Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

The Monkey Lounge => The Monkey Lounge => Topic started by: Mere on September 07, 2007, 02:49:12 PM



Title: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: Mere on September 07, 2007, 02:49:12 PM
You can register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry, and you will see a noticeable difference in unwanted phone calls for the next 5 years.  This is the link:

   www.donotcall.gov



Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: sharon on September 07, 2007, 03:05:31 PM
You can register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry, and you will see a noticeable difference in unwanted phone calls for the next 5 years.  This is the link:

   www.donotcall.gov



I registered in June 2003. I need to make sure I renew next summer.

It does work.

I registered my cell phone as well. And my second home line -- which I use as a fax line.


Before the DoNotCallRegistry -- I used to say "she's right here -- I'll go get her" and then I would let the phone sit off the hook until they hung up  :lol:


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: Dugga on September 10, 2007, 03:57:16 PM
I'll chalk it up as coincidence, but I added my home phones and my cell phone to the list last week, and I got a telemarketing call on my cell on Saturday. First one ever!

Before I cry foul, I'm sure 2 days isn't enough time to get things circulating in the DNC list.

When I went to the site I found that I had entered my home phone back in 2003, so plenty of people are still illegally ignoring the list but I'm sure you're right - it doesn't hurt to add it anyway.


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MuffyBee on September 21, 2007, 08:45:29 AM
Do Not Call Listings To Expire In 2008
Sep 21, 2007 6:49 am US/Central
(AP) WASHINGTON The cherished dinner hour void of telemarketers could vanish next year for millions of people when phone numbers begin dropping off the national Do Not Call list.

The Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the list, says there is a simple fix. But some lawmakers think it is a hassle to expect people to re-register their phone numbers every five years.

Numbers placed on the registry, begun in June 2003, are valid for five years. For the millions of people who signed onto the list in its early days, their numbers will automatically drop off beginning next June if they do not enroll again.
(snipped)
The FTC built the five-year expiration date into the program to account for changes, such as people who move and switch their phone number, Parnes said.

Doyle, however, points out that the list is purged each month of numbers that have been disconnected and reassigned to new customers.

People can register their home and cell phone numbers or file complaints at http://www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

The registry prohibits telemarketers from calling phone numbers on the list. Companies face fines of up to $11,000 for each violation.

Organizations engaged in charitable, political or survey work are exempt. Companies that have an established business relationship with a customer also may call for up to 18 months after the last purchase, payment or delivery.

In the first week of the program, people signed up 18 million numbers. The registry now has more than 149 million phone numbers.
(snipped)


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MuffyBee on September 21, 2007, 08:47:36 AM
Sorry. Here is the link to the story I posted: 
http://keyetv.com/topstories/topstories_story_264061319.html


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MumInOhio on September 21, 2007, 09:33:16 AM
I'll chalk it up as coincidence, but I added my home phones and my cell phone to the list last week, and I got a telemarketing call on my cell on Saturday. First one ever!

Before I cry foul, I'm sure 2 days isn't enough time to get things circulating in the DNC list.

When I went to the site I found that I had entered my home phone back in 2003, so plenty of people are still illegally ignoring the list but I'm sure you're right - it doesn't hurt to add it anyway.


 :shock: Dugga, I read an article when this thread was started that said that cell phone numbers were not allowed to be distributed!  I too was checking as the numbers I listed back in 2003 are no longer ours, except for my cell number. We only have cell phones and never get telemarketing calls on any of them.  Had a few nuisance calls from where I had entered to win something, but put a stop to that by telling them not to call again or else...






Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: GreatOwl on September 22, 2007, 10:24:51 AM
No, two days is not enough time for any list to circulate.  This is why we are being asked to renew now.  My problem is that I get calls all the time from Charity type organizations.  Or at least they claim to be.  I do know that there are so many scams out there using ligit causes.  I believe, according to law they only need to allocate 5-10% of what they take in and can keep the rest for administrative costs.  I get several calls a year to donate to the National (or whatever) Police, law enforcement, firefighters etc.  All are scams to the extend that their administrative costs are extreme.

I usually am able to tell within five seconds if the call is a solicitation.  The one thing I do not do is hang up.   If it is a real person I merely drop the phone on the couch or easy chair and walk away.  The beeping will tell me when they have hung up.  It seems to have reduced the number of calls, because they do not wish to waste their time, only mine.  If I hung up my name would only go back on the list to be called again later.

If it is a computer call or a blank sound this is to indicate to the telemarketing computer when the best times to call are so they know when you are home.  The best defense against that is to rapidly hit the # key a couple dozen times and then hang up.  It confuses their computers.

For what it is worth.
 :-?



Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MuffyBee on September 22, 2007, 10:27:39 AM
No, two days is not enough time for any list to circulate.  This is why we are being asked to renew now.  My problem is that I get calls all the time from Charity type organizations.  Or at least they claim to be.  I do know that there are so many scams out there using ligit causes.  I believe, according to law they only need to allocate 5-10% of what they take in and can keep the rest for administrative costs.  I get several calls a year to donate to the National (or whatever) Police, law enforcement, firefighters etc.  All are scams to the extend that their administrative costs are extreme.

