07/12/2002

Oh, Those Pesky Telemarketers!

Creative, humorous and assertive methods for silencing telemarketers abound. What do you suppose keeps those calls coming in when no one seems to appreciate them? Is there anyone out there buying products or services from these people? Maybe telemarketers thrive on the notion that negative attention is better than no attention at all. Here's a sampling of what you have to say on the subject.

Dear Beth:

SNET/SBC offers a service in conjunction with your caller ID called "Privacy Manager." If a caller's number will not display, which is usually the case with telemarketing calls, the call will not even ring to your phone. Instead it goes to an automatic message telling the caller that you do not accept calls from unknown sources and that they will ring through if they give their name. When the call comes through, you have the option of accepting or rejecting it. Generally, telemarketers have hung up long before then, so your phone doesn't ring. There is also "Anonymous Call Rejection," which works on the same basic theory. I have had "Privacy Manager" for a little over a year and have received only four solicitation calls in that time. It is a joy to sit down to dinner and not have the phone ring. Granted, there is a small monthly fee, but it is worth every penny!

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I read your article on unwanted sales calls. Just last week I received a call from some guy at AT&T. You would think that I had known him my whole life! What really irritated me was him calling me "dear". The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I told him in no uncertain terms that I found it condescending. We have "Caller ID," and this caller's correct name came up as a private individual -- not AT & T. I asked him about that and he mentioned something about being in the field making these calls. I also requested that I be deleted from their computer.

About two years ago, I requested from the State that my name be removed from these bothersome telephone calls and it has worked, in most cases. I would venture to say that the call volume has been reduced by 90%. When we see "out of area" on our caller ID we don't answer.

As a 911 dispatcher I receive these calls on the designated 7-digit telephone number that gains access to our emergency answering point. Imagine their surprise when I answer, "911, what is your emergency?"

A few years back, my son and I used to have fun with these persistent callers. We must have been bored. One particular one stands out...the Canadian Lottery. My ex-husband would get these calls relentlessly. My son and I decided to get rid of them once and for all. The first time we told them that my ex-husband was in detox; the second time that he was traveling the globe; and finally the last one we told them he was 'dead'. That ended the phone calls for good!

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Good topic. I hate telemarketing! I'm not entirely certain, but I think there are a couple things that can drastically reduce telemarketers' access to phone numbers, as well as reduce junk mail. Primary on my list of tactics is the word "no." Not enough people realize that they can tell people "no." Best place to practice that? At every cash register when the cashier asks for a phone number. Once a store has your phone number, it can get your address. And those lists get sold.

One of my relatives worked for a very short time for a telemarketing company (newspaper sales) that employed very aggressive tactics. She was required to get at least 3 "no's" before giving up. And, the person making the call is not authorized to forward the request to delete the name from the call list. That request must go to a manager.

The best approach to telemarketers is first, an answering machine. Second, don't even bother to continue the call long enough to ask to be removed from the call list - make that request in writing to the national direct marketing addresses you already listed. At the first instant of recognizing the telemarketing call, simply say "no thank you" and hang up.

I use a similar approach with door to door sales. When the person starts that familiar sales approach, I interrupt (politely) and say "No, thank you" and close the door. If someone gets insistent on talking at the door, I ask for the permit they are all required to have on their person. If they don't have it, they are operating illegally and I "offer" to call the police. That permit must be with the person making the door to door calls, not with the supervisor.

I also have an unlisted phone number. That in itself seems to have protected me from a significant amount of telemarketing. Unfortunately, the best protection would be for telemarketing sales to be unproductive: no profits, no continued business. But apparently there are huge numbers of people who do buy this way.

LINKS:

• Previous Article: No More Sales Calls!

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.