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Robo-calls #947029
03/28/14 01:42 PM
03/28/14 01:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
Sorta Blonde Offline OP
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Sorta Blonde  Offline OP
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San Diego, CA
I just got the strangest advertising call. After I answered with, "Hello", a nice sounding guy says, "Hi, this is Bill, how are you today?". Sounds like a real person talking. I didn't answer because I got one of these a while back. So the 'recorded robo-guy' says, "Hi, are you there?", I answer, "What do you want?" and of course it's not on the list of 'expected' answers, so the robo-guy tries again, "How are you today?". I finally just let it hang up. Not gonna play the advertising game with a robot! So strange. Very clever though.

Has anyone else gotten one of these and if so, did you actually find out what they wanted?


WARNING! This person is extremely blonde...please type SLOWLY.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947030
03/28/14 02:08 PM
03/28/14 02:08 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
Reviews Editor - Hints/Glitches Mod - Site Support
Draclvr  Offline
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True Blue Boomer

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Wow, can't say I've ever gotten one of those. Although I did get several from an "unknown" source that after the answering machine did its thing, where a person kept saying, "Hello? Hello? Anyone there?" It could have been an interactive robo-call.

I was so amazed when I got a letter from my Attorney General's Office telling me that as a result of one of the on-line complaint forms I filled out, a company was fined $250,000 and agreed to abide by the Missouri Do Not Call law. I just reported 4 more of them in the last two days... who knows. Maybe they'll get another one.


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947032
03/28/14 02:28 PM
03/28/14 02:28 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 48,905
Alabama
looney4labs Offline
Sonic Boomer
looney4labs  Offline
Sonic Boomer

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 48,905
Alabama
You go, Drac!

I've been getting all sorts of calls which I either don't answer or tell them "I'm on the Do Not Call List."


"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
-Roger Caras
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947033
03/28/14 02:28 PM
03/28/14 02:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,270
In the Naughty Corner
BrownEyedTigre Offline
The Sassy Admin and PR Liaison
BrownEyedTigre  Offline
The Sassy Admin and PR Liaison
Sonic Boomer

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,270
In the Naughty Corner
Do you have caller ID Sorta? You can enter the number here and see what others say about it. I block the spam calls on my phone. THey usually use the same #.

Ana wave


Don't feed the Trolls
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947037
03/28/14 02:34 PM
03/28/14 02:34 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
Sorta Blonde Offline OP
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San Diego, CA
Sigh. Don't have caller ID, but I can look up who called afterwards. It shows on my Cox list on the computer. Sometimes the calls are so annoying and they won't take no for an answer. They are still yakking when I hang up. I really hate the ones who as for information like do I own my home, which credit cards do I have, do I have a security system! Like I would really tell them any of that??? Most calls are from 'home improvement' places and those who want to install solar panels. They ask for me by name, so it's gotta be from a source but they won't tell me where they got my number.

The robo-caller sure is fun though. Wonder whose voice they used? Sounds like a very nice guy. hearts


WARNING! This person is extremely blonde...please type SLOWLY.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947133
03/29/14 01:00 AM
03/29/14 01:00 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
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True Blue Boomer

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
If you're on the Do Not Call list, you can report these to the CA attorney general's office. Maybe you will get lucky like I did and have one of them prosecuted and have to pay a fine. It won't stop them, but it still feels good!

http://ag.ca.gov/donotcall/dnc_complaint.php


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Draclvr] #947175
03/29/14 10:18 AM
03/29/14 10:18 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Homer6 Offline
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Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Answering machines are extremely nice if you have caller ID. If I don't recognize the number, the phone keeps ringing. If I do decide to answer a call from an unknown number, if they don't start talking right after I say "hello," I hang up after the second "hello." And for those who are trying to sell something, the moment they say something about a product they're selling and say no thank you and hang up. Even if they're still talking. I even told one, one time, to take me off their calling list. Once upon a time it bothered me to hang up on someone before they hung up. Not any more.


If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947182
03/29/14 11:47 AM
03/29/14 11:47 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
Sorta Blonde Offline OP
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San Diego, CA
I'm with you Homer. I am now hanging up on lots of people as soon as I determine it's not a 'real' call for something I ordered, or need to know. Wish I had caller ID, but it's costly and a pain to have to look at my tiny phone screen to see the number. Some of the callers give you an option to push a number to remove you from the 'list' but I've found most of that is just for 'my' benefit and they still call. One day I got the SAME caller gal, from the same number, selling a service from a DIFFERENT company. Probably the same company with a different operating name. That one was fun. I think she suddenly remembered calling me 15 minutes earlier. And yup, I really hate the 'dead line' that you get while the caller is deciding which line to answer on the other end. Hello...hello...hello...buzzzzz, dead line. taz


WARNING! This person is extremely blonde...please type SLOWLY.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947320
03/30/14 01:13 AM
03/30/14 01:13 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Homer6 Offline
BAAG Specialist
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
I received a call center call, could hear all those background voices, from a guy with marbles in his mouth--hint hint--who had the gall to tell me my computer was sending out error messages. I know my computer does send reports to those who I've granted permission, but I've yet to figure out how a computer can send out error messages when it's not turned on. I suspect that guy, and others like him, was banking on me being someone recently born.

