Anyone Else On Here Hate Telemarketers?
@danishcanadian (28955)
Canada
June 17, 2009 12:45am CST
I really hate telemarketers!!! One of them has been harassing my husband and I, calling on my line (we have two lines in here) asking for him. I have the house phone, a local number here in Canada, and he has his Vonage phone, still with his old Arizona number. This is great, because sometimes we can't call certain numbers in the States from Canada, and on those occasions, we use the Vonage. For all other calls, we use my phone. However, when Hubby needs to leave a number for something, he'll leave his number.
Well, these people have been calling for him, and not telling me what it's all about. One lady got down right beligerent tonight.
Hello, is ### there?
Who'se calling?
Is ### there? This is Jan.
Jan? (spoken loud enough for hubby to nod or shake his head yes or no)
Jan Who? Why are you calling?
Is ### there?
Finally I got her to tell me why she was calling, and Hubby said he didn't sign up for such a thing.
Next time some lady does that to me, I'm going to play a little game with her. Before I describe what I'm going to do, let's say that my husband is a faithful man, and only has eyes for me, and I trust him 100%. However, he and I have agreed, that it might be fun to play with a telemarketer.
Next woman who calls for him and won't tell me who she is, I'm going to accuse her of stalking my husband, and ask her if she is "involved" with him. When she's shocked I'm going to say "come on, lady? Why else would you call this late at night, ask for him, and not state your business when a WOMAN answers? I can't think of a better explanation than that you are possibly trying to start an affair with him, or something."
Then I'm going to tell her to F#@K off, and I'm not going to censor it.
Then, knowing the truth that Hubby is only mine, and this is just stome idiotic telemarketer, Hubby and I are going to laugh our heads off at the shock, and maybe next time this woman calls and asks for a man, and his wife answers, she'll STATE HER FREAKING BUSINESS!!!! LOL
If a man calls, and won't reveal himself or his business, I'm going to play with him too. I'm going to tease him and (again this is just a game I only have eyes for my husband) ask him what he's wearing, and other personal questions. hahahahaha I'm going to just keep the guy going, until he gets frustrated and hangs up.
I could also say "he may or may not be here. You sound like the guy who called me last night just to see if my husband was home, because he was some kind of stalker and wanted to get me alone. Call me again, and I'm calling the cops!" hahahaha I'm going to scare the crap of any idiot who won't state their business when I ask them who they are, and why they are calling.
Hubby and I have decided to take no more crap from these idiotic tele-people.
6 people like this
25 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
17 Jun 09
as a former telemarketer I can tell you that it is the worst job in the world. You get shite from the customers and shite from your boss, it was made me so sick that I had to quit working in 2005. You would never believe the pressure telemarketers are under to make those sales.
The best thing to do is hang up, that way they are not penalized by their bosses and you don't have to listen to what they have to say.
3 people like this
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
17 Jun 09
I thought of that. However, the way this lady acted, I coudln't tell if it was someone that Walker was expecting to hear from (could have been someone from SSI, a lawyer, accountant, old business...) if she'd have just stated WHY she was calling...
I'm sure as a telemarketer you were wise enough to state your business, so atleast people knoew WHY you were calling. However this lady just insisted on talking to my husband and would not state WHY she wanted to talk to him.
Have you ever been in a telemarketing job where you were NOT ALLOWED to answer the person's question when they asked WHY you were calling, if you dind't state your reasons right away?
Someone called earlier for me and said they were from the newspaper and would I like a subscription. I said I wans't interested, and hung up. I'm only saying my "big games" for people who insist on not identifying themselves, and get pushy.
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
17 Jun 09
it all depends upon the rules of the company you work for, I some companies are very strict about talking only to the person they ask for and most companies will not let you give out any information if you don't talk to the right person.
So I have been on both sides, sides where I was not allowed to say and sides where I was to introduce myself right away.
It is pretty frustrating for you I know but it is equally as frustrating for the person in the other end trust me, I have seen people in tears, telemarketers do not have the glorious jobs people think they do.
