Really annoying phone calls

[Britwrench]

I have had my cell phone for several years. In the beginning I received a few of callers trying to find the previous phone number owner, but they eventually stopped.

Recently I started getting cold-calls from Ashworth College on 1-800-884-6380 telling me that they had received a call from my number enquiring about education courses.
Surprisingly enough, I had never contacted them so called an operator and explained the situation..of course, the calls continued, 3 calls in one week were a little too much so I called them, spoke to "John" and explained.... "there won't be any further calls" he promised......what happens?...another call today.

Every heard of these people who obviously can't educate their own marketing department?

[stomachmonkey]

1-800 to a cell phone is an automatic no answer straight to v-mail.

They keep calling because you keep answering.

There are no people involved, a computer is doing the dialing. You can't reason with it.

[rammstein]

I can't let you do that.

[kstar]

Save the number to your cell phone, then assign a "silent" ringtone to that number.

When they call again you won't even notice.

[TerryBPP]

I get one from the criminal notification service making me aware of a ex-con that has been released and in my area. Must have been the previous owners ordeal. Calls every 3 hrs until I listen to the whole message and press in a code. I called the service and tried to get off the list but they never did.

Also get one for vehicle warranty extension on a toyota.

[legion]

Some tricks I use:

1) Tell them you are on the Do Not Call list and you intend to inform the FCC of this violation.

2) Tell them that you are involved in a lawsuit against the company or entity they are calling on behalf of. (I did this to get the pesky Fraternal Order of Police fundraising schisters to stop calling me).

3) This one is my favorite. Answer the phone and say this in the gruffest, most assertive voice you can muster: "How did you get this number?" It really doens't matter what they say next, but follow it up with: "This is an unlisted, unknown number belonging to a federal agency. You have compromised the investigation of a corrupt high-level government official. I'm going to need you to get your supervisor on the line ASAP and we're going to have to figure out EXACTLY how you got your hands on this phone number. I'm going to need your full name, any aliases, social security number, full employment history, and contacts numbers for friends and family members..." (I've never had them last long enough on the phone to hear the whole spiel and I've never gotten a call back from whatever company I started the spiel with.)

[KFC911]

Assuming it's not a computer...AIRHORN

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by TerryBPP

Also get one for vehicle warranty extension on a toyota.

I got the same automated calls about an extended toyota warranty.
First one came from a Nevada number and I didn't answer. Second came from a New Mexico number, and since I have relatives there I answered and got the phone-spam.

I sent a nasty e-mail to toyota about it, and reminded them that I had filled out their form requesting that they do not share my personal information to any company outside of Toyota.
I summed up that either they had broken the legal contract by giving my cell phone number to another company, or toyota were engaged in sleazy phone-spam and would lose a long-time customer if that was the case.
I got the canned "thank you for contacting us" response.

[Tobra]

contact the FCC, or try Chris's Men in Black routine, option 3. I like that one

[RWebb]

IIRC, non-profits are exempt from the Do not call list.

A high pitched scream or air horn can often dissuade them.

[widgeon13]

i have put my cell # on the "Do Not Call" list, seems to work for me.

[tcar]

If you've already answered a caller, you have a 'relationship' with them and they are exempt from the 'Do not call list', I heard.

Don't answer a 1 800 call to your cell.

[john70t]

Today returned an 866 call, thinking it was from someone else. It was from some auto warrentee broker. Needless to say, my car cost less than their monthly payments.

The woman was pretty snotty and wouldn't give me her company address.
-"Why do you want the company address?"
-"So I can tell the FCC who to fine for violating the no-call list"
This went back and forth, until she finally put me on a recorded message about no-call listing, which I listened to over and over and over with the phone pugged in.

I'm not sure if they understood that my number was already registered, I'll have to give them a call back.
Mabye they can help me overcome my childhood fears of bumblebees as well.

[island_dude]

I started getting calls on my cell # from some collection agency looking for someone (not me). They mostly came during the day when I don't have my cell phone handy. The message always started with "If you are not Jane Doe, hang up..." then there would be a long message telling this person to call them. I figured the messages would stop on their own, but they kept coming for weeks. I finally called the number back and got some automated system that gives you the option to stop the calls. I did this, and the calls start coming more often. Finally, I punch the number for a receptionist and get to talk to some really A@@hole. I explained that I am not anyone they care about, but if the messages don't stop they would be hearing from the AG next. I never even got the name of the company, but it was really annoying.

[allaircooled]

Two words, DISH NETWORK. These fuchers won't stop calling me even after I told them not to ever call me again. I had dish network when I owned my home but had to sell and get an apartment temporarily. Told them several times that when I am ready I would call them to start using there service again. They kept on harassing me so I tell them I will NEVER use them again. This has been going on for a year. Called me twice today. Pisses me off.

[cashflyer]

I generally just talk dirty to whoever calls. Usually they hang up.

Sometimes, though, they don't.

[Britwrench]

And the ongoing saga of annoying unsolicited calls continues... now I keep gettting calls on my cell phone from some financial office (probably debt collectors) for the last owner of my number..who seemed to owe more money than the US government.

Anyway, if you are getting a call from 1-877-433-7014...have fun with them

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by legion

Some tricks I use:

1) Tell them you are on the Do Not Call list and you intend to inform the FCC of this violation.

2) Tell them that you are involved in a lawsuit against the company or entity they are calling on behalf of. (I did this to get the pesky Fraternal Order of Police fundraising schisters to stop calling me).

3) This one is my favorite. Answer the phone and say this in the gruffest, most assertive voice you can muster: "How did you get this number?" It really doens't matter what they say next, but follow it up with: "This is an unlisted, unknown number belonging to a federal agency. You have compromised the investigation of a corrupt high-level government official. I'm going to need you to get your supervisor on the line ASAP and we're going to have to figure out EXACTLY how you got your hands on this phone number. I'm going to need your full name, any aliases, social security number, full employment history, and contacts numbers for friends and family members..." (I've never had them last long enough on the phone to hear the whole spiel and I've never gotten a call back from whatever company I started the spiel with.)

I've done all that and more and still gotten calls.'
I now usually just shorten it to, "I'm a retired FBI agent. What's your name?"


....click.