Some telemarketers don't get it
by brian d foy
Some telemarketers just don't get in. On page 29, in a sidebar to "Telemarketing: A Tale of Two Cities" (partial article online), Debbie Dawson of Dial America is paraphrased saying
it's a shame that of those who have placed their names on the Do Not Call list, most do not realize how many calls they are missing out on that they would really like to receive.
Yeah, whatever. My guess is that people who took the affirmative action to put their name in the Do Not Call Registry to not want calls. They didn't sign up for the Do Not Call Me Unless You Think I Want Your Product Registry. It seems pretty simple to me: just don't call. No, non, nein, нет, não, nr, αριθ! (I got Babelfish right here, and I can keep going).
The article also notes that Mother Jones and Weight Watchers stopped calling subscribers at the end of their subscription period because they were getting complaints that they were violating the Do Not Call policy (although they weren't, since they had an existing business relationship). Still, those companies listened the to consumers, who were saying "Do not call me".
[Side Note: Even if you have an existing business relationship, you can still tell them not to call you and they have to not call you. ]
7 Comments
| Lilynka 2004-10-19 22:17:28 |
The Solution The Do Not Call List is not a solution, as those who employ telemarketers are interested in only their own purpose. They make it their business to find a way around regulations, as they have zero concern for personal privacy. Apparently some people make purchases from telemarketers, but I don't know a single one.
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| brian_d_foy 2004-10-19 23:31:23 |
The Solution The Do Not Call list has worked for me. Caller ID may be great, but the phone still rings and a telemarketing robot still has a chance to leave a message on the answering machine. I don't experience any of that any more. |
| UHF 2004-10-20 00:43:44 |
UK Telephone Preference Service For any UK readers reading this, use the Telephone Preference Service at : http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/
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| jwenting 2004-10-20 04:23:06 |
The Solution you're lucky with a legal status to the do not call list. There's one here as well but it's managed by the association of telemarketeers and the biggest telco (who makes tons of money selling phone numbers etc. to telemarketeers). Strangely they require a LOT of personal information to put you on the list. Not just phone number but postal address, income, education, etc. Ostensibly (they claim) it's to ensure it's really you and not someone else signing you up to not be called but I'm sceptical. My guess is it's just like a spammer's "unsubscribe" feature...
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| jimothy 2004-10-20 06:04:45 |
The Solution My experience (in the U.S.) shows that telemarketers are generally no longer blocking their numbers. Phone companies offer an "anonymous call reject" option that causes your phone not to ring if the caller ID is blocked. For a while, this was great: telemarketers did not get through. Now, though, the telemarketers have adjusted, and usually either "Dial America" or city, state (e.g., "Topeka, KS" or "Atlanta, GA") shows up, along with a number.
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| MSchienle 2004-10-20 06:05:41 |
The Solution Along the lines of: "I've found the best way is to be extremely rude to them OR to feign interest for a long time and then say no thanks."
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| Sysadmn 2004-10-20 13:06:23 |
Don't buy a house. The Do Not Call list worked well for me, until I bought a house. Then the Toxic Chemical, er Lawn Service, Vinyl Windows (no thanks, I like glass), and Water Softener (mine's quite soft, unless I freeze it) sellers came out of the woodwork. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy to write down the details and go to Small Claims. I guess they're counting on that. |