All the phone calls are taped and it would have been a relief to her if the minute she didn't answer your question you hung up. That is what I do with anyone who asks to speak to me or anyone else and won't identify themselves, I just hang up. And if they are brazen enough to call back I tell them if they don't identify themselves I will hang up again.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (161010)
• United States
17 Jun 09
Winterose offers a more balanced idea of what the life of a telemarketer is like. I had an elderly relative who tried to that work for awhile once. It drove him bonkers. I know they get in trouble for not succeeding at making sales. No wonder it made you sick. I am glad to know it is a relief if we just hang up. It proves they made the call and they do not have to keep trying to browbeat us.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161010)
• United States
17 Jun 09
You know, I like the approach a lot. I have funny stories from two of my friends. One friend, when she would get offers of cash advances or money help she would say "Oh, you called just in time. I lost my job, and the kids are hungry. My rent is due and I would like that check sent to me right away. Oh, wait a minute, I will just drive right there and pick it up." She said it only took once to have them quit. I have another friend whose husband used to be a farmer. He would be gone from first light to dark daily. Might come home for lunch. People would call, wanting to speak to him. She would answer, and offer to take a message, and they would refuse, saying it was business for him. (Usually banking or credit business). The thing is, she is the business minded person in the family. My friend would tell the callers, when he talked to them, that they would talk to his wife if they wanted HIS business, because if his wife was not good enough for them to talk to, then he was not good enough for them to talk to either. I have caller ID and do not talk to anyone I do not want to.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
17 Jun 09
the other important thing that I forgot to mention is asked to be put on the do not call list, it doesn't always work as some companies are no good, but good companies will comply,
it takes about 72 hours before the request goes through in their systems.
1 person likes this
@Loraden (64)
• Canada
11 Jul 09
Yes! Canada does have a no call list for all the good that does. I tried everything to get them to stop calling and the same person just kept calling trying to sell me a credit card, I hung up, I swore at her, I insulted her nationality, and I put her specifically on my no call list. She kept calling me, then eventually others started to call so I spent most of the time between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 pm every night answering calls from telemarketers. My answer, I finally asked that the phone be removed from my apartment and I used a cellphone with an unlisted number that I only provided to my family and friends and my workplace. The telemarketers even started to phone me on this cell phone so I threw it in the garbage and don't use a phone anymore. If people want to talk to me they can e-mail me or come and see me personally. Life is much better now that I am not being harassed by these people constantly.
1 person likes this
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
17 Jun 09
This sounds great to me, they can be so
annoying to us,so give some of it back to
them. Let us know if you do, I want to
laugh with you, for all the ones that
have annoyed me. Oh, I just think this
is a great Idea, mostly what I do is hang
up on them, go for it.
Have a great day.
1 person likes this
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
17 Jun 09
I know they are just trying to do their job but some of those people get stuck in a 3x3 cube with their own stink for 10 hours and it just gets to them. I used to be one of those people but I couldn't take the rejection. Here is a fun game to play, ask them who can hang up the phone first, you will win everytime. Have fun.
2 people like this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
28 Jun 09
Telemarketers used to get on my last nerve. I would ask to be taken off of their call list asnd they would say okay. They kept calling though. We got on the no-call list and we usually do not get those calls now. They used to call late at night and while we were eating and we would say we were eating or in bed but they did not care. They would keep rambling on until we hung the phone up on them.
@ElicBxn (63644)
• United States
14 Jul 09
before the days of the common audio books, my roommate, who is visual impaired, was a day sleeper and would get the callers
one day she had just gotten to the "juicy" part of a bodice ripper and she got one of those calls that are on a tape
She turned on her "talking book" machine, but the headset on the speakers and went to sleep
She pictured with GLEE the person who was going to have to type up what was recorded on that tape....
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I couldn't agree with you more, danishcanadian. Telemarketers are the worst! I have recently been bombarded by them trying to pitch me things I have absolutely no use at all for. I finally resorted to signing up with the Do Not Call List. So far they seem to be slackening up a bit.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
17 Jun 09
If it is okay for them to do what they do... no reason you can't turn the tables and give it back!!!I realize they are just doing their job and trying to make a living, but at the same time..."sorry, I am not interested" should be enough for them to give it up. Plus...business only.. if they get pesonal... then you know there is something "else" going on.
But the thing is... do it with comedy...like you said... play along. When a telemarketer or solicitor calls they can state their business and if I dont' want it, I will say so and if they presist...I'll do something like say... "hold on and let me change phones".. lay the phone down and go back to what I was doing.. and when I hear the dial tone.. go hang up the phone! Or one my grand daughter loves doing... well, she started it as a trick on one of her grand pas friends that called incessively! But when they ask for someone else, I'll say "hold on and I'll get him" and again,just lay the phone down until they hang up! I am nice, but don't pester me!
