Successful Do-Not-Call Complaints?

bcrowell writes "After some legal delays, today is supposed to be the first day that the Do Not Call registry will be enforced. Got my first illegal call just now, and strangely enough, when I said I was on the list and started asking for information, the telemarketer said my signal was breaking up (particularly strange since I wasn't on a cell phone.) Has anyone successfully gotten the necessary info from a telemarketer and then managed to file a complaint? You're supposed to be able to file a complaint at 888-382-1222, but their touch-tone system doesn't give you any way to do it. You're also supposed to be able to do it via the web, but there doesn't seem to be any form, although they say "You can file your complaint on this Web site using the File a Complaint page, which will be available starting October 1, 2003." Remember, it may take up to 3 months after you register until they're required to stop calling you." Tales of success? Tales of failure?

Re:No calls today

[chriscooper1470]

I haven't received any calls in the last few days. I won't miss the calls in the middle of dinner, but what I will miss is the "game-playing" with the people who called. One of my favorites was the: "What color panties are you wearing?" and see how long you can keep them on line.

play along

[Delight-Delirium]

We have a local do-not-call for our state. Whenever I've gotten calls of this nature, I'd just petend I am interested so they start telling me who they are and such, and then I kindly inform them that my number is on the list and they are about to get fined.

Its so much fun, too!

Re:Availability of the DNC

[DerProfi]

Easy solution: Don't call anyone until you're sure.

Re:Complain URL

[merlin_jim]

Have you tried to complain at https://www.donotcall.gov/Complain/ComplainCheck.a spx ?

NOTE: Seems like only Mozilla will work when submitting a complaint. At least, that was my experience.

Ironic, considering that this is an asp.NET site...

Re:Complain URL

[iCEBaLM]

Come on man, ironic, you know? It's like rain on your wedding day or a free ride when you've already paid!

Re:Availability of the DNC

[ScriptMonkey]

I work in the crack dealing industry... and let me tell you guys, it's been a bitch to try and get a copy of the Do Not Pedal List. It wasn't even available online until a few days ago and the cost is staggering. I know... I know... not a lot of sympathy, but still, I work for a dealer who would like to do nothing more than play by the rules, but all kinds of barriers have been put up in our way.

I see a marketing opportunity here

[John Jorsett]

If the DNC list is so difficult to get, why not convert your telemarketing business into one that calls up other tlemarketers, preferably after 5 pm, and sells them the DNC list? Two birds with one stone: one less telemarketing company pestering me, and a valuable service to your fellow telemarketers. High fives!

Re:Get the information first

[Paradise Pete]

couldn't the telemarketer come back and say that you got their info under false pretenses?

Yeah OK.

Judge: You made hundreds of calls to people on the DNC list.
Telemarketer: They fooled us into telling them who we are. If we hadn't told them that, we probably wouldn't have gotten caught.
Judge: Well! Why didn't you say so? Case dismissed.

I like the female telemarketers

[HarveyBirdman]

My tactic with the women is to start asking them what they are wearing and tell them they have a sexy voice. I usually get hung up on (just like in real life!), but every now and then I almost get one into a session of free phone sex. Those people must be incredibly bored in their jobs.

If it's a guy I pull a Jim Florentine and start talking about how lonely and depressed I am, or I act retarded (just like in real life!) and confused just to waste their time. They bail olut, but I never had anyone call back angry because I'm a decent voice actor. I think they feel bad sometimes.

Fun, but I still signed up for the DNC list.

Slightly off-topic story

[Halo-]

When I was growing up, I lived an a very friendly neighborhood in the Midwest. Everyone used to sit out on their front porches in the evenings both for the social contact and because air-conditioning was pretty rare at the time. (in our neighborhood at least)

The neighborhood kids and I had tons of fun each summer listening for a call "coming down the block". You could actually hear a sales call working its way from house to house, and amazingly they usually went by street address (accending).

So, when we heard a call we'd all take off "racing the call". The idea was to get to a each house right before the call got there. If you were successful (and the house was someone willing to play along) you picked up the phone and instead of saying "hello" or something, you'd say something along the lines of "we don't want any!" *click*. And then off to the next house we'd race.

It was great fun to listen to the telemarketer getting more and more confused as to what was going on. I have no idea if it cut down the calls, but it was great fun.

Re:MO No Call List

[SiMac]

Can you do me a favor?

Just by accident one time:
DELETE FROM call_list

Thank you.

Re:Just karma whoring..

[SamNmaX]

Or better yet, file a complaint here [slashdot.org].