spoke to a lady at the FCC. On her advise, I signed up for the national do not call registry. If they call me again after 31 days from today, Feb 11, I can and will file a complaint.
BTW, anyone who buys a warranty from one of these companies is being swindled. These warrantis are all scams anyway. Just try and file a claim with them...you'll have as much luck getting them to pay up as I have trying to figure out who the hell they are.
I put a manually operated switch on our main phone line so I can switch it over to a FAX machine when I see a tele-marketer's number on the caller ID (you can also make use of an old computer modem for this). That way all they get is the squeal of the FAX modem in their ear.
Seems to be somewhat effective at preventing on-going calls. They usually give up after a few squeals (presumably concluding there's no person at that number). Just to be sure, I switch the line back after it's squealed for 10 seconds or so ... don't want to let them think they can successfully send me junk FAXes. #;-))
The other things we do:
- NEVER answer any questions when you don't know who's calling and, if it's a tele-marketer, tell them to stop calling and hang up (no discussion, just inform then hang up)
- use caller ID and an answering machine to screen ALL calls ... set the answering machine to answer after a large number of rings (7 or more) as many tele-marketers won't wait through that many rings
- to combat the machine-driven "I'll play you a 3 minute ad" -- MACY's!!! -- strategy, if you're not sure, don't speak when you answer as these machines are voice-triggered ... if you don't get some talking from them after 5-10 seconds, just (note the number) then hang up -- from then on, give 'em the FAX treatment
- if you can ID the company they're calling for, phone/write the company (preferably an executive in marketing) and let them know that this kind of advertising has only lost them your business and that you'll NEVER react in any other way to tele-marketing
... and MOST OF ALL, vote with your dollars (don't deal with companies that use tele-marketers) and let them know that you're voting with your dollars!
I just got a call from Walmart saying I won a $2600 getaway with free beer. I thought sweet they just asked to press 1 at the end of the speal. I didn't hit 1 in time and they hung up. I thought at first scam and then I was kicking myself for not pressing 1 in time. After some research on the web I'm finding it was a good thing I didn't. Freaking scammers.
I have been getting these calls for days... no message nothing so i refuse to answer you want to talek to me leave me a message and i'll call back if its legit. A word of advice if it tells you to "press this number to be remove or this number for etc " don't do it it is usally a scam to change your long distance carrier illegally and YOU WILL BE CHARGED for things you did not want!