OT - No-Call list
 

The offices of the telemarketers will burn with our avenging fire!

www.donotcall.gov

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Done! Did! Two Phones!

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Don't do it!!!! Show me where in the U.S. Constitution you get to tell me I can't promote my company via calling you. Not to mention here is yet one more expansion of the US Federal Government and yet one more reason to raise our taxes, as someone has to pay for maintaining this "no call list." Also check who is exempt from this list, not little mom and pop companies that are the back bone of this country, but the big megacorps who have enough money to pay off your congressmen to keep their companies off this list. Sure it sounds like a nice idea, but dig a little deeper. Again... DON'T DO IT!!!

Mathias Ice

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

we rarely get bothered. they maintain lists of people who are likely to buy if they call. we hang up.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LOL like the framers of the constitution had the need to worry about phone spam.

The right to privacy would be the issue here.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What the framers of the U.S. Constitution were worried about was limiting the size of the Federal government. Of course this fact has been all but ignored by both major political parties in the United States. As far as a right to privacy, a reading of the U.S. Constitution reveals no stated "right to privacy." This so-called right comes from Supreme Court judges deciding that Article IV of the Bill of Rights which states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." I don't see "right to privacy" in that. But then again when you have Supreme Court judges who believe the U.S. Constitution should be discarded, insist on imposing a "seperation of church and state" (definitalty NOT in th U.S. Constitution,) and consistently ignore Article X of the Bill of Rights which states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people," what do you expect?

Mathias Ice

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just because something isn't Banned by the US constitution doesn't mean it's OK! Perhaps you wouldn't mind sending me your e-mail address so I can send it to all the spammers so they can 'promote their companies'

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">He doesn't have to. It's in the BB info line, at the top of every one of his Posts. Just as "public" as, say, a phone number. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

There's nothing to stop me from, say, going through the "G" section of the phone book and calling every number to promote my business. Telemarketers just use a more refined Version of this. You can already make your number unlisted. You can have the phone company change your number and make it unlisted. You already can order companies not to call you again, and you can take them to court if they do. Not to mention the dozens of fun ways to "out-annoy" telemarketers, such as hanging up if no one answers in the first two seconds, or answering the phone in Spanish/French/German during prime call-time (and changing Languages on them), or interrupting them and blathering on about your kidney problems... All of these are effective (they will likely get your number removed); they are free; and they don't involve government in something which private citizens are perfectly capable of doing on their own.

[edit] Another note: If I tell a telemarketer not to call me back, I also tell them that I make it a point never to purchase something over the phone. This increases the odds of their actually removing my name from their list; and if enough people do so, it will be reflected in statistical evaluations on the effectiveness of telemarketing. This is both a short-term (affecting me immediately) and a long-term (affecting the industry of telemarketing) solution.

[ July 11, 2003, 00:13: Message edited by: Krsqk ]

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">He doesn't have to. It's in the BB info line, at the top of every one of his Posts. Just as "public" as, say, a phone number. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Naw I was looking for that private one that he doen't make public. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No but there should be.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You are correct, see below referencing Article X of Bill of Rights. This would be a states issue. I know the state I live in has a "no call list." Of course it has the same problems that I mentioned earlier as far as needing maintenance, and Megacorps being able to buy their way off this list. Never the less, as far as Constitutionality, the state's laws are far more acceptable.

Mathias Ice

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What the framers of the U.S. Constitution were worried about was limiting the size of the Federal government. Of course this fact has been all but ignored by both major political parties in the United States. As far as a right to privacy, a reading of the U.S. Constitution reveals no stated "right to privacy." This so-called right comes from Supreme Court judges deciding that Article IV of the Bill of Rights which states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." I don't see "right to privacy" in that. But then again when you have Supreme Court judges who believe the U.S. Constitution should be discarded, insist on imposing a "seperation of church and state" (definitalty NOT in th U.S. Constitution,) and consistently ignore Article X of the Bill of Rights which states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people," what do you expect?

Mathias Ice</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The space between the two lines would indicate two statements. The second made no mention
of the constitution. American law is based on precedent, which has its power rooted firmly
within the supreme court. And the court usually leans towards the will of the people as opposed
to the will of business.

