Oops, Dave Barry Does It Again 733
agdv writes "After the success of his first article providing the phone number of the American Teleservices Association, and the ensuing reaction by said organization, columnist Dave Barry attacks again, providing the ATA's new phone number. Read all about it! (the number is 317-816-9336, long distance charges may apply)."
Re:The association? Why not some home numbers? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:The association? Why not some home numbers? (Score:4, Informative)
ATA Board of Directors [ataconnect.org] (Google Cache [216.239.59.104])
ATA Staff [ataconnect.org] (Google Cache [216.239.59.104])
Re:Slashdotted (Score:3, Informative)
Possible Home Numbers for ATA board members (Score:5, Informative)
Chairmain
Thomas Rocca
1014 Ector Dr Nw
Kennesaw, GA 30152
(770) 429 - 1956
Vice-Chairman
Lisa Defalco (Business Number)
TPG Telemanagement Inc
301 Oxford Valley Road, Morrisville, PA 19067
(215) 369-0979
I'll leave the lookups of the rest as an exercise for the reader:
Re:Not just a new number.. (Score:5, Informative)
So, click here [ataconnect.org]
Re:www.ataconnect.org (Score:2, Informative)
It's still responding to pings (although not very well) and also gives back some SYN/ACK packets. If it's a bandwidth problem, they've probably taken it down on purpose until the traffic stops. Why they didn't just unplug the machine though is beyond me.
----www.ataconnect.org PING Statistics----
17 packets transmitted, 17 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip (ms) min/avg/max = 108/801/4445
*67 is your friend (Score:4, Informative)
Dial *67 before you dial the number, and your number will show up as 'blocked ID' (or similar) on the display on the other end.
However, IIRC this does not work when you're calling a 1-800 or other toll-free number. I guess the idea is that if you are footing the bill you should be allowed to block your number, and if you are paying for the toll-free line you should be able to see who is calling you - which makes sense.
Toll-free number for ATA's legislative branch (Score:5, Informative)
"The number Dave Barry printed is now disconnected. And of course it is illegal as well as wrong to make prank phone calls. The law stands firm against the kinds of jokes played by 9 year-old kids!
But surely it's a fair use of free speech to call the ATA's legislative branch, whose toll-free number is listed on their contact page as (866) 500-4272, and urge them to lobby for better Do Not Call laws."
Surely.
Re:Down already - oops (Score:1, Informative)
Re:*67 is your friend (Score:5, Informative)
No, the reason why is because people with 800 numbers usually also make use of ANI, or Automatic Number Identification. This takes place at a lower level than CID and so cannot be blocked.
Re:Down already - oops (Score:1, Informative)
Chairman
Thomas Rocca
Interactive Response Technologies
Kennesaw, GA
Vice-Chairman
Lisa DeFalco
TPG Telemanagement
Yardley, PA
Treasurer
Andrew Miller,
Apac
Omaha, NE
Secretary
Kathryn Barber
Barber Consulting
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Immediate Past Chairman
Bill Miklas
InfoUSA
Omaha, NE
Directors
Stuart Discount
Tele-Response Center Inc.
Philadelphia, PA
Benjamin Harris
Unicall International
Fairlawn, OH
Connie Richardson
West/Dakotah Direct II
Spokane, WA
Gil Stallings
Consultant
Hackensack, NJ
Kathleen Thompson
Bank One
Wilmington, DE
Mark Williams
MBNA
Wilmington, DE
Re:Down already - oops (Score:1, Informative)
Tim Searcy
Executive Director
tim@ataconnect.org
Bill Morris
Finance Director
bill@ataconnect.org
Lynne McCauley
Director of Member Services
lynne@ataconnect.org
Mitchell Roth
Government Affairs Counsel
mitch@ataconnect.org
Brad Rateike
Manager of Member Services
brad@ataconnect.org
Jason Perry
Marketing Manager
jason@ataconnect.org
Karl Jacobs
Manager of Special Projects
kjacobs@ataconnect.org
Robert Fanger
Manager of IT Systems
bobf@ataconnect.org
telnet ataconnect.org 25
220 ataconnect.org ESMTP Sendmail 8.11.6/8.11.6; Sun, 5 Oct 2003 08:41:18 -0600
More numbers:+1 (818) 766 5324 +1 (800) 441 3335 (Score:3, Informative)
+1 (818) 766 5324
+1 (800) 441 3335
http://www.ataconnect.org/
Do-not -call list is a waste of time (Score:4, Informative)
The Do Not Call List is being ignored (Score:3, Informative)
I used to tell them simply that i'm not interested and hang up. Now i tell them i'm on the list, call them names and generally abuse them. I can't understand what would make a telemarketer think that they would have a successfull call to someone who has actively taken measures that indicate that they explicitely don't want to receive them.
