Current Events > Telemarketers calling at 8:47pm

(+) Yeah! (+)

Seriously

Another number to block
---

I used to work at a call center. I definitely felt guilty calling people outside of business hours. That whole thing was the worst experience of my life.
---

What company?
---

How old are you, 70?
---

Sign up for the Do Not Call Registry:
https://www.donotcall.gov

lilORANG posted...

I used to work at a call center. I definitely felt guilty calling people outside of business hours. That whole thing was the worst experience of my life.

Same. I did telemarketing for a couple companies in the mid 2000s. First one (MCI) was the worst job I've ever had by far. The second one I only worked at for a week before quitting.
---

Got one a few months ago just after my son had fallen asleep while sick. If I could punch someone through the phone I would have.
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

What company?

Not sure what the company name was, but I actually used to do the same kinds of calls for a company named Civic Development Group. That was my 2nd telemarketing job. Collecting donations in behalf of police departments.
---

It sucks, but that's actually within the legal times allowed: 8am - 9pm local time.
---

CableZL posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

What company?

Not sure what the company name was, but I actually used to do the same kinds of calls for a company named Civic Development Group. That was my 2nd telemarketing job. Collecting donations in behalf of police departments.

I meant what company called you.
---

I get at least 1-2 calls a day at my store.

The most common ones:

- You google/facebook listings are not good enough, pay us money and we'll get you more exposure on those sites

- We can lower your credit card merchant fees.

- Get a new business loan (usually automated)

I found the quickest way is to tell them the owner (who we call Sam, short for Scam) works remotely and can only be reached by email. The telemarketer will often say "ok" and hang up immediately. This is because they are most profitable when they have someone walk into the store to pressure the sale.

About merchant fees, small business pay about 1-3% for EVERY sale they make. Yes, 1-3% of your profits go to your credit card processor. Its actually an insanely complicated method. Everything from the cost of the product, to whether debit or credit is used, whether the card was swiped, chipped, or entered manually. So telemarketers love to exploit this, like companies that offer to do your taxes for you.

Kerred posted...

- You google/facebook listings are not good enough, pay us money and we'll get you more exposure on those sites

report these people to the FCC

Kerred posted...

- We can lower your credit card merchant fees.

hang up immediately, if you attempt to buy what they're selling you'll never get it. they're just scammers

Kerred posted...

- Get a new business loan (usually automated)

ditto except they're trying to steal your identity instead of just rob you
---

^ Yes, we call our guy who handles telemarketers "Sam". So if someone asks for Sam, that means Scam.

My favorite outright scams:

- Rocky Mountain Power calling "claiming" they will shut off our power today (thus hurting our business) unless we pay by credit card over the phone. lol

- Yellow Pages is now public domain, so scammers create a company called Yellow Pages and claim we owe them $400 in service fees.

I get called by numbers all the time that seem like numbers in my area code. Like, for instance a number called me that was only 1 number off of my own phone number lol. About a month ago, I scrapped my bumper and got it replaced, had a rental, etc. and some lady called me last week about my "insurance claim" and my rental car. I quickly figured out it wasn't true, but I was like, holy shit how did they know I had a rental car last month.
---

NightMarishPie posted...

I quickly figured out it wasn't true, but I was like, holy shit how did they know I had a rental car last month.

They either don't and just guess or that information is available publicly somehow such as through a credit check.
---

I keep my phone on Do Not Disturb so i don't get bugged by telemarketers.
---