[Rant] Getting rid of tele-marketers permanently, a case by base.
Turns out there is a case by case basis for immediately getting most tele-marketers off the phone and off their lists permanently. You just have to know what to say. Where do you get this stuff from? Sometimes they slip up and let you know.
Story: About 6 months ago, I sat on the phone with a place giving out free home security systems. The features and cost per month were better/cheaper than my current system with ADT, so I sat on the phone for a while with this guy. Near the end of the conversation, the guy asked me if I had previously had a home security system. I told him I currently had ADT and switch, off the phone goes. The telemarketer actually hung up on me?
Now I was bummed, because I really wanted that system. But it led me to think about various non-compete type agreements that these places must have in some cases. You can't give out a free security system to a home owner who already has a competing product. Is this a special case? Or do other industries have the same thing. Is this possibly a law in Washington State? I still don't know all the answers, but I can now use some quick phrases to free up my phone line, even if they aren't true.
Home Security Guy: I have ADT, Click!
Free Satellite TV Guy: I have DirecTV, Click!
Better Long Distance Plan Guy: This is my cell-phone and your costing me money, Click!
Actually that last one works for a large number of people. You see calling people on cell-phones in many states for purposes of tele-marketing is illegal. A very nice law, since cell-phone usage generally costs money. People will still call you on the cell every once in a while as the systems for determining if a number belongs to a cell phone or a land line become muddied, but they should always jump right off the phone as soon as you assert your on a cell. If they call your bluff, use the phrase, “Have you ever heard of call forwarding {insert profane name}”.
Now if only there were an email blocker that didn't throw out mail I wanted to keep.