Telemarketers and salesmen: Right to invade your home???

[Dreamstalker]

My mom was (they haven't called recently) being called nonstop for a while by a nonprofit organization from one of the Indian reservations (I think it was in the Four Corners area). Said group does produce a catalog of fairly nice handmade items for sale to support their efforts; I would purchase or support them otherwise if only I had the money.

She told them a number of times that calling cell phones is illegal, and got "we're a nonprofit". Is there some loophole in the Do Not Call/telemarketing laws that shields nonprofits?

I know that "prior business relationships" (sorry, I don't consider shopping programs/life insurance/credit monitoring/whatever that's "calling on behalf of <bank>" as a prior business relationship) are exempt, but...we had no prior business transactions with the group. Other than them sending catalogs, mom's cell number is not associated with the address they had so I have no idea how they got it.

[Seshat]

I can't even imagine how an auto dialer would be allowed to dial country codes and foreign phone numbers. How odd.

I can't figure it out either.

On the other hand, a free Bahamas holiday would be nice. I can't imagine ever getting there any normal way - not from here.

[rahmota]

Sometimes they'll mention the company name in their call. Otherwise I'd just report whatever company is the one mentioned in the ad. I'm sure that happens enough time the ad agency is going to hear about it.....

Although I did get one company to stop one time as the convo went like this:
ME: I need to know your name, your supervisor's name and your companies name.
Them: Ummm why do you need all that sir?
ME: SO that I can report you personally, your supervisor and your comanpy to the state attorney general's office for violating the Do Not call list I have signed up with.

*click* was their response. Wow. Sometimes it does work.
Also hanging up on any computer voiced call. No matter what it is. It could be the sign of the second coming and I'll miss it if its done with acomputer call. I hate that. "We have an important call for you but all of our operators are busy" If its soooo important you have to call me about it then you could at least give me a human to talk to you know?

Seshat: Yeah I dont understand how a wardialer could call australia from america. Unless somebody programmed that baby a bit loose. Whew maybe next time you should see how long you can string them along to run their phone bill up. Try for at least an hour as international calls have got to be expensive.

Dreamstalker: I think non-profits are exempt from the DNC list as otherwise how would all the churches and other fund raising groups be able to get ahold of you as well as teh politician's and other political groups during the lections get their important messages out?

[Seshat]

Otherwise I'd just report whatever company is the one mentioned in the ad.

I'm confused now - mentioned in what ad?

Telemarketers over here have incredibly long spiels, often over a minute long, before they give you a chance to speak without interrupting. And these spiels seem designed to avoid tipping you off that they're actually going to get you to buy something, and definitely to avoid telling you the company name or any pertinent information for a complaint.

Which is, of course, one of the reasons they piss me off so much. And one reason I've learned to break into business calls and interrupt people - which doubtless annoys legitimate businesses who call me. I can't win, and that really irritates.

[Rubystars]

Imagine a situation where a relative or friend is in the hospital, and you're waiting to hear news. Maybe your child is severely sick in the neo natal care unit, and you don't know if they're going to live or die.

You know the call is coming and you're both frightened and anticipating the phone call. You hear the phone ring, and you rush to pick up the phone.

Instead of the hospital, you hear a telemarketer. While you're dealing with that, the hospital tries to call you.

[Dreamstalker]

Interesting situation, I'm wondering if in a case like that the company could be held responsible for something (if say the call from the hospital was regarding time-sensitive emergency treatment).

I'd like to see something in place that requires "sales" to show up on caller ID whenever a call center tries to call someone. I can't completely ignore numbers that show up as "unknown" as a couple friends/family members/doctors offices have numbers that don't show up (two are because of old/misconfigured PBX systems, one hides their number anyway and one works in a government office so Caller ID is blocked at the source).

That, or a version of the challenge-response spam filter for voice calls.

[rahmota]

Sorry seshat I meant in the ad as in the call. Ah heck with trying to please them its your phone your house if they get bent about you asking them to cut to the chase obviously they need to get a grip. A real business can understand whats goin on and get to the point a lot sooner. Besides from teh ones I've dealt with they like being able to give you the info, get your info back and then get going. Saves a lot of time and hassle.

Rubystars: Situations like that I'd immediately hang up if it wasnt who I was expecting. No explanations, no commentary just click gone. Family comes before anything and everything else. I recommend that method quite frequently anyhow.

Dreamstalker: Under the current pro-busines capitalist laws I sincerely doubt you could get the compnay held responsible. Unfortunately our laws are too forgiving on companies.

I'd like to see something in place that requires "sales" to show up on caller ID whenever a call center tries to call

yeah that would be a good idea. They still get to keep their phone number secret and hidden (somethign I dont like) and you still get the option of being able to screen the call. Sad to say I doubt that'll ever happen either.

[Seshat]

Sorry seshat I meant in the ad as in the call.

Ah. The ones who call my place tend to have great long spiels in which they don't mention a company name or what they're actually trying to sell you until long after I've lost my patience with them.

[rahmota]

The ones who call my place tend to have great long spiels in which they don't mention a company name or what they're actually trying to sell you until long after I've lost my patience with them.

Ah that sucks. Another reason to just say "Cut to the chase or its dialtone heaven for you.."

[powerboy]

.

As far as it goes- I understand that it's a job and that people have to pay their bills somehow. However, to be completely truthful, I absolutely can't stand being called by telemarketers either.
I always try and be nice.
Unless they keep calling after I've told them not to... then I get mad. I'll admit it.

Same here.

I hate being called on my phone or cell phone, from people i don't know. I once got a call about the 49ers playing against my cities PD. What kind of BS is that. After I found that out, I told them I am not interested. It only takes about 5 seconds to say that.

As far as door to door salesmen. I might buy, but most likely not at that time.

[Rubystars]

Just having the phone ring when you're expecting an important phone call is a bad thing. Even in the time it takes for you to realize it's not the person who was supposed to call you, your call could actually be trying to get through and hit a busy signal, or you could just be stressed out by the false alarm.