"You have won a vacation, press 9 to receive your prize" phone calls...

[photon]

Anyone else get these? I'm scared to press 9 in case that somehow reverses the charges and I find out it's a $900/minute long distance scam!

[The Goon]

We get those all the time at the office. Obviously, don't press 9.

Sometimes the message says, "Don't think about it, just press 9 now!"

[photon]

But what happens if you press 9?

It's gonna kill me not knowing!

[Phaneuf3]

i push 8 - really throw them off

[Inferno]

I've gotten them a few times. I've hung up before it's asked me to press 9 though.

[CrusaderPi]

I get one of these every two days. I pressed nine once because I felt like yelling at someone. I asked 'who is this', 'what company do you represent', 'what contest is this', 'where did I enter', 'will you stop calling me', and 'shut up about your offer and tell me exactly what I have to do for you people to stop calling'.

The girl didn't say who she was or who sign her paychecks, but she was very rude. They are trying to get me to sign up for several cruises (at 70% off!!!!) with the first being free. When I got mad and told the supervisor to shut up and got me off the list I was abruptly hung up on. Fortunately they keep calling me back, so I guess I'll get to have another go round someday soon.

Now, I'm pretty sure if you ask they HAVE to stop calling you, but if they don't tell you who they are what can I do? Is there a government agency I could call and complain?

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Now, I'm pretty sure if you ask they HAVE to stop calling you, but if they don't tell you who they are what can I do? Is there a government agency I could call and complain?

per the CRTC

As a minimum, telemarketers must maintain "do not call/fax lists" and provide customers with a fax or telephone number where a responsible person can be reached.

[ericschand]

CrusaderPi, good question.

Bobble, good info, but what do you do when they don't listen?

I have some long distance company, StarTech, out of Montreal,
that much I got out of them. I continually ask for them to remove
me from their calling list. Yet they go on calling. Everyday, I get
at least one call. (They refuse to let me speak to a "supervisor",
probably because I get angry right off the bat, and yet they want
me to use them for long distance???)

Now what do I do?

ers

PS. If you press '9' you get your "free" vacation, but are bugged
continuously about buying more vacations from them.

[BlackEleven]

Press and hold 9 for as long as possible. I wonder how long the person on the other end will stay on the line with the loud keypress noise ringing in his or her ear. "Sir, sir, please release the button!".

[FlamesAddiction]

Never press 9.

I heard someone on the radio say that they did it, and it switched the call into "collect" mode, and it was like $10 per minute.... and obviously, there was no "prize" either.

[Gundo]

I just hit buttons and tell them its my turrets syndrome its actually amazing how much they will tolerate.

or try these fun things to do

Turn on the TV. Change the channel to one that only gets static. Turn the volume up really loud. Say that you can't hear them over the static.

Make up your own language. Speak it.

Make up a one word language. Speak it.

Pretend that you are a hostage negotiator, and try to get the telemarketer to release the hostages.

Order a large pepperoni pizza, some garlic bread, and a meatball sub.

Repeatedly dial the phone. Mutter that it isn't ringing.

Dial *69. Wait about a minute and say, "Damn unreliable *69."

Pretend that the telemarketer is your husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend. Talk sexually, making references to what you are going to do to him/her later tonight. When you "realize" that you are not speaking to your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend yell, "Pervert!" Slam the phone down to hang up.

Communicate only through Morse code.

Talk to the telemarketer. During the conversation dial the phone, and ask for Bill. Do this repeatedly.

Try to sell the telemarketer something.

Act drunk.

Turn on your shower. Say that you are on a portable phone and are really late for an important meeting.

Ask if he/she has been to Australia. Regardless of his/her answer ask if you can buy a boomerang and didgeridoo.
If he/she says "No" insist that he/she buy yours.
If he/she says "Yes" ask if he/she will take a strange currency.

Pretend to be an escaped mental patient. Mutter things like, "They'll never catch me again," "No! Not the jacket! No, no, no!" After saying one of these mutter incoherently.

Make him/her sing to get a sale.
If a male sings, claim that he sounds like Brittany Spears.
If a female sings, claim that she sounds like Barry White.

Pretend to be really interested. Then say, "No."

Say nothing until he/she hangs up.

Ask the telemarketer for his/her home phone number. Claim that you need some time to think, and that you'll get back to them.

Say, "Yes" immediately to whatever they are selling and hang up immediately afterwards.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by ericschand

CrusaderPi, good question.

Bobble, good info, but what do you do when they don't listen?

I have some long distance company, StarTech, out of Montreal,
that much I got out of them. I continually ask for them to remove
me from their calling list. Yet they go on calling. Everyday, I get
at least one call. (They refuse to let me speak to a "supervisor",
probably because I get angry right off the bat, and yet they want
me to use them for long distance???)

Now what do I do?

ers

PS. If you press '9' you get your "free" vacation, but are bugged
continuously about buying more vacations from them.

I think you get as much info as you can about the company (sounds like you already have a bunch) then call Telus (or whomever your local carrier is) and get them involved (perhaps Firefly knows if there is standard procedure that is followed).

[redforever]

Do you have a tracer on your phone? Or the service on your phone where you can retrieve the last number that dialed you? If you do, take down the phone number of the party phoning you. I am with Telus and this is what I do next. You dont even have to talk to an operator but sigh, you do have to go through that annoying voice menu crappola and talk to their computer.

Go to their page in the phone book where it gives you the number for customer service. Then when the Telus computer asks you how they can be of assistance, say "unsolicted phone calls". Once you get that department, you will be prompted at some point to enter in the phone number of the party calling you about the offer. Telus then phones that party within 30 minutes and asks them to no longer call your number.

If you are not with Telus, not sure what avenues to go through. If the party calling you has blocked their phone number, then there are other avenues as well, but then you have to talk with a customer service rep.

[photon]

Hm, neat! I'll have to give that a try, thanks!

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by photon

Hm, neat! I'll have to give that a try, thanks!

If you get the number they are calling from first can you post it, or PM it to me?

[photon]

Sure.. I waited too long with the last time so I'll have to remember to get it next time they call.

[Phaneuf3]

when i get a real live telemarketer i either tell them to wait while i go get the owner of the house and leave the phone on the counter till it does that annoying beeping thing or just breathe heavily into the receiver... but next time i'm gonna try this one:

Order a large pepperoni pizza, some garlic bread, and a meatball sub.

[Otto-matic]

I should pretend to do some wwii radio calls for an airstrike.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I think you get as much info as you can about the company (sounds like you already have a bunch) then call Telus (or whomever your local carrier is) and get them involved (perhaps Firefly knows if there is standard procedure that is followed).

Nope, it's not us. We can help you by sending through the stop fax thing or whatever, but if they don't listen, you have to go to the police or some such thing. I'm not really certain. I think you file a harassment charge.

Which you can certainly advise them when they call. I have found that telling them you're giving them their government regulated 30 days, and if they call back after that, you will press charges, will cause them to stop immediately.

[mykalberta]

Why waste effort talking to them for so long, here is what I do with IT Sales guys. Say you have a call, put them on hold until they hang up.

47:52 - new record reached on November 21, 2006.

MYK