I for one rely heavily on my message recordings. I do not like the fact that I have to sift past 20
adds before I can reach a message that I need to answer so that I can continue to make money.
I also do no like picking the phone up only to hear a machine make a guess on weather I am
there in person or just a machine. And I hate the lying scumbag sales people who pretend that
someone I know referred them to me or try to convince me that I really need to have their card
in my wallet. Hey I sent out lots of post cards to help get this passed. You want to advertise so
that I see it? Then go buy some time on the tube or a piece of a page in the post. You can
even send me some mail. But you won’t be using the lowbuck phone call system any more http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

By the way, how does this grow the Feds? They will have a net loss if the system works. Do
you have any idea how many complaints they have to field about phone solicitations? I guess its
back to the 1-900 scams for the phone banks now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Oh, I'm not against having laws against telemarketing; I'm just against federal laws for such things. The Constitution/Bill of Rights does not specifically empower the federal government to deal with the matter, and Article X indeed reserves that right to the states. If each state wants to ban it, fine. If a telemarketer wants to call long-distance to get around it, that's a waste of their money, and not many will.

I would note that I'm opposed to the current trend of amending state constitutions by popular vote to pass legislation which hasn't made it through the legislature (in relation to this topic, constitutionally mandating a do-not-call list). Constitutions are not made to be flexible enough to deal with legislative issues, especially issues with fiscal impacts (IOW, almost all of them).

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is not even the point. The question is what gives your company the right to use the telephone service that I pay for to harrass me with calls I did not ask for and do not want.

Unsolicited telemarketting calls should be illegal by default. If telelmarketers want to use my phone to make me offers I did not ask for then they should pay my phone bill. Give us the option to sign up for free phone service that is supported by the advertising revenues. Those that choose to get their phone for free will be the only ones that have to tolerate the calls. It would work the same way as television. I don't pay for broadcast tv. I have to put up with ads to get it free. I buy cable and I get lots of ad free channels.

The same should work for email spam and popup ads. If the vultures want the right to bombard me with their insipid ads they should pay for my Online service and email. If I don't mind the ads I'll get my service free. If I don't want the ads I will pay for my ISP service.

I think it's flat wrong that to get the calls to stop I have to go out of my way and sign up for a do not call list. They should need my permission in advance to call me, not the other way around.

Geoschmo

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

How much does telemarketing drive up your phone service rates? Don't telemarketers pay for their own phone service, too (multiple-line rates, at that), and the right to use it? Following that logic, you should be charged to call anyone, for using the phone service they paid for. Remember, you're paying for the right to send and receive phone calls. See if your phone company has a plan which doesn't let anyone call you but lets you call out if it really bothers you.

Again, if you don't mind taking thirty seconds and they don't take advantage of your courtesy, you can stop them and get your name removed. If they take advantage of it, you can hang up on them. Few people are truly that inconvenienced by the loss of thirty seconds--and they wouldn't have called it an inconvenience if it were a call from a friend or a relative, although they can't know the difference until after they stop what they're doing to answer the phone and the call would likely Last much longer than thirty seconds. (Is the inconvenience having to stop what you're doing, or is it talking to someone you don't know?) If someone really is bothered by the loss of that time, they can 1)take the phone off the hook/turn the ringer off until they're done with their important business, or 2)disconnect their phone service.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't think anyone suggested it was driving up our phone rates. (although I wonder how many would object if they started calling you on your cell phone in which you pay for incomming calls) The bottom line is that many people find telemarketers intensely annoying. Frankly they are often extremely rude and can really get me upset. The loss of 30 seconds is not the problem. I should not have to do things like make my phone number unlisted or take my phone off the hook and thus miss the calls that I want just to get them to stop.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Here here! I fully agree. They almost render the phone service unusable. Like someone else said, if they want to offer something, buy time somewhere and place adds there. Not on a service a lot of people use every day. We didn't ask to be harassed.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Anyone every heard the sound clip "one angry brit" on www.heavy.com? I'd post a link if I could. Very funny clip on one guys reaction to a unsolicited phone call. hehe

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Woah! I'd like some of that! Where do I sign up?

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Geo hit the nail on the head. I have a phone for my use, not some bunch of el-cheepo phone
bank scum to use for their income tools. If the pizza shop just used your car to deliver your
pizza, wouldn’t that piss you off? And what if you didn’t ask for a pizza? They just used your
car to drive up and tell you that there was a sale?

