Sebazz1 2 #1 February 10, 2003 Steve Rubenstein, a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, has proposed "Three Little Words," based on his brief experience in a telemarketing operation that would stop the nuisance for all time. The three little words are: "Hold on, please..." Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that sales boiler rooms would grind to a halt. When you eventually hear the phone company's "beep-beep-beep" tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task. Three little words that eliminate telephone soliciting. Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end? This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a "real" salesperson to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Since doing this, our phone calls have decreased dramatically. Another good idea: when you get "ads" enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these "ads" with your payment; let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away. When you get those "pre-approved" letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? Well, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool postage-paid return envelopes. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! Eventually, the banks and credit card companies will begin getting their own junk back in the mail. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and the best of all they're paying for it...twice! Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. This might be one of those articles ("junk E-mails") that you'll want to forward to your friends. Send this to a friend...or two...or fifty! Maybe if enough people follow these tips, it might work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJohnson 0 #2 February 10, 2003 I'm in. I do hereby declare war on junk mail and telemarketers.JJ "Call me Darth Balls" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phatcat 0 #3 February 10, 2003 I'm going to go check my mail... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #4 February 10, 2003 Quote I'm in. I do hereby declare war on junk mail and telemarketers. Now just a minute. Shouldn't you first make sure the UN, France, Germany and Belgium are on board?Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slim 0 #5 February 10, 2003 I always tell them the following "...you knkow, this is not a good time for me, lemme get your home number and CALL YOU AT SOME GOD FORSAKEN HOUR AND BOTHER YOU, I'LL NEVER EXECT NO FOR AN ANSWER AND I WILL TRY TO SELL YOU SHIT, BUT MAKE IT SOUND LIKE GOLD!!!!!" dropped from 3 calls aday to about 1 per week >>> A good friend will bail you outta jail... A true friend will be sitting next to you saying "That was fucking awesome!!!' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJohnson 0 #6 February 10, 2003 I am a soveriegn state, I answer to nobody, fuck them, I'm on the top of the fodd chain, I do as I please and the rest of the world can tremble at my approach.....gotta go...my wifes coming.JJ "Call me Darth Balls" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slim 0 #7 February 10, 2003 Quote I am a soveriegn state, I answer to nobody, fuck them, I'm on the top of the fodd chain, I do as I please and the rest of the world can tremble at my approach.....gotta go...my wifes coming. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA >>> A good friend will bail you outta jail... A true friend will be sitting next to you saying "That was fucking awesome!!!' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fool 0 #8 February 10, 2003 I wish I was at the top of the fodd chain....LOL S.E.X. party #1 "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "f*#k, what a ride". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GiaKrembs 0 #9 February 10, 2003 I am all about this! I get so much junk mail every week this will help out. Raddest ho this side of Jersey #1 - rest in peace brother Beth lost her cherry and I missed it .... you want access to it, but you don't want to break it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #10 February 10, 2003 Excellent tips. The telemarketing scum have sued to prevent a nationwide "do not call" phone number registry from being implemented by the FCC (please see Junkbusters.org. Telemarketers are such assholes. From the same website as above, here's how to fight back against telemarketers. Since we started using this stuff at home, only once in a while (every three weeks or so), will we get a few junk calls, and they're close together. That, to me, signifies a time that another group of telemarketers have bought our phone number. Remember, if you demand to have your number placed on their "do not call" list, and they call you again, you can sue them and get money: "If you feel disposed to inconvenience them, you can ask for 'a written copy of your do-not-call policy', which the law requires them supply on demand. Many telemarketers have never heard of one. If they don't know about it or don't send it, you can sue them for $500. Awards of this kind have often proved far easier for consumers to obtain than other violations of FCC regulations. In fairness you might advise them to send it to you by certified mail so that they have proof of delivery in court. It's probably worth noting the name of the person who accepted your request. Your evidence would be even stronger if they consent to you making an audio recording of them saying they will send the written policy by certified mail." "The Federal Communications Commission's Web site explains how consumers can report violations of its rules and regulations. The Attorney General of your State may also be interested in acting to protect you. You can also tell the Federal Trade Commission. Their 1996 regulations provide fines of up to $10,000 for telemarketing offenses such as not telling you upfront that they're trying to sell you something." "In many states, including Washington, telemarketers are required to register; after you get their name ask them for their registration number and report them if they can't give it." "The federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act allows consumers to sue telemarketers if the company's pattern of calls breaks the law two or more times in a year. Most actions are brought in small claims court for $500. But the law gives them a ready-made defense, which few consumers are willing to go to the trouble of trying to overcome. It appears easier to secure a judgment based on 'technical violations'' such as failure to provide a written policy. If you're determined to litigate, spend $10 on a booklet called So You Want to Sue a Telemarketer, available from Private Citizen, Inc. by calling 1-800-CUT-JUNK. See also the Nolo Press publications.""The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #11 February 10, 2003 I just posted this from an e-mail someone sent me. I do not receive a lot of solicitation phone calls but enough to be annoying. The junk mail is the ridicoulous thing. The amount of catalogs, coupon books, offer letters, etc, etc.... Is absolutely insane. I plan to start returning all this crap in the postage paid business reply envelopes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slim 0 #12 February 10, 2003 and they never send good catalogs. nothing like victoria's secrete or fredericks. Its all avon and food stuff so your woman gets bigger, and SIZE MATTERS!!!!! <<<>>> A good friend will bail you outta jail... A true friend will be sitting next to you saying "That was fucking awesome!!!' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #13 February 10, 2003 Quote and SIZE MATTERS!!!!! Yeah it does. So if ya ain't packing at least 10 inches there boy, take your child back out to the yard til it's full grown... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fool 0 #14 February 10, 2003 Quote So if ya ain't packing at least 10 inches there boy, take your child back out to the yard til it's full grown... [cheesy high school jock voice] I'm only three inches...I don't know....some girls think that's too wide. [/cheesy high school jock voice] S.E.X. party #1 "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "f*#k, what a ride". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yardhippie 0 #15 February 10, 2003 The thought of it makes me tremble with excitement! I usually get mad and slam the phone or tear up the mail... but thats what everyone does... I like this appoach! Im in!Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #16 February 10, 2003 One little side note... Collectors are not subject to al lthe same laws and if you treat them this way you are almost guarenting that your credit record gets a big smear on it. Bye bye new house, no more new car, other credit cards can get cancled with out you know about it if your credit score goes to low too. *Friendly former tele-collector.. NOW PAY YOUR F-N BILL BEFORE I CALL CHILD SERVICES ON YOU (that one only worked if you could hear a kid screaming in the back ground ) Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WFFC 1 #17 February 11, 2003 Colorado did one step better...The No Call law. I actually have only received 2 telemarketing calls since May 2002. It's very nice actually.----- ~~~Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