As to the dead air, Sorta, I actually think it's the time between when robo-caller makes contact and the human realizes it. Still in all, if I say "hello" twice and no one replies, I hang up.


If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947372
03/30/14 10:39 AM
03/30/14 10:39 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
Reviews Editor - Hints/Glitches Mod - Site Support
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True Blue Boomer

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
What's sad is that there are quite enough people who have been "recently born" to make these call centers profitable.


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947373
03/30/14 10:44 AM
03/30/14 10:44 AM
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 69,973
MaG Offline
Sonic Boomer
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 69,973
lol That's a very apt description - recently born.

Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947377
03/30/14 11:43 AM
03/30/14 11:43 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
Sorta Blonde Offline OP
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Sorta Blonde  Offline OP
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Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
I like that, 'recently born'. New catch phrase? bravo


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Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947456
03/30/14 05:52 PM
03/30/14 05:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,026
Toronto, Canada
Rowan Offline
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Rowan  Offline
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Toronto, Canada
I don't like the "How are you" calls. Who are they to care? I've moved from answering nicely to rudely and now all I do is hang up.

Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947474
03/30/14 07:45 PM
03/30/14 07:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
Sorta Blonde Offline OP
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Sorta Blonde  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
I'm with you Rowan. When they start out with 'how are you today?' I automatically either snap back with 'what are you selling?' or hang up. Depends on my mood. Actually sometimes they say that at the check-out line at my local supermarket. I know them well enough now to say, "You really don't want to know" and then I smile. Hopefully they will retrain to not ask.

I remember going in there just after leaving my Dad who was taken away to the funeral home. He'd been in nursing care for 2 years and finally 'went home'. I felt lousy, but needed something for Mom. They cheerily asked me how I was and I not so cheerily answered, "you know, you really shouldn't ask that unless you know that nothing bad has just happened". They looked at me strangely and I explained my Dad just died about 15 minutes before and they all were so sorry. Guess it wasn't all bad, but sometimes, you just shouldn't ask a question you don't wanna know the answer to.

Same goes for the much over used, "Have a Nice Day!" thumbsdown Maybe the next caller who asks how I am today, will get a happy 'Have a Nice Day', as I hang up on them. rotfl


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Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #947496
03/30/14 10:06 PM
03/30/14 10:06 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
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True Blue Boomer

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
I only do fast food once in a blue moon on the way home from the bowling alley. I usually do the drive through at Taco Belle because it's convenient. I get SO aggravated when they ask, "How are you?" I always answer, "Fine" and then sit there and wait. One night, I finally said, "Hello, is anyone there?" The girl said, "I was waiting for you to order." I know she's just doing what she's been trained and told to do, but I was exasperated and said, "But you just asked how I was, not what I wanted to order." I should tell the company how stupid I think it is.

Oh, the fun I had with telemarketers who were calling my mother before she went to the nursing home. I would ask them, "Why are you calling this number?" To which someone with a thick accent would tell me they wanted to offer diabetic supplies or some such. I'd then inform them the number was on the Do Not Call List and I was immediately reporting the call to the Attorney General's Office. I told them to take my mothers number out of their database and it was amazing how many of them actually did.


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #948307
04/04/14 01:52 PM
04/04/14 01:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 41
Maryland, USA
Orfyn Offline
Shy Boomer
Orfyn  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 41
Maryland, USA
I usually ask for the name and address of the firm, saying that I need it so that I can file a complaint as we are on the do not call list. They always hang up quickly. Unfortunately, the laws around the do not call act are toothless, and the telemarketers have discovered that there is no risk to them for violating it.


Unhappy thoughts are easy, they get into negative feedback cycles. Happy thoughts take effort.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #948308
04/04/14 02:15 PM
04/04/14 02:15 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 11,505
Kirkwood, MO USA
flutist Offline
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 11,505
Kirkwood, MO USA
Anyone getting cell phone calls? I have gotten 3, claiming to be calling from AT&T. Can't hardly understand what they say, something about $200, then I hang up. The funny part of it is, they are 800 numbers but the rest of the numbers were different on all three. I know of at least 2 other people who have received these on their cell phones. I'd like to know who to report them to at AT&T.