I usually am able to tell within five seconds if the call is a solicitation.  The one thing I do not do is hang up.   If it is a real person I merely drop the phone on the couch or easy chair and walk away.  The beeping will tell me when they have hung up.  It seems to have reduced the number of calls, because they do not wish to waste their time, only mine.  If I hung up my name would only go back on the list to be called again later.

If it is a computer call or a blank sound this is to indicate to the telemarketing computer when the best times to call are so they know when you are home.  The best defense against that is to rapidly hit the # key a couple dozen times and then hang up.  It confuses their computers.

For what it is worth.
 :-?


:thumright:  I like that idea :idea:


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MuffyBee on September 26, 2007, 02:28:19 PM
I keep getting unwanted phone calls from debt collectors for a man named Gary that  lived in  and owned the house I bought  fromhim through a realtor over a year ago.  My telephone number is one that has never before been issued to anyone but me.  It is NOT his old number.   I think debt collectors get my phone number by cross referencing the street address of the last known address Gary gave them.  I use caller ID, but sometimes that doesn't always allow me to avoid the calls.  If I let the caller know this isn't his number, they ask me if I know him or know where he is  :2doh:  I even had a guy show up at my house trying to serve papers on Gary a few months ago.  The guy even had the nerve to ask me how long I lived here and what kind of work I did.  I told him to leave my property immediately and never to come back or I would file with the Sheriff's department.  It's all very annoying.  The calls start coming, then stop.  Then start.  I'm thinking the debt is being sold after trying to be collected, then being resold again when that fails etc.  One of the debt collectors on the phone said they were sorry, and that I would probably get calls for a long time, because the guy owed a lot of money to a lot of people  :sad:
Any ideas?


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: GreatOwl on September 27, 2007, 09:25:12 AM
I would log all contacts you receive whether by phone, mail or in person.  You need to get as much information as you can the first time you are contacted.  Ask to have your name removed from their computer calling since most times it is a computer that dials rather than the person.  (this is why I included that above.)

It is illegal for them to continue to call.  Get the name of the company and if they do call a second or third time report them to your phone company abuse division.  The phone company may sometimes be arrogant and ask you to change your number, but do not fall for that.  It is just somebody who is to lazy.  Ask to speak to a supervisor.

By all means, don't just threaten to call the police if someone shows up at your door.  Do it!!!!  Now the police really can't do anything, but I bet whomever is taking on this type of job isn't being paid much and really will not wish to be stopped by police again.  Take their license number and report them as solicitors.  (you may need to put up a sign "no solicitation") 

The more information you can gather the easier it will be to stop the contact.  Be careful not to embellish in your reports.  Just tell it like it is.




Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: Tiger on September 27, 2007, 11:20:05 AM
Muffy,these groups sell and create reasons to do this.They do not care.No one except a sherriff shows up on your property,without valid id.Debt collectors do,so just call the police,don't talk.


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MuffyBee on September 27, 2007, 11:44:24 AM
Thank you Great Owl and Tiger.  I have a "No Soliciting" sign posted.  I will start keeping better records on the calls.  I even had one of the collectors try to tell me Gary gave them my phone number as a contact  :shock:.  Either the collectors lied or Gary IS giving out my number.  I also found these collectors have called my neighbors up and down the block looking for Gary.   :roll:


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MuffyBee on September 27, 2007, 11:45:10 AM
Muffy,these groups sell and create reasons to do this.They do not care.No one except a sherriff shows up on your property,without valid id.Debt collectors do,so just call the police,don't talk.
Actually, the Sheriff has to have a valid ID too... :wink:


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MumInOhio on September 27, 2007, 01:55:17 PM
Muffy,these groups sell and create reasons to do this.They do not care.No one except a sherriff shows up on your property,without valid id.Debt collectors do,so just call the police,don't talk.
Actually, the Sheriff has to have a valid ID too... :wink:
[/quote


 :lol:MuffyBee :wink:


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: GreatOwl on September 29, 2007, 12:45:08 AM
I fully understand that this is not your debt, but some of the things you report are even illegal under the "Fair debt collection practices act."  I work with this concerning the guardianships that I take on.  I advise others how to get collectors to stop contacting them and in some of the cases I do the contacting of the collection agencies to get them to cease the harassment. 

If it gets to the point you wish it to stop the following link might help you to understand what the law says.  If this persists, you may have to file a letter with that collection agency to be able to go on record  as being harassed.  There are some of the collection agencies that I already know are not following the law.  Some of them have been fined pretty heavily in recent months.   

Let them know you will report them under the various sections of this law.  If you have other questions contact me through email and I will try to give suggestions. 

I believe Klaas can get you my addy.

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm


Title: Re: Tired of Unwanted Phone Calls...?
Post by: MuffyBee on September 29, 2007, 07:39:27 AM
Thank you GO.  I appreciate the link and I will review what it says and use it as a reference. I may file some letters, because this has been going on over a year.