In New York, 13 Companies Fined For 'Do Not Call' Violations April 1, 2002 â?? Thirteen companies have been fined a total of $217,500 in connection with allegations they violated New York's "Do Not Call" telemarketing law. The penalties range from a low of $4,500 up to $41,000. All companies denied violating the law but agreed to the fines to avoid costly legal proceedings. The companies charged with the violations and their fines: Integrated Credit Solutions, Largo, Fla., $41,000 Discover Card, Deerfield, Ill., $37,000 RMH Teleservices Inc., Bryn Mawr, Penn., $20,000 Qwest Communications, Denver, $20,000 Metris Inc., Minnetonka, Minn., $20,000 North American Telephone, Atlanta, $16,000 SmartEnergy, Woburn, Mass., $16,000 TeleUno International, Pompano Beach, Fla., $12,000 Fairfield Resorts, Margate, Fla., $11,000 Senior Advisory Council, Phoenix, $8,000 New York Daily News, $7,000 Marriott Ownership Resorts Inc., Orlando, $5,000 Publisher's Circulation Fulfillment, Pensacola, Fla., $4,500 More than 4,300 complaints have been filed with Consumer Protection Board and enforcement actions are continuing against 242 companies. Since launching the "Do Not Call" registry nearly two years ago more than 2 million New York households have signed on. Source: Buffalo Business First - March 11, 2002
After reading the above fined companies I have a question for anyone who feels like answering it. I handle the accounts for four small businesses, but for some reason the telemarketing calls get transferred to me (or they contact me via my number). They want to speak to the president of our company (he owns 3 of the 4 companies accounts I handle). He refuses to speak with them (I don't blame him personally). But, I have been cursed at, hang up on, and yelled out because I refuse to put their call through. I usually just say he's not here, but they continue to call back. Is their anything I can say or do? I tell them not to call and to take the companies names off the list, but they continue to call. The problem with this is they refuse to introduce themselves nor tell me the company they are calling for. It's annoying and I'm tired of it. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Dani PS I get an average of 6 calls a day.
Get the company and person name, etc. by saying "Mr. President doesn not speak to anyone who will not directly identify themselves with a name, company name, return phone number and purpose of call...No? Well, then, goodday...<click>" It won't be worth their while if you keep repeating this litage each time they call. I know! I know! There should be a way to shoo the SOB's and have done with it.
1) When they call and try to "SELL" you a windshield service and your a DOCTOR'S OFFICE...NO THANK YOU AND HANG UP!!! 2) "The PRESIDENT only has an OUT GOING LINE...you give me your name, and phone number and I will have him call you at his earliest convience"
Thank you George and Hope for your advice. But I have hung up on telemarketers only to have them call me back and scream at me. I'm serious. These guys are nasty. I remember one incident where the guy called and asked to speak with someone in estimation (part of my department) I asked him how I could help. And his words to me were "you can put me through to someone in estimation, bitch." And then I said "I am the estimation department." And his next words to me were "let me ask you something. Tell me if this sounds like I'm hanging up on you?" This is the kind of crap I go through on a daily basis. Fortunately, I have thick skin, but I'm so tired of their BS. And the thing I don't like about my office is there is seven phone lines on the phone system so you don't know which line they called in on; plus there is no caller ID to trace them. I would love to report their a$$es. Dani
Wow Dani, I feel so bad for you. Maybe you should contact your local phone service. Once I had this happening on my home phone and I called Southwestern Bell. I can't recall the details (it was about 10-12 years ago). But they were able to help me out. Don't recall if they traced calls or what, but they did something and the problem stopped. Of course, it's different at your workplace, but at the very least, seems your boss could spring for Caller ID. After all, this is a matter of abuse. Maybe the phone company can't do anything, but I think you need to have the conversation.
No, they are only telemarketing companies trying to sell stuff to the President of the company - fortunately, I don't have to deal with collectors. The thing is I work in a very male dominated field and they refuse to speak to me - thinking apparently, I don't know anything. Most of them probably think I'm only his administrative assistant or something and what they say to me means squat. They would never speak to the owner and president that way. Dani
You're right I need to contact the local phone company to do something about it. They did sell us Caller ID once, but it does not work with our phone system. And the company that put our phone system in says there is no way to trace the calls because of all the numbers (not knowing which number the call is placed to). Dani
Hmmmmm, how 'bout this: Enlist the help of a male colleague and put the telemarketer through to him (after you've ascertained that's who it really is. Shouldn't be difficult with their trashy attitude.) Then have the male colleague gather enough info like contact, company name, phone, address, whatever identifying info he can get...then nail the bastards. I know, I'm reaching, but now I'm steamed right along with you! Anybody else got some suggestions?