Bets

Last edited by flutist; 04/04/14 02:16 PM.

Corgis fill your life with Joy, your heart with Love, and your soul with Sunshine.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #948330
04/04/14 05:07 PM
04/04/14 05:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
Sorta Blonde Offline OP
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San Diego, CA
Interesting Bets. I keep my cell turned off. I only carry it for emergencies. Every time I turn it on, I get a 'message' which I listen to (costs me minutes to do) and it turns out that the messages are from somewhere that wants ME to call THEM. Looked up the number and it is to a PRISON! Oh clever people. AND the per minute charges are horrendous. Something about an automatic reverse charge call no matter how you do it. Evil plan. I never called thank goodness but they sure make it sound important. It says something about "You are being sued, if you fail to call us back immediately, you will be arrested, etc."

I need to charge the phone today, so I'll see if one says anything about AT&T. Might be the carrier they are using for this scam.


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Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #948722
04/07/14 01:06 AM
04/07/14 01:06 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Homer6 Offline
BAAG Specialist
Homer6  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
There are other sayings other than recently born. Like, just fell off the cabbage truck, wasn't born yesterday, and a few others which are hiding in my mangled gray cells.

I have received a few cell phone calls from numbers I didn't recognize. I don't carry my cell phone with me when I'm home, so by the time I get to my cell phone the call has ended. If there's an associated area code I'll get out the phone book to see which State the call originated, to give me a better idea if the call is from family. So far none have been from family, and they are immediately deleted.

I remember another phone call which the caller asked for my wife. This one of those times when I asked what it was in reference to, and received a reply that it was for my wife. "Not born yesterday" I asked again and received the same reply. So, I told the lady not interested and hung up. I'm like many of you, if the first words out of the callers' mouth sounds like they're about to try and sell me something, "not interested" and hang up.


If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #948790
04/07/14 11:36 AM
04/07/14 11:36 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
Sorta Blonde Offline OP
BAAG Specialist
Sorta Blonde  Offline OP
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Posts: 9,848
San Diego, CA
Yup, Homer. Saturday I took a call for my EX who hasn't lived here since 2000. Gal asked for him so I just quickly said, 'can I take a message?'. I figured maybe it was something important or someone from his past who didn't know about the divorce. So she asked if I was 'Mrs...' and I answered sure. So it turned out to be a place that wanted to UPdate our Living Trust. Hummmm. WE never had a living trust. I guess he does. Ha. I took her number and said I would give him the message. Turns out to be a reputable place, phone checks out and it's a legal business, local, that he must have done something with without telling me. Interesting to say the least. Sometimes it pays to play along if you have the time. Usually I don't have the time or temperament. thumbsdown


WARNING! This person is extremely blonde...please type SLOWLY.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Homer6] #948859
04/07/14 07:53 PM
04/07/14 07:53 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,591
The Garden State
LadyKestrel Offline
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The Garden State
Originally Posted By: Homer6
I suspect that guy, and others like him, was banking on me being someone recently born.

As T. Boone Pickens said, "I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night."


Carpe chocolate.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: LadyKestrel] #948891
04/07/14 11:31 PM
04/07/14 11:31 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,316
United Kingdom
Mad Offline
Sonic Boomer
Mad  Offline
Sonic Boomer

Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,316
United Kingdom
laugh laugh laugh


Time : The Most Precious Commodity
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Mad] #948900
04/08/14 12:58 AM
04/08/14 12:58 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Homer6 Offline
BAAG Specialist
Homer6  Offline
BAAG Specialist

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
We had a call late this afternoon, an 800 number, which my wife was going to let the answering machine answer. Because I've about reached my limit on 800 numbers, I picked up the phone and it was a guy from the company who provides my wifes' RA medication. This is one of those times it was good to answer the phone instead of ignoring it. And had it been another one of those 800 can we sell you something, they would've been told to put our number on their do not call list and I'd have hung up.

It seems to me companies like the one which handles my wifes' medications should make sure their caller ID states the company name. Not their 800 number, which doesn't mean a thing to me. To me, 800 numbers mean calling center.


If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Sorta Blonde] #948986
04/08/14 11:45 AM
04/08/14 11:45 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
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Draclvr  Offline
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True Blue Boomer

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Me too, Homer6. If they start leaving a message and it's a legitimate call, then I will answer.


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Robo-calls [Re: Draclvr] #948992
04/08/14 12:32 PM
04/08/14 12:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
Homer6 Offline
BAAG Specialist
Homer6  Offline
BAAG Specialist

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,588
Oklahoma, USA
I know some people have their caller ID set so the person they're calling can't see the callers' name, which in a way is fine. But if it's a company/corporation/business, why wouldn't they be proud to announce who they are? It might help alleviate many missed calls.


If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
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