Received call, caller ID stated Cruise Giveaway. Spoke with a woman who told me that they were giving out free cruises to occupy unused cabin space and that all it required of me was to tell my friends and family when I returned home. Today, I know that nothing is free. As I began to ask questions, the woman kept saying "hello?" as if she could not hear me, then the call was disconnected.
Daily nuisance, non-human 'avatar' bot phoning with a sales pitch for Caribbean Cruise Lines. When callee asks for a "live"/ "real" person, avatar answers with "..I AM a "live" person".. (lol)
This newest version of invasive and aggressive telemarketing practices eliminates the harassed person's ability to phone back and complain, opt-out (officially) from future contact, and/ or reiterate ones disinterest in what they're selling. The automated dialling avatar disconnects the call when one doesn't answer the invasive questions. Not being able to reach a live person/ supervisor translates into the nuisance calls/ voice-mails/ texts and emails continuing. Phoning back doesn't help because "Jennifer", the auto-bot/ avatar disconnects the call.
I reversed the phone number online 571.364.0232 and the Better Business Bureau showed the numerous complaints against this company and offered Caribbean Cruise Lines Corporate Office number 800.586.6693. I phoned and asked for a supervisor, explaining the harassing avatar calls. I fully expected them to deny any involvement but to my surprise, he stated that the avatar is an integral part of their marketing program.. as if there was nothing wrong with what they are doing.
I explained that all of the other nuisance calls at least supply an "opt-out" option, if the callee requests that all contact cease, typically that request is granted (that goes double when the person is on the Do-Not-Call list). This company's choice to disallow the harassed an opportunity to opt-out of future contact (not to mention that they are literally hiding their contact information so the public can't locate them) translates into Caribbean Cruise Lines being as slippery as a bag of snakes who harass and abuse the general public.
Word to the wise:
Online accounts ask repeatedly for all of us to offer-up a mobile number (theoretically so the password can be re-set or an account can be verified-kind of thing) but this is where the problem begins. Accounts are hacked and we are all repeatedly victimised when/ if we agree to supplying a phone number as well as email address when we open a new account of any variety.
Secondly, do yourselves a favour and register with the National Do-Not-Call registry. It only takes a second. After which, any/ all SPAM calls, voice mails, texts and emails can easily be reported (and hopefully stopped).
Federal Trade Commission- National Do-Not-Call-List registry:
https://www.donotcall.gov/
The responsible companies are supposed to check the Do-Not-Call list prior to contacting anyone/ everyone. Only the scammers and frauds/ shysters skip this step.
Complaints from the public = forcing them to stop.
Auto-dialling, computer-generated, (aka "robo-caller) avatar, "Jennifer", phones thousands of people each day, offering a "free" cruise for Caribbean Cruise Lines... repeating the same questions until the callee supplies the sought-after information. In this case, Caribbean Cruise Lines wants to know if you/ me have a valid credit card in our name because as you may have guessed.. the alleged "free" Caribbean cruise is NOT free.
According to the Federal Trade Commission consumer response team, companies that utilise computer-generated telemarketing robo-calls, voice-mails, texts and/ or emails are breaking the law if they do not offer an 'opt-out' option. The more legitimate and responsible companies will supply a simple "..if you do not wish to receive further offers, please press 1".. (adding that the number dialled will be removed from their call list within 24 - 72 hours)
Generally, if a robo-call doesn't offer an opt-out option, phoning back, asking for a supervisor and firmly stating you are opting-out of any/ all future contact should result in your number being removed from their auto-dial system.
Caribbean Cruise Lines robo-calls are invasive and annoying but more importantly, illegal due to the fact that the bot-caller disconnects when/ if the callee requests a supervisor (yet the calls continue). If the callee phones back, they reach the same robo-bot vs. a live call centre. Companies that make it impossible for the harassed public to opt-out are breaking the law.
It's best to report robo-calls that don't offer an opt-out option to the Federal Trade Commission (as well as register your phone number with the National Do Not Call List.
Consumers can register on-line for the national do-not-call registry by going to www.donotcall.gov.
To register by telephone, consumers may call 1-888-382-1222.