It is annoying, no doubt. And once you are on a list of suckers who donate money... ALL of them will start calling you. Why? Because certified non-profit organizations do not have to follow the same rules as other telemarketers in regard to the DNC list. Also, the same goes with if you have a business line. The DNC list does not apply to business lines.
These boards are filled with people ranting b/c of solicitations at their business (stating that their business is on the DNC list) and those ranting about non-profits (who are somewhat exempt). Maybe actually reading the regulations would be helpful for some of you.
I've also asked the Ohio people why they were calling for MD Sherriff's. The response? They are a marketing firm contracted to make the solicitation calls on behalf of the MSA. I requested information in the mail, and they did send it, with a MD remittal address. I guess we can't expect the local deputy to be making these calls on his coffee break. :) They probably just go with the cheapest bidder (which apparently is in Ohio). At least it's someone who can speak English!
Received a call from this phone number on 10/16/07 at 2:04pm EST. The person that called identified himself as someone from the Sheriff's department. He wanted a donation to fund a program that supports the safety of women and children basically. Once I told him I'm not employed, he immediately hung the phone up. What a FRAUD!
The messge above posted Oct 11 is correct in that this type of organization can circumvent the Do Not Call List. So I usually tell them immediately that there is no way I will ever donate over the phone and I hang up. Most times they usually go away after this.
The reason most of you are getting no answer when they call is because the calls are being placed by automatic dialing equipment. The equipment has the phone numbers to call entered into it and then it dials them. It keeps records of if or when the phone was answered, etc. so that it can call you back later if you don't answer.
If you do answer, the call is transfered to a live solicitor. If all the solicitors are busy when you answer the call, the equipment hangs up on you.
I believe that if you get a live person and tell them to take your name off their list, if they call again you have a claim for several hundred dollars against them. I'm just not sure what you have to do to collect.
One last thought: the guys staffing the phones get hundred's of calls transfered to them everyday. They can tell immediatedy if you are a sucker and will donate to their scam, thus there immediate hangup when you object. They need to get to the next transfered call because there may be a sucker on that call, and you are a waste of his time.
Same as all the other entries. Stated it was from our state police department; when I told him I did not make donations over the phone, he said "well have a good night.