I have made call after call to have my name removed from lists. I have spent hours trying to get a word in so that I could ask them not to call me. Actually asking them about their sexual limits will usually get them to hang up http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif I am glad that with a few key strokes, I can now stop most of them.

[ July 11, 2003, 01:59: Message edited by: Thermodyne ]

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Don't get me wrong, telemarketers are a pain in the arse I could live without! I have one from ATT (one of the exempt companies) who I have politely told not to call, rudely told not to call and done some of the various fun things to do to telemarketers, yet she keeps calling. I think next on the list will be one of those marine emergency airhorns sitting next to the phone, quietly waiting. Maybe a burst eardrum will solve the problem. (All right maybe that's a little too viscous.)

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So what is the second statement based on? Where do you derive this "right to privacy?"

American law (as created by our Founding Fathers) is based on English common law and Judaeo/Christian morals. The Supreme Court has historically and not unfrequently disregarded not only precedent but also original intent when passing judgement on various cases.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If only this were true. Unfortunatley, once a Federal government job is created, it's next to impossible to get rid of it. New jobs will be made to handle/maintain/enforce this list and the old jobs that handled phone solicitation complaints will not be down sized . And the American people will be paying for yet another unconstitutional program.

Mathias Ice

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Krsqk, what right do they have to take 1 second of my day, much less 30 seconds. It's my thirty seconds! I'll do what ever the heck I want to with them, and I won't appoloigize for it. And I won't ask their permission to use them, and I won't be harrased into turning off the phone that I paid my own damn money for to buy in the first place. And I shuldn't have to spend another thirty seconds getting on a do not call list that won't really do any good anyway. It's not the amount of time that's the question, it's the principle.

Geoschmo

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Or, try this one (the only real use for telemarketing as far as I'm concerned...)

Attack_on_Taliban

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Mathias:

In the US congress writes federal law. If it violated the constitution the courts would be
expected to vacate the law. Usually they do. The issues that the courts dodge are usually social issues where there is not a clear course or where modern interpretation has altered the original intent. In some cases they tend to make social judgments, which in my opinion cause the most harm. In this case my right to privacy is based on existing law and the addition of the law
passed by congress. While it extends the reach of the existing law, it has a firm foundation. Is
the law perfect, hell no. But it aint half bad considering the amount of cash the other side spent fighting it.

As to the federal jobs, that is a myth based on the way things used to be. Work like this will be
done by contractors. And the contractors will lower the bid each year to get the work and in
the end it will be done by contract stiffs with low wages and few benefits. Some powerful
Senator will have the data center moved to some backwater location in a backwater state. Then the construction people will get rich building a new facility so that the contractors can hire
undereducated hicks for lower wages and less benefits. And then they will decide that the
system needs to be fixed, so they will lease a new facility with new systems and the contractors
will hire more people at even lower wages. And so on and so on.

The thing will be a cash cow, but not because of federal wages. The cash drain will be pure
politics as usual

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">On this I will agree. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Mathias Ice

Hey, looky there, this post promoted me! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ July 11, 2003, 04:17: Message edited by: Mathias_Ice ]

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Oh, I'm completely disgusted with telemarketers; I'm not against any form of torture which encourages them to seek new employment. I'm not even against state laws. I simply don't see the justification for the federal government to get involved. I'm not libertarian, but I do prefer private action to government action, and state government action to federal government action. And that's the principle of the matter to me, not the subject involved.

[ July 11, 2003, 04:33: Message edited by: Krsqk ]

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Amen, brother!!

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

like i said, just hang up. if they send email, don't respond. we rarely get spam of any kind.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, I can sort of see your point here then, but there are somethings that the states just aren't capable of dealing with. Phone communications cross state lines. Who has the jurisdiction to make and enforce the laws concerning their use? The state where the telemarketers are calling from, or my state? How do you enforce it. How do you even know what the laws are? What about calls origniating in one state going to another and routing through phone company switches in a third state. What if it's illegal in the third state. Can they step in and enforce it? What if the telemarketrs are calling from out of the country?

What you end up with is a bunch of lawyers running around in each state trying to enforce rulings that may or may not be possible to enforce, or even legal to enforce when issues of jurisdiction are given a constitutional test. A lot of duplication of effort and inefficency. And a lot of wasted time with the cases that end up getting transfered to other states or thrown out alltogether.

