All of you who feel the need to call people by negative terms "idiots, stupid, etc" just need to calm down. If you cant politely answer the question, then keep your comments to yourself. I came across this site because I too received a call from the 877 number and googled it. Now I know who was calling. I used to be a student and that's how they obtained my information, but I also know that I asked THREE times for them not to call me anymore because I am not interested in continuing my education at this time. Obviously it hasn’t stopped them. But I agree with previous statements, they are not solicitors and if you are receiving a call from them its because you, or someone using your number, offered it as a contact number. I would just inform the caller next time that you would like your number removed from their call list. End of discussion. All the negativity is completely childish and uncalled for. Be an adult people.
First call: They tried to call me when I couldn't pick up and didn't leave a message... A reputable service/business leaves a message. The second time: I picked up and said "hello" the call dropped or they hung up. Third time: My phone rang for a split second and stopped. Forth time: I picked up and spoke to someone and politely asked them to stop calling because I don't want/need them at this time. Fifth, sixth, and seventh time: I answered and was either hung up on or the call dropped.
I get called by this number numerous times a week. I told them that i'm not interested, they call again. I told them that i'm pursuing other goals, they call again. i never heard of this school until they called me. i put my number on the net and am going to continue putting my number on the net because i'm filling out online applications.
I have worked for CTU online as well as other online universities. I also have many friends who work for different online schools as well. I've been doing this for a long time. These are legitimate schools that get their inquiries from legitimate sources. I may have very well been someone who has called you. But we only called you because at some point at some time, you gave us our number and asked for the information through some channel. Like someone else posted - we called because it is our job to do so, and because we genuinely believe people have asked for the information. I know mistakes happen - numbers change and get reassigned or people sign up your number by mistake. Sometimes people prank their friends this way. Nine times out of ten, though, we have two phone numbers provided to us. I tend to think if someone provided us with a home and cell or work number, they meant it when they clicked "yes" for more information.
If being called is an issue for you, please, don't make it an issue. I guarantee if I call you and you hang up on me, I will call you at least one more time, because as an advisor, I do not know who hung up on me. If I am calling for Joe and I someone random doesn't identify themselves, I don't know if it's Joe hanging up on me or the cleaning lady. I will call it again. If I get it more than once, I move on, but that doesn't mean that someone somewhere else isn't going to get my inquiries and call them at a different time. So don't make it a frustrating issue for yourself. Pick up the call, identify who you are and simply ask that we remove you from the call list. I know where I work currently, it is as simple as the click of a button, it is instant, and personally, I ask no questions. People who ignore the phone calls or pick up and hang up are guaranteed to be called repeatedly. If you don't want the calls, ask them to stop.
Also, a word to the wise: Saying you are just "not interested" may stop the calls for a while, but most universities will keep the numbers and info and file them away for "old business" to rework at a later time. The theory is, maybe you aren't interested now, but six months from now, you may be again. If you absolutely want the calls to stop, definitely indicate that you want to be removed from the call list.
I hope this helps and sheds some light on things. We're not bad people, we work for highly accredited institutions whose business practices are constantly under review in order to keep that accreditation. We take it seriously. I have never yet met an advisor at any level at any online school who was in it to annoy people on the phone. You ask for information, we provide it to you. If there is a mistake, don't get frustrated. Let us know.