1 person likes this
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
13 Oct 09
How have these jokes been going - I so wish I could be a fly on your wall when you got a phone call from a telemarketer!! I sometimes get the telemarketers from India call up (alot of Australian companies use Indian call centers because they are cheaper than hiring Aussies)...I hate telemarketers at the best of times but it can be worse when it's not an Australian national (I'm not trying to offend anyone here) because it is very hard to understand the majority of telemarketers these days because of their strong accent & sometimes I have spoken to ones who can barely speak English...I know these workers are only trying to make a buck to live but it would be so much earier telling them where to go if we could all understand each other.
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
13 Oct 09
How have these jokes been going - I so wish I could be a fly on your wall when you got a phone call from a telemarketer!! I sometimes get the telemarketers from India call up (alot of Australian companies use Indian call centers because they are cheaper than hiring Aussies)...I hate telemarketers at the best of times but it can be worse when it's not an Australian national (I'm not trying to offend anyone here) because it is very hard to understand the majority of telemarketers these days because of their strong accent & sometimes I have spoken to ones who can barely speak English...I know these workers are only trying to make a buck to live but it would be so much earier telling them where to go if we could all understand each other.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I just don't really answer my phone when I don't recognize the number. If it's important they'll leave a message or something. If I do answer it and it is a telemarketer I just hang up and don't answer it if they call back.
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
19 Jun 09
To bad you don't have "a no call list" in Canada like they do in Wisconsin! I sign up for it at least once every 2 years! When you do you won't get any telemarketers calling or very few! I love it! I hate telemarketers as much as the next person! When they call sometimes I know it is a telemarketer when they don't say anything right away when I say hello! I usually hang up before they do say anything! If they do I'll hang up or tell them to f**k off then hang up! I don't put up with their crap either!
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
18 Jun 09
I do not like telemarketers either. Right now the banks are putting the security chip in our credit cards (good idea( and now there are telemarketers who are calling from India telling us that we should take advantage of a special offer, i.e. upgrading the card so we have to pay an annual fee for a few airmiles or cash backs. I do not mind local businesses who are trying to drum up someone who wants their furnaces clean, etc. but when banks and other companies hire people with bad English and hard to understand accents, I do not like it.
Oh telemarketers are supposed to tell you who they are and what they are calling for, usually it is their first name or a code number. I was a telemarketer and we were supposed to do it (of course it was because we worked on a commission basis( and we could not phone after nine or during supper. Of course, I would not recommend that job to anyone. It does not pay enough and you get bored looking at phone lists and saying the same thing either.
@darkangel079 (1488)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I remember during those days when people would call up landline phones, the telemarketers, they would introduce themselves and then offer crap that I'm not even interested. Honestly I find them a real pain in the as$. It has gotten pretty bad back in the days, having to change your number all the time, then having to deal with them again and again. It's a lot better though if you put your number in the Do-Not-Call list so that way telemarketers can't call you. But now today, telemarketers have become automatic voice systems where you can't rant at them. It's got pretty bad that not only does it happen to landlines, but now on cell phones too. I have to say that has got to be the worst job ever to have. I can relate to you in many ways, I mean I've had my rants on them at the phone. It gets your head so boiled you just want to tell them to fucc off. I don't blame you. Well cool discussions, glad to have responded back. Have a nice day! 
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
18 Jun 09
haha great idea! it drives me nuts because my hubby will be nice and listen to their whole spill and they are required most of the time to keep bugging you till you say no three times in the conversation or else some times their work will get onto them.. i say dont waste their time getting around to the 1st no and hang up so they can call some one who might care!
@gcorp09 (940)
• Singapore
18 Jun 09
Well, I do not really like telemarketers as well. However, we do have to understand that it's their job, and they had to do it to hit their daily target as well. I had once worked as a telemarketer for a few days, and understand that it's really a hard job to do.
For me, I will usually reject them nicely if possible, by saying that I'm not free.
@faisai (1138)
• Hong Kong
18 Jun 09
I also hate those telemarketers. I recently received quite some calls from those cold calls guy that they don't actually know my name and just call out randomly to look for people to sell whatever "wonderful" products they have. In the past I will just tell them I don't need nothing and hang up but these days, I am changing my tactics.
Lately, a lady call me and ask for the owner of my mobile number. I ask her who she is looking for and she starts right away to sell her products so I immediately told her I need nothing from her. She then asked why I think I don't need her products. You know what I answer? "You don't even know who I am, how can you know I will possibly need your product" And she just hangs up. 
@Dreajk20 (28)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I do not like telemarkers because they always call me when I don't want to be bothered . It's like they know when you don't want to be bothered and they still call you to bother you.