No, this is one case where the federal goverment actually has the potential to be more efficent then the states. Doesn't happen often, but there are times. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Geoschmo

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I couldn't agree more.

I often respond to these scum sucking telemarketers (my son was one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif ) by asking if they are paying rent on my phone line. When they say no, I tell them to get off it.

They are unwelcomed and are abusing common curtosy by calling. They deserve no curtosy in return.

I used to work the night shift. I would have to unplug my phone because of these scum bags so I could get some sleep. I missed some important calls from family and friends.

The NO CALL list is a great Idea. I hope the program is really slow and uncoordinated about removing numbers from the list when phone service is terminated.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

"I often respond to these scum sucking telemarketers (my son was one ) by asking if they are paying rent on my phone line. When they say no, I tell them to get off it."

I worked as one. For two weeks. The crap they have you pull is just ridiclous, even if the pay was decent ($100 for 18 hours of work + 3 hours training). And this was for a charity, not a for-profit buisness.

The Last straw came when they had me calling people who had attended my school in 1920. No, I doubt the aging little old lady wants to talk to me. I was given two objectives- raise money and keep the school's PR good. I told my boss I couldn't do both at once (in much nicer terms), and quit.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I envision something like most neighboring states have worked out with each other regarding state income taxes. It's a fairly complicated system, but it shows that states can actually work together and get something accomplished with the proper motivation. Unfortunately, the proper motivation in that example is money, and lots of it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Maybe if we pushed the fines high enough, we could make it worthwhile to get along (and even see a tax cut here and there--yeah, right http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif ).

[edit] And has anyone actually bought one of those Telezapper things? Do they actually work? If they really make the telemarketers get that stupid look like they do on the commercials, it might just be worth it for that. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

[ July 11, 2003, 21:43: Message edited by: Krsqk ]

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Federal Goverment does have the right to regulate interstate commerce.
The FCC does regulate wireless communications to prevent transmitters interfering with one another.
The FCC also helps regulate the phone system.
So there are legal precedants.

Where in the constitution were they given the right to restrict the freedoms of buisness?
WRONG QUESTION!!!
Where in the constitution were businesses given any rights?

"A Nation of the people, by the people and for the people.." I do not see business or corporations mentioned there.

It is true that a business or corporation can be viewed as an extension of a persons or persons. And in fact, they do enjoy some limited rights and liabilties under the law.

"Promote the common welfare"
The FEDS can bend this line a long way. It could justify the FDA, Monopoly busting, and regulation over vital infrastructure(s).

yawn, enough rant for now....

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I haven't, but they do work. But the vultures are already developing new techniques that get around it. Like anything else it's a never ending race between those wanting to harras us and the technology to prevent it.

Geoschmo

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't respond to spam either. Never have, never will. Not that that's prevented me from getting deluged with the stuff. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif I never knew that I knew so many African finance ministers - no less than three have attempted to contact me this week. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

[ July 11, 2003, 13:00: Message edited by: General Woundwort ]

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

My family just goes for the caller ID option. It's only something like $1/month extra, and we can not pick up if the ID shows as "Unknown Name / Unknown Number" (almost always telemarketers), or a certain family member that always asks for money we don't have...

I don't think creating and maintaining the list will be as much government bloat as some of you have been saying, either. Everything I've seen about it involves those wanting to telemarket to buy the list every quarter, and paying enormous fines if they call a number on it. That should be more than enough to pay for the list's maintainance. And if the exemption thing that was mentioned below is true (I truly hope it isn't...), then that would be more government income from Someone Else, meaning (in theory) less taxes (or more money to some politician's pet (pork) project).

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There's one small problem with this... the arrangements between neighboring states are between neighboring states. So one state only really has to deal with a few other nearby states in that situation. With telemarketers, it's each state making deals with every other state (that's 49), not to mention US Territories (don't know how many here), and foreign countries. I'm sorry, but the individual states are not capable of handling that, and the conflicting rules and regulations will be a nightmare. The lawyers will love it, of course...

