No more telemarketing.

[WhiteShepherd]

A bit off topic but useful info.  For those of you in the US plagued by telemarketers there is a new government "Do not call." list for telemarketers.

http://www.donotcall.gov

Yes and they just found out most people can no longer use over the phone credit cards or computer based order forms from it...kinda screws you both ways...oh...that and if they get your email they sell it. It was all on the news...lovely huh?

[Firebreath]

Eh, I guess it's a "take a little give a little" kind of thing...
Still wish we had the same thing in canada.
Besides, they have found a new way to do telemarketing: Machines.
No, seriously, would that be seen as telemarketer calling you, since there is only a recorded message on the other side?
And mind you, I call the culprit company 3 times to tell them to remove me from their list, and they never did. And last time, I gave them crap about having a machine calling me instead of a real live human being. Because if they are to call me, I want to talk to a real human, especially if it's a telemarketing thing, because at least, that way, there's someone who gets a job and ain't replaced with the coldness of a machine... -_-

[Drake Blackpaw]

I just wish it also applied to charities and political organizations, which half of our phone calls come from.

Even so, got on the list the first day.

Drake

[Jadnar]

*nods slowly* I'm a big fan and all of technology, but when it gets to the point that there is nothing for us to do, well then we are in trouble. Computers, and machines are all cool, but I'd like to have something to do once in awhile, I mean give school a purpose and all?

Machines are taking over, not Matrix style mind you, but close enough. At some point we would kina loose purpose, ya know?

[Manethran]

I hardly have to deal with telemarketers. My big problem falls into two seperate groups: 1) This moron that call and no matter how long it rings stays on till you answer it, then hangs up as soon as you say hello. 2) Being 18 and out of highschool. I get called everyday by recruiters (they get bonuses everytime they get somone to singup).

As far as I know there is no real way to stop #1. The phone company said that they can't track the bunber for some unknown reason.

And for #2 I managed to stop the Marine guy from calling. "Son, now that your out of school have you put any thought into what your going to do now. The marines can help you with school and give you a job." "Sir, I have plans already. I'm going to move in with my boyfriend....." At this point the line went dead. I don't have a BF, but the idea seemed to shock him enough that I have not heard from him in a while.

[Kez Bentley]

This "do not call" list opens up a new profession: Telemarketer Bounty Hunting.

No, Really! If a telemarketer calls someone on the list, you can notify the government and they will fine the company and give you a small portion of the fine money as a reward, which usually comes out to be about $50.

[Ante]

I'll have to tell my mom about this, she hates telemarketers. Just yesterday I answered a call and said "hello", which triggered a recording of Jennifer. Who do they think they are fooling? They even gave the recording a name. Jennifer must make about a call a second. Now somebody needs to make a machine that answers "you're a robot aren't you" and various profanities (in my brother's case).

[Benjamin]

I hate when a company calls you and has the audacity to immediately put you on hold until one of their people has the time available to deal with you. I've had that happen here at work, and I just hung up on it. I don't have the time to sit on the phone and wait for someone to answer it when they were the ones to call in the first place.
 
I'm hoping that something formal like that gets put in place for Canada. It'd be useful for e-mail too, since I get piles of spam each day. I don't need mail-order brides or viagra, thankyouverymuch.
 
Benjamin