Re:How do you handle Telemarketers? (Score:5, Informative)
I was called once by a roofing service. When I said go away, they hung up... but their system didn't totally disconnect. I heard some other dialing and voices in the background, so after a minute I said hello. A different guy answered, called me by someone else's name, and started the same pitch. I was sooooo tempted to say "yes, please come give the free inspection, come in through the back, ok?"
Also, everyone please consider calling the number in my sigfile and leaving a generic complaint. An update on the situation: MBNA called me multiple times asking me if I wanted to change my card from an Audobon Society Platinum Visa (where the Society makes a tiny amount of profit) to some generic MBNA Platinum Mastercard. I told them no multiple times, and they finally stopped calling, but two days later I got a letter congratulating me on being "approved" for an "upgrade" from the Visa to the Mastercard. I guess they just decided they'd slam my account over so they could stop paying out to the Audobon Society.
Moral of the story: MBNA engages in devious practices, including slamming and using telemarketers who don't respect wishes of existing customers, and should be avoided.
Telemarketing: It was never a problem for me (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Dave Barry ROCKS (Score:4, Informative)
Re:The association? Why not some home numbers? (Score:5, Informative)
Help them out! call: 317-816-9336, 212-790-1598 (Score:1, Informative)
http://www.tmcnet.com/cis/0403/0403po.htm
What Can You Do To Help?
If you are interested in helping the injunctive relief actions that are the subject of the above three lawsuits, write or call the following asking how you can help.
1. Contact the ATA and ask for Tim Searcy, Executive Director, ATA Strategic Planning. Phone: 317-816-9336; e-mail: timsearcy@ataconnect.org.
2. Contact the DMA and ask for Mike Faulkner, Senior Vice President, DMA Segments & Affiliates. Phone: 212-790-1598; e-mail: mfaulkne@the-dma.org.
Help them out! geve em a call!
Busy *Update* (Score:5, Informative)
Listen to the message, go through the menu, hit 1 to access other mailboxes or you can use the company directory (Hint [216.239.59.104] Hint [216.239.59.104]) to leave messages for all your favorite ATA associates!
I believe the mailboxes are all 3 digit numbers, the number Dave Berry Posted is mailbox #104.
Re:Harassment (Score:3, Informative)
On the angle of selling them something, I can think of lots of worthless things I have that I might want to sell them. But where is it written that I can only phone them to sell them something? Hmmmm, you sure seem to think like a telemarketer, i.e. the phone is only for selling something.
I have news for you. There are many perfectly valid reasons to call someone. Merely knowing that others have a similar complaint does not take away my right to call.
In fact, if they could tell without having to call that you were not interested, they would not make the call.
Talk about twisted. You must be a telemarketer troll.
We have just given them the greatest tool in the history of mankind for them to be able to tell in advance that we are not interested. It is called the DO NOT CALL LIST.
I am opposed to the kind of mob behavior that caused the ATA to disconnect their phone line.
So are you opposed to the mob behavior of the telemarketers that would cause me to have to disconnect my phone line? Hypocrit.
Be honest now. If you called the ATA you weren't really trying to give them any information or state an opinion, you just wanted to inconvenience them. You were just happy for an opportunity to retaliate.
You nailed it in one. Absolutely right. The ATA has stated that I have an absolute right to do so. And no matter what the ATA says, I do have an absolute right to call them and complain and state opinions. Until MY calls become an issue by themselves, I am doing nothing wrong. By them or their members calling me, and them stating public opinions on the matter of their members calling me, I have the right to call them back.
If I called you, and then you gave me a return phone call, I would have a pretty hard time arguing that your one return call constituted harassment.