Telemarketing to cell phones is a big problem too. It would definitely make me very angry to be charged for someone else to have the privledge to advertise their crappy product over my cell. That hasn't happened to me (yet)... but I think I'll look into my service plan and see if there's a (simple) way to charge the caller for unsolicited calls.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

U.S. Constitution. Article I, Section 8: The Congress shall have the power to... ...regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes;

If somone calling me from one state with the purpose of conducting commerce with me in another state is not "commerce among the several states" I don't know what is. The Federal donot call list is perfectly constitutional (except perhaps in the case where both telemarketer and telemarketee are in the same state).

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I always thought the constitution was a compromise between the Federalists (as much founding fathers as anyone else) and the Anti-Federalists (whom you seem to be claiming represent all the framers.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">U.S. Constitution, Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

Yes the phrase "seperation of church and state" is not in the U.S. Constitution. However it is impossible for a state to become religious and at the same time avoid creating a law which respects an establishment of religion. Thus, unless someone can create a religious state which has no religious laws, the constitution effectively forbids the combining of church and state.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

I dislike Telemarketers immensley. I get at least 4-5 a day, and I'm UNLISTED. Its bad enough, but they start at 8:00 am, NOW THATS TO DARN EARLY ESPECIALLY IF ITS MY DAY OFF http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif We have freedom of speech, but where does it say they have the freedom to harrass. They pay good and I know some people need the work, but a large proportion of them go beyond the limit and this ruins it for the few good ones....

just my 2 cents Mac

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There is no such thing as a good telemarketer.

Geoschmo

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Just so everyone remembers what this thread was about...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you have time, you could write them back.

Tell them you are in prison and unlikely to get a bank account any time soon, but that you are lonely and wonder what things are like in Africa.

Tell him about your strange ideas for the differences between the races. These can range from childlike to hateful to pseudo-scientific.

Tell them about how your wife/mother/old sister rules your life and how, if they can just teach you how to stand up to her/them, you'll do anything you can to help them.

Take random copy-pastes from the strangest blogs you can find and reformat them so that they might seem like an actual e-mail address to them.

Copy-paste from the Gutenberg project. You can send them Melville, the Devine Comedy, or just large amounts of gees, tees, cees, and ays.

Now do this with telemarketers.

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There is no such thing as a good telemarketer.

Geoschmo</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The only good telemarketer, is an out of work telemarketer http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

I worked the night shift!!!!

Please give me the telemarketers home phone numbers. They deserve payment in kind.

I should not have to pay extra for call blocking or gagets. When I had children, I did not block out numbers and take the chance of missing the school nurse, after care , etccc...

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

I dunno' about the effectiveness / efficiency of a 'do-not-call' list especially when run by the US Govt. However, I do know a technique I've been using for about a year and a half seems to be quite effective.

When I get a call from an unwanted telemarketer (anyone ever get a wanted TM call? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif ), I tell them I've been waiting for someone to call me about their product and ask them to hold for a moment while I get a pen. I set the phone down, go do what I was originally doing, and come back in about 20 minutes. If they're still there (only 1 ever has been), I tell them I'm having a hard time finding a pen and would they hold a few more minutes. Rinse and repeat! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

My TM calls have been reduced drastically since I started that so the TM'ers must have some kind of list to begin with....

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Hehe Rd. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif I was thinking about doing something like this the other day. Only I was going to take it a step further and make a continuous tape of me rusteling papers and saying "Don't hang up, I'll be right there." every few seconds. Just to keep them hanging on a little longer. Set the phone down, press play on the tape and go to the movies or something. ROFL!

Geoschmo

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

Geoschmo,

that would be the ultimate telemarketer torture tool (TTT) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've done this. Sometimes I also enjoy playing with them in various ways. Depends on the personality on the other line. Many of them aren't so bad themselves but their evil company is paying them and the phone company for the time. Entertain them with the sounds of a game with nice violnet scream-ridden sound effects, or some music. Try to discuss topics of interest with them. Have fun roleplaying a goofy character. Laugh like a maniac who knows there is a time bomb under their chair. Tell them about Space Empires - ask them for tactical advice. Three-way dial them to the Story Line, or Wal-Mart customer service, or 1-800 numbers for annoying products.

PvK

Re: OT - No-Call list
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">OOOh! What about 3-waying them to a competitor, and then keeping score by tallying up the buzzwords they use against each other http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif .