Vernon on 25/9/2010 at 07:19
Quote Posted by theBlackman
I only give my number to people I want to hear from. But even the No Call list lets some of them get through. Even with an unlisted number.
My schtick is "You have reached 1-800-Holy-Cow, God is busy at the moment. This is Gabriel. How can I help you?"
My friends know this and the call continues. The sales people are stunned to silence and usually hang up in 10 seconds or so.
I sit and laugh my butt off. Cool story bro
Chimpy Chompy on 25/9/2010 at 12:52
I bet tBm actually talks in bold.
theBlackman on 25/9/2010 at 18:14
Quote Posted by Chimpy Chompy
I bet tBm actually talks in bold.
:ebil:
And sometimes uses real English.rachel on 25/9/2010 at 18:31
I bet that really throws them off :laff:
theBlackman on 25/9/2010 at 21:59
Quote Posted by raph
I bet
that really throws them off :laff:
:p
On the other hand, they make money on the number of calls (the average is 1 sale for every 10), so if you really want to screw with them, put them on hold every 30 seconds or so...
"Sorry, I've got another call. Be right back." Hold. "Sorry about that." Then 30 sec or so later, "Oops. Somebody at the front door. Hold on..." HOLD.
And make them wait about 20 to 30 seconds between. Put them on hold. Do whatever for 30 seconds, come back and just keep it going until they, or you get tired of the game. But you have to sound sincere while you are dicking with their head.
Master Villain on 26/9/2010 at 06:18
Quote Posted by jtr7
Yeah, they use random number generators (or some say they do), and they claim this is a legitimate way to make random calls to people who aren't on the list, and when told to remove the number from their list, they claim they have no list to begin with. Bastages.
In Australia and New Zealand they used to simply buy a printout of all the numbers in a geographical area from the phone company - so your "unlisted" number is not in the directory, but it's in the computer, so they get the damn thing.
The absolute worst was getting a new phone line and finding out it was a recycled number which was listed with dozens of companies, who called up looking for a particular woman all the time. none of them were telemarketers, no... they were asking for this woman by name and wanted to "discuss her overdue account".
One day I had a sudden horrified thought and opened up the phone book. Turned out my unlisted number was in there under this other person's name - two years since I'd been assigned the number, after two phone book reprintings. >:|
jtr7 on 28/9/2010 at 01:29
Oh yeah. Buying and selling of information between companies is common, too. The company that gets your volunteered information sells it without your knowledge, and the third party starts bugging you, and then a fourth party...
PeeperStorm on 28/9/2010 at 07:01
And then there's the lovely loophole in the Do Not Call law here where they can call you as much as they want for up to 18 months if you've done business with them, or for up to 31 days if you've just communicated to ask a question or submit any kind of application.
Something to keep in mind next time you see one of those "just send a text to this number" commercials.