I personally know an individual (a dentist) who has successfully used telemarketing. He employs one woman who works from home cold-calling people to get their teeth cleaned. Telemarketing has been the most successful method of getting new patients that he has ever tried. Additionally, the woman doing the job benefits from well paying at-home employment.
And if they have the right to call me. Then I have the right to call them. It works both ways. The telephone is for communication. Not just for sales. And I have something I want to communicate. They are required under US Law (I used it once against a local newspaper, sorry I don't know the exact chapter and verse offhand) to
- Maintain their own do not call list.
- Have a written policy on maintaining the list.
- Add me to the list upon request.
- Give me WRITTEN CONFIRMATION that I am on the list.
- Provide me a written copy of their policy on maintaining their list.
If a local business calls me and does not do the above, then I will see them in court.I would suggest to anyone who is called by a local business such as this dentist to agressively pursue the above action. Start by sending them a registered mail, signature required, return receipt. In your letter, state the exact laws that entitles you to written confirmation that you are on their own list, and written copy of their policy for maintaining the list. If they fail to respond, you have a direct cause of action against them. (I have forgotten the amount.) You can find this at any good anti-telemarketing web site. That's how I did it.
With my local newspaper experience, it is only too bad that I did not get $500. Instead, they opted to never EVER call me EVER again. If they call me again before 2007, I can and will sue them.
There is something else here. If this dentist does not already have in place (1) a do not call list that people can request to be added to and (2) a written policy on maintaining the list, then they are already breaking US law. If anyone can identify this dentist and whether he is in compliance with all telemarketing laws, this would be useful to know.
Re: technical /. response (Score:5, Informative)
But with a normal number (1-317-ppp-nnnn), it is possible to block your number. Use calling ID suppression (*67 or whatever your CLASS activation code is) before dialing this number, so they can't claim "prior business relationship".
the AC
[1] Its possible to make calls without a traceable ID, but its difficult and requires an SS7 [openss7.org] connection
Here's more food for the dialers (Score:5, Informative)
I am sure they want to talk to people, as lonely as they must be.
Let's start from the top? I'll start from the top myself, and I'll have my fax machine start from the bottom.
Anoymous Howard (Score:1, Informative)
i hate TMs as much as any of you but i haven't gotten a single call since Oct. 1.
for now the TMs are voluntarily honoring the DNC list.
so we should cut them *some* slack.
of course the first TM one that calls me is gonna really catch hell.
Re:I Agree with his work... (Score:1, Informative)
If you think an entry is needed just use n/a and have your number unlisted (so they don't look it up in a reverse directory).
Or use a phone number, just not your own -- they will mail the coupon, right? So, what's the phone number for?
Or just grow up and realise that "TANSTAAFL" is reality and throw out such 'free offers'. This is the safest response.
I haven't heard of any provision to 'remove' such a realationship, especially since many of these calls are from 'affilliates', not the direct parties.
For companies that you are no longer a customer of, you should be able to get them to remove you.
"I am no longer your customer and am on the national do not call list, please put me on your do not call list."
Re:Beating dead horses. (Score:5, Informative)
Voice mail, as was mentioned in TFA you didn't R.
"You have to pay long-distance charges, hence there is no actual damage done to the association people might want to annoy."
Wasted man-hours.
"Can we let it go?"
If they can't, why should we?
"How about publishing the numbers of those congressmen who voted against DNC list?"
- Rob Bishop (R-UT)
- Washington, DC Office: 202-225-0453
- Ogden, Utah Office: 801-625-0107
- Tim Ryan (D-OH)
- Washington, DC Office: 202-225-5261
- Warren, Ohio Office: 330-373-0074
- Youngstown, Ohio Office: 330/740-0193
- Lee Terry (R-NE)
- Washington, DC Office: 202-225-4155
- Omaha, Nebraska Office: 402-397-9944
- Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
- Washington, DC Office: 202-225-2635
- Mesa, Arizona Office: 480-833-0092
- Ted Strickland (D-OH)
- Washington, DC Office: 202-225-5705
- Marietta, Ohio Office: 740-376-0868
- Wheelersburg, Ohio Office: 740-574-2676
- Boardman, Ohio Office: 330-965-4220
- Martins Ferry, Ohio Office: 740-633-2275
- Ron Paul (R-TX)
- Washington, DC Office: 202-225-2831
- Freeport, Texas Office: 979-230-0000
- Victoria, Texas Office: 361-576-1231
- Western District (14) Office: 512-753-5553
- Tom Tancredo (R-CO)
- Washington, DC Office: 202-225-7882
- Centennial, Colorado Office: 720-283-9772
When complaining, refer to House Resolution 395 (Do-Not-Call Implementation Act), which they saw fit to vote against on 12 February 2003 at 5:17 PM.Re:*67 is your friend (Score:3, Informative)
Re:True Tales of Telemarketing (Score:3, Informative)
I believe you can get a telco to restrict a line to only outbound calls.
