Do Not Call List - R.I.P.?

[88bmwjeff]

I have a two phone line approach. Yeah, it costs more, but I think it works well adn worth the additional money. I have a public number, which is given to banks, online purchases etc. It's the most basic service we can get. Purchased a cheap answering machine to record calls. We also have our fax machine hooked up to it, but who uses those anymore. One of these days, I'll have to get rid of it.

Oh... back to the discussion. We also have an unlisted number, which is only given out to friends and family. Now when the phone rings in the den, ignore it. If our main line rings answer it, since it's most likely not a solicitor.

When I get a phone solicitation that's not political, or governmental (e.g. police, fire, etc.), I ask for the phone callers manager, since he/she just called a number on the do not call registry. I've never gotten the manager, but they always apologize and hang up. They've also agreed to take my number off their list. That seems to help.

 

[pauls1150]

When you sign up on the official Do Not Call list, it's for 5 years; if you want it "forever", they'll send you a form that you have to sign and mail back to them.

I still get calls from the sales sphincters, so I give them a nasty ration of (feces) in return: "Why are you calling someone who is registered with the National Do Not call List? Your supervisor is supposed to check that list before you start making calls. My caller ID has your phone number, can you give me any reason why I shouldn't notify the FCC and the FTC about this?"
Typically they'll hang up. One guy actually got scared. A few have gotten somewhat indignant or argumentative; that's fine, I throw it right back and every ten seconds press any key on my phone for a moment to make it seem like I'm recording the call.


I don't know if this is true or just internet lore (Ted - comment please?), but for the pre-recorded junk, I'll hit my # key a bunch of times; that's said to screw up their computer and cause it to kick your number off their robo-list.

 

[nielsm]

I just ask for their address. When they ask why, I tell them I need to know where to send the invoice for $16,000 (the fine allowed by violating Do Not Call list). They get off the phone really quickly & I never hear from them again.

 

[Rudyjo]

It's not just the phone calls.

We get about 4 credit card applications in the mail every week.

I put their empty self addressed envelope back in the mailbox and let them
pay the postage.

 

[txedomoon]

"an existing business relationship" is a rather vague term... marketers will and have found ways to work around it. I stop any solicitor mid-sentence and say "put me on your do no call list." They are supposed to have those internally as well.

 

[pauls1150]

LOVE that "give me your address" scheme - wonderful!

re the credit card apps: Instead of just mailing back the empty envelope (after verifying that your return address isn't automatically stamped on it somewhere), I'll over-stuff the envelope with other junk, like old TV Guide pages or expired shopping coupons. Get it heavy enough and their postage cost goes up; get it fat enough and the post office tacks on an additional charge! I don't even go out of my way to drop them in the mailbox, I'll just get around to it during some other errand.

 

[Rudyjo]

LOVE that "give me your address" scheme - wonderful!

re the credit card apps: Instead of just mailing back the empty envelope (after verifying that your return address isn't automatically stamped on it somewhere), I'll over-stuff the envelope with other junk, like old TV Guide pages or expired shopping coupons. Get it heavy enough and their postage cost goes up; get it fat enough and the post office tacks on an additional charge! I don't even go out of my way to drop them in the mailbox, I'll just get around to it during some other errand.

I do sometimes put junk in it, like the application from one bank and send it to another bank.

I've been doing this for about 8 years now, got the idea from Andy Rooney on
one of his 60 Minuets essays.

 

[88bmwjeff]

I do sometimes put junk in it, like the application from one bank and send it to another bank.

I've been doing this for about 8 years now, got the idea from Andy Rooney on
one of his 60 Minuets essays.

The more I think about it--I think it could be a great solution to two problems. If we all send these envelopes back, the Post Office gets more money. And, they need it. Revenue for the Post Office has been decreasing due to fewer letters being mailed. Secondly, if the costs are too high, the junk mail senders may think twice about sending junk mail.