for the grace of god...

Baron Grazic · #3 November 6th, 2003, 02:10 AM

Now this has given me some thoughts on the matter.
Next time, instead of just asking them to hold, while I go back to doing what ever it was I was doing, I'm going to have some fun.

CNCRaymond · #4 November 6th, 2003, 02:36 AM

The ones I hate are the bill collectors calling for people who had the phone number before me. I just changed my phone number after two years, because all day long all I would get were calls from some bill collection company. Finally I downloaded a phone call handling system onto my PC and recorded the calls. I told them that I was not the person they were trying to reach and polity asked them not to call me back. They continued calling.

Each call I would talk to them and each time I would get a bit more angry. They would say things like;
"Well if you want the calls to stop, then pay this bill." or "We know who you are and where you live, so you had better pay this bill or else." They would go on and say things like:
"We can have you arrested for not paying your bill."
"Do you own a car? We can take that too."

Generally they were all just plain nasty folks.

Finally after I thought I had enough proof to prove that they were harassing me, I contacted my lawyer. (They don't come cheap boys and girls so don't do this unless you have too.)

He sent them a nice letter detailing the calls and such and how they violated state and federal law. He informed them that I had a case for harassment since I was not the person they were looking for. The calls continued. I changed my phone number and had my attorney file a suite against them. That got a response in a big hurry. They counter sued stating that I had no legal right to record my phone calls. (Um yes I did, you see the answering machine on the PC picked up before I did and clearly stated that the conversation was being recorded.) The case went on for most of the year and was about to go to court when the collection company offered a "resolution" to the matter. It would seem that they were under the impression that my state laws did not apply to them since they were not in my state. They were wrong and if the matter had gone to court, they would have lost big time. Additionally they were being investigated by the State for doing to others what they did to me. Threatening them.

It was not much, but enough that it payed off my new car.

So yes, if you have the money, you can go after harassing phone callers. But you had better have a lot of proof.

narf poit chez BOOM · #5 November 6th, 2003, 04:20 AM

i just got computer telemarketeered. it's evil. telemarketeers aren't nessasarily, but spammed by a computer...totally impersonal and one-sided.

Instar · #6 November 6th, 2003, 04:21 AM

Good one, heck, I bet you wouldn't need a lawyer if you knew the applicable laws and such (wait, then you'd be a lawyer). Oops

Jack Simth · #7 November 6th, 2003, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
i just got computer telemarketeered. it's evil. telemarketeers aren't nessasarily, but spammed by a computer...totally impersonal and one-sided.

Called up and given a recorded message by a computer? If so, that is illeagal in and of itself in a lot of places. Some even have the company that did it fined for a particular amount, payable directly to the person called, on a per incident basis. You might want to see about finding a copy of your local laws in the library.