This restriction feature is important for security reasons - for example if a computer tries to call another computer and log in to it, but if the line is unrestricted, someone could call it just before it dials and, it'll be sending the username and password to the wrong party.
This sort of thing can happen to people who dial up for Internet access.
Crossed lines can be a vulnerability too. A friend managed to get a 2400 baud connection over a crossed line. Was someone else trying to dial an ISP...
How dot they feel about unsolicited email? (Score:5, Informative)
Tim Searcy
Executive Director
tim@ataconnect.org
Bill Morris
Finance Director
bill@ataconnect.org
Lynne McCauley
Director of Member Services
lynne@ataconnect.org
Mitchell Roth
Government Affairs Counsel
mitch@ataconnect.org
Brad Rateike
Manager of Member Services
brad@ataconnect.org
Jason Perry
Marketing Manager
jason@ataconnect.org
Karl Jacobs
Manager of Special Projects
kjacobs@ataconnect.org
Robert Fanger
Manager of IT Systems
bobf@ataconnect.org
Re:Not just a new number.. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Turnabout is fair play (Score:0, Informative)
Re:Turnabout is fair play (Score:4, Informative)
Really now? Thanks for the news flash pal!
My thought process lead me to 317-816-9336, you know, the one listed in the story [slashdot.org] (in case you still can't find it) and/or the other numbers, peppered throughout the comments, of their managers. BTW, it is not an 800 or equivelant number.
Great tip though, for folks who know nothing about the phone system.
Re:The association? Why not some home numbers? (Score:3, Informative)
We had talked about creating a webpage with an email address. The webpage would discuss a contract for a large amount of money, and say emailing the listed email address would enter you into the binding contract and you'd owe a lot of money. The email address would be nonobvious and not posted anywhere else other than this one webpage. The whole point, of course, is to catch spam email harvesters and sue them for a lot of money. As soon as you started getting spam at that email addy, the spammers would be those who entered into your contract.
Sounds like a great idea, but there is no such thing as a contract without a "meeting of the mind" so to speak. So, for better or for worse, it wouldn't work. Of course, if you make your tape recording in your voice, and they have a recording of the sale (you saying "uh-huh") you'll have a hard time proving that it was your recording and not you who said it. But, if you could prove that by a preponderance of the evidence I'd imagine the contract would not exist.
Fighting back - 800-259-1553 (Score:3, Informative)
Whenever these "free software" commercials come on, I pick up the phone and auto-dial the 800 number until the commercial goes off the air. I get a nice recording for about 30s and then call back over and over.. just like they do to me.
I take great satisfaction in making my "free" call to them to listen to the recorded message about their "free" software. Hopefully they'll get the message. Remember, "It's FREE!" Try it yourself: 1-800-259-1553!
Re:The association? Why not some home numbers? (Score:3, Informative)
to be an excellent resource. Keep it near the door for religious callers, work through it point by point asking them to justify their answers, until they want to leave, then try and persuade them to stay just a little longer.
I haven't needed to use mine for several years, they just don't seem to stop here any more.
