| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| larknm |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 09:19:29 AM
How do I stop junk mail and telemarketers? I've been calling the phone numbers of all junk mail catalogues I get with negligible results. I hae also had it with people calling to ask for money--often claiming I've donated before, even though I never heard of the group. |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| green27 |
Posted - Nov 09 2009 : 1:17:43 PM
Junk mail- After calling them it usually can take a few weeks for the mailings to stop. Every company I've ever called has me off quickly, or only 1-2 had to be re-called to get me off the list for sure. Keep after them and ask to speak to a manager. Slowly, it will subside. It worked for me!
Telemarkers - I never get this problem as I have a cell phone only. Use caller ID, if you don't know the #, don't answer. Or if you must "We make it a point never to agree to any telemarketer phone calls or commitments over the phone....sorry...." click.
ETA: When you buy an item and it has a registration card, don't do it. Only register the really expensive items you must. Also if you agree to one magazine/catalog make SURE you tell them not to sell your name, otherwise they will. |
| janharker |
Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 12:51:41 PM
I've been known to lay the phone down, walk away, and let them keep talking. |
| creaker41 |
Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 11:38:26 AM
I say "no thank you" and hang up as soon as I know it's a call I don't want.
Yesterday's example: "This is <my mortgage company>. We're calling our preferred cust--"
"No thank you." Hangup
Polite. Simple. And I'm actually improving their numbers and efficiency because they aren't going to sell me anything no matter how long I let them talk. |
| greg44 |
Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 09:45:24 AM
I have had a couple universities, charities, etc. and now the big one is just doing a "quick" survey...I simply say I am not interested, and please put me on their do not call list, and hang up, do further discussion. I seems to have worked well, we rarely get these kinds of calls. |
| a.m. again |
Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 07:10:31 AM
quote:
Originally posted by janharker
Except those danged Republicans; from them we get calls from a county office of a county we don't live in. Being not a Republican, I'm not nice to them. Our local Republicans know better than to call here.
In the past we kept getting calls from the Republican Senatorial campaign. . .from a state we hadn't lived in (or been registered to vote in) for two years, had never registered as Republicans, AND at a phone number we had only had for a few months. I can promise you we have never given money to them. The McCain campaign also called to let us know about their victory events and what not. Never did figure that one out, but I sure did enjoy voting in all their polls!
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| larknm |
Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 06:34:56 AM
Thank you all! Not only did you give me the info I hoped for, but even more good ideas. |
| janharker |
Posted - Nov 03 2009 : 09:59:09 AM
For junk mail:
Direct Marketing Association
phone 212-768-7277
www.dmachoice.org/consumerassistance.php
The neat thing about living in Indiana is that the state do not call law is much stricter than the feds. So we sign up for both. We've actually reported fax abusers and have had to complete a mail-in disposition, because the guilty companies get fined a minimum of $15,000 per violation. We rarely get faxes now. Or phone calls, even from charities. Except those danged Republicans; from them we get calls from a county office of a county we don't live in. Being not a Republican, I'm not nice to them. Our local Republicans know better than to call here. |
| tomt |
Posted - Nov 03 2009 : 05:11:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Karen in Bisbee
I thought the rule was that a company/charity could only call you if you had an 'established relationship' with them. I'm wondering if this "oh yes, you've donated before" is a way of trying to get around the no-call rules by lying about that connection.
Charities and political organizations are exempt from the "do not call" rule.
If I get one of these calls, the person usually begins by asking, "How are you today, Mr. ****?" To which I respond, "Broke".
It's funny how this takes the wind from their sails. |
| annabk |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 4:59:01 PM
Usually, I just let the answering machine pick up and only answer the call if it's not a solicitor. I just make sure my friends and family know I do this so they don't hang up when they hear the machine. I'm on the do not call list, but I find it's of limited help.
Also, keep track of who you tell not to call. If you tell people not to call you again and they do, you can actually sue them. |
| ~kib~ |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 4:55:27 PM
I thought the rule was that a company/charity could only call you if you had an 'established relationship' with them. I'm wondering if this "oh yes, you've donated before" is a way of trying to get around the no-call rules by lying about that connection. |
| homenurse |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 4:39:06 PM
Apparently charities are omitted from the "do not call" lists. Many charities hire out the phone solicitations to non-charitable businesses who do nothing but harass people. My mom has been the victim of these people on numerous occasions. Some have been really nasty to her, too, and have lied, saying she has donated before. She only donates to local causes and keeps a list of the charities she donates to, but it is amazing the number of calls she will get with people lying baldly about what she has given in the past. Do they really think she doesn't know who she donates to? We have told them repeatedly not to call again, but it doesn't help. I guess the use of automatic dialers also figures in to this problem. Now she uses her caller ID to screen these calls. It doesn't stop them, but it spares her the hassle of dealing with them. |
| Knitchik |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 3:10:12 PM
https://www.donotcall.gov/
you can register your phone number there and you will be taken off telemarketer lists |
| hapathy |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 1:59:46 PM
The thing is most junk mail is NOT catalogs! The real problem seems to be store fliers (that nonsense arrives 2-3 times a week). So yea maybe you need to take a hard line approach like notaclam suggests. Of course store fliers come even if they don't have any name at all, they are quite content to dump that garbage on "Resident"! |
| notaclam |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 1:23:48 PM
Don't buy anything via the mail and especially don't give to charities via the mail.
Give in person.
Some will sell your adress.
They will sell your phone number even if it is UNLISTED!
Police,veterans,and firehouses are some of the worst offenders!
Back when I had a phone. I would tell them I am a fall risk and would appreciate it if they wouldn't call.
Or, I would answer with a very confused German or Indian accent and mess with them as long as possible.
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| janharker |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 1:20:56 PM
This will get you off catalogue lists:
https://www.catalogchoice.org/login
There is an address you can write to to get your name off general mailing lists, but I just can't remember what it is. Marketing Direct, or something like that. Google it?
And be sure your phone number, including cell and fax are on both state and fed do not call lists. |