The SIT tone (Score:4, Informative)
H4sICK4SHj4AA3NpdC10b25lLndhdgDtm/lSGlkYxcl/8+e8wf AA8xKpTKyyatREcAEEweCKikHckB13RcUFFRUXRGM0ieMTzr1N 07n0ertpsIHPVKpSwZP8hNPf+c6t7u72trbnXyZT3/vejyNTQf OfJpPpHfr1z7OJ+f3O9IfJ6wl6rOh74s3xtRSYHHY7ei2fOjs6 Oru6e2wu7/jMfGRlO3N6WXh4+vny+vr68vPpoXB5mtleiczPjH tdtp7uLvztnyy9DvfwZGApvpY+zF3dPT7/+u/19b+XH9/vb86z e5vJ5eD06NBAv/VzV0dHR9dna//A0Oh0cDm5uZc9v7n//uMFf/ uv58e7q9xhei0GLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMAC LMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLMACLM ACLI3Kkt1dDQd9mMBi6el3fvHNhlfTx+jF78/Pj/fXuYOtxOLM mMfRZ7VYe+3uUf9CfDNzdl18fHp++la4zO6uRYKTpHx5JX18cY vliDl3uJVYIuXTC/GNzNlVSX6XP9lbi8xNDnPyiQBPvp3E8gFW PjI9H9vYPyXl0bmpsnwAy1M7R5z8HMu/jg+x8sGy/I6Tr2P5oK 0XvY7eyfFACMnPOfnRdipEyqfmo+tY/o2RX53ur0fnp0YG7Vje h+RfQ6ntI/wxIPnD7fnRTioUmECfFqLrtQ0OT81F1/dO8oz8Ec s3YvPTpHwpuX3IyS+QfDkw8YWRow8Oy9c4efHqNMPI3azcMzaD 5TlOfpxewXJnWT4ZjJDys8xGfGF6lJU7sDyxxZPP+ji5F8t3s5 eFkvz6LLMZX/CT8sXE1kHu+v4RywuXx+nV8KzPy8l9wfAqKT/Y jC8iuYOVj/oXE5sHpK0YVzpZX3ixK7H8Acv5rnSIuHKV58owth Vr6hsFU+f5pp4QmDpJmnpkeiG2kTmVNfXOsaIriwJXMqYemmBc WSHnuTK2Tpp6nzA160rO1KwrCTnjyn3Slesxnqn5rpQ2dZHC1D xXzkX4pl7gTM24MilwJc/Uu9m8gitvWFdieZjC1A6BqdHryNRZ RVMnGFP3MXK3hKldpKklR62YqeVH7YFw1G7yRm1QedTKmDoqML WWUUuaWm7UxlSP2nEcjEhe3ajtLY1aGVN7+PJjeVOLjFo5U2sb tRVyuVE75i/JSVdypiZGLStnXOknXbkY55maP2qr2R8URi3N/i ActR6FUetiXSm2P4R03x/yhKn5o5Z+f9AyagX7A3/UUuwPBc7U m8L94aAsr2LU0u4P6ketmv2BP2pV7Q+Ko1bD/qA8aun3B/FRy8 pLo3a4wpVi+wM5avflRq2u+4PyqFWzP3jp9gfqUcs3tZ+3P8iP WtbUcqOWfn8wRFXj7w/Gr2rV7w+tWtX4piZHrV9rVVMytbaqpn Z/qEtV66eoasT+IF7VUsauantQ1Yxb1eRNTVvV8rpXNcH+AFUN qhpUNTX7g1xVo94fmrKqZfmjVoej3sapajU96n3Tqia2P1RV1U RNbeCqRrE/1KmqKe8PjVzVFPcHg1U1sf1Be1VTYeoGq2p8Uzd7 VRPsDy1b1X7vD4pVjeKoF6oaVDWoarWvale6VDWa/QGq2htVtV 1jVzWqo96GrGoqj3opq5rc/qC5qtmgqtX0rhz1VU2fu3LEqtp+ 01U15f2hLlVN7f7Q/FXtqIZVTXF/UKxqvLty/DW4Kweq2htVtY qjXoErb+9l9geoarJV7d6QVU24P1RT1XLVVzUj3JWjT1WTPerV UNV02R+0V7W40atagz9AoVTV3uYBisaqapr2B6hqDV3VKPaH6q ua0NTVVjVS3tRVrQZHvXWqaiPqqtob3JWjtqrV4gGK2la16veH Vq1q+j1AQYxaJVNrq2pq94e6VDXlByhyNPtDhSvPMutR/DcOmw NfIhE8XQrFIuPAMPo5XXabYxC9R8zx1t198Rb9GyvL6NNz2u0O ZpiiN+cavXCD3tgUE/92+wCOiCQeRMX7O+S2rQR+R9ELzqGxry Fk5Mtb9AKmjeG7txw2O7Yo+klO8rfo/2aymgd1pQCVXgkRUAkC KklALSXRVSCEGsdQWQkoPLE4KJ80lJOBmpqL4TecBzXAQp2XoI 4w1KgA6loS6qwCaja8RkBFCKgoAbUaDnBQ85RQ/jLUDCXUXJVQ OUmoGwEUuhJTKJkZKJTqzFXqKEEtl6GYm+rQ5MNQLmmoSQ7qNn +yKwF1jKHGfkNts1Bo/CUXqaB2MVRRGiovgEJ+xlCXCAoNqaEy VLwMhcYPmp1jHgYKR1YJ6q4M5ZaGsqmDYi4yBDUX3aCCmiGhjp SgDkiowPIqARUloCIE1FpktgQ1WAGVxVDj0lADNFDlKz+OY4sH VWChvCUoH4ZiZ+TpHgXUSAXU7xnpLs9IFipBQIVSadVQ+yJQw5 JQeHBXCTVMQJ1UQLnKUPJpUmTThIWSTJNKqEMOyulBaSIONcGD oo+4otqIK0PVIeLooEQjbkzfiMtIpklOl4hTD0UbcTNqI67a3J WOOGHu4mWTGNwJIk1ClRE3pRRxPjLipKD4Efc7d1VFnKrczSjk 7kUllCDi9MxdOwtFF3FV5G6ACoob3K6aRdyW2oijyd0RDVAhDb krFnGyUHpGXFY84taINIkQgzta74grQ6mMOBkoQcQtsjPSU4q4 C/mIg2r51tWyXhFn+GopGnE7lGkC1bJO1VIm4vSulqojDqqlhm opE3FVVku9Ig6qJVTLZqyWoqenhqiWKiNOJnclIw6qZatXS30i
Re:True Tales of Telemarketing (Score:1, Informative)
I was getting many, many telemarketing calls over a short period of time and one of the things that I did was pick up a ringing phone quietly and answer it without making any noise. Some autodialers would sit there and listen for noise of upto an hour. I would put the phone somewhere quiet and go about my daily routine. But a couple of times an autodialer proceeded to make calls all day long, and I let it. I think this is the same thing that happened to you. I didn't whistle any at all. What I think happened is that the autodialer thinks that it is already hung up because it doesn't hear any ringing or dialtone.
The rest of this has nothing to do with your post, but I was also a bit mischevious to the operators (and even got a few cursing at me, and sometimes their managers too). Some times I would let them say their entire 2minute speach while I quietly placed the phone on the bed and walked away. Sometimes I would just go along with their rambling to the very end, and when they tried to get my name/CC/address I would say "no" and they would be like "but we need this information so we can ship you this great product" and I would say "but I don't want it", seeing as they never ask you if you want it or not. And then they would talk about how great it was and ask me again for my money. Sometime I could get them to do this loop 3-4 times before they would give up.
I was always trying to figure out how to waste the most amount of time with them. I picked upup alot of funny stories too.
Here's a number you can call! (800) 777-6348 (Score:3, Informative)
(800) 777-6348
Tell them how you feel!
Re:Beyond personal agendas (Score:2, Informative)
Re:True Tales of Telemarketing (Score:3, Informative)
If my crazy uncle calls me and I don't want to listen to him, I can just hang up. Two seconds later, I can pick up the phone and dial someone else. He can't hijack my phone just because he initiated the call.
Actually, that's indeed what will happen--the only reason why you might get a dial tone on your next pickup is because your crazy uncle hung up in the interim. If he didn't, you would have been reconnected to him on your pickup. Try it sometime.
Re:The association? Why not some home numbers? (Score:3, Informative)
I remember the days when they would try and try to get you to talk. Now, all you have to do is to tell the Mormons, "No, thanks anyway." and they will thank you for their time, and not bother you again. The Jehova's Witnesses, on the other hand, are a bit more, well, let's say, persistant.
No, I am of neither religion. My personal opinion is like that one old dead feller said a while ago: "Religion is the opiate of the masses." I figure God is pretty disgusted with the whole religion thing anyway. More people are killed, more wars are started, and more greed and avarice are caused by religion than by any other root source.