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Fighting Telemarketers with Technology
prostoalex writes "According to an MSNBC story, 104 million telemarketing calls are made daily in the U.S. alone and technology is on the way to fight those special offers and incredible credit card rates. Zenith EZ HangUp, The Phone Butler, TriVOX VN100 and ScreenMachine are quoted in the article as new gadgets that allow phone owners to avoid the plagues of telemarketing."
an effective CHEAP way of eliminating telemarketers is saying "PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR DO NOT CALL LIST." By law, telemarketers are not allowed call ppl on this list. It has worked for me.
I use my phone company's Privacy Manager feature. Since we started using it, we hardly get any spam calls anymore. It's definately worth the 4 bucks a month.
Live web cams
I didnt read the article, but you could insert the first tone of a telecom's disconnected line signal on your answering machine, and automated systems will delist you.
Does it work for my mother-in-law?
Requirements: 1 answering machine
Turn the answering machine on, but set it so that you can hear the messages people are leaving. Then, screen every call. Period. If people start to leave a message, and it's a message you want, pick up the phone.
Let people who you want to talk to, know that you screen your calls for this reason, so that they will leave a message.
You are under no obligation to pick up the phone. Ever. Don't do it unless the call actually matters to you. And even if it does, but you're busy at the moment, let the machine take the call and you can call back later.
The phone is there to serve you, not the other way around. I have let someone leave a message, just because I was in the coding zone at that moment, or enjoying an ice cream cone, or even awake-but-trying-to-nap, and didn't feel like picking up the phone. So I didn't.
ChicagoFan
"The Phone Butler takes over, delivers his legally-correct message in a very polite, British-butler's voice, then terminates the call automatically when he is done!"
I'm not sure if I'd even wish that upon a tele-marketer...
s200.org - visit it (me), love it (me).
All those calls were faked by the phone company for years so that you'd get pissed off enough to pay $4 more per month to make them stop.
I just don't answer the phone. I have a handy device known as an "answering machine." This device answers the phone on my behalf and allows me to hear what the other party has to say. I then can decide if I want to take call. I call this process "screening my calls." I've found it to be most useful. Previously, I received numerous wrong number calls, or worse, telemarketers. I've found that very rarely do telemarketers talk to my wonderous machine. However, when they do, I've found it effective to quickly "answer and hang up."
I've already applied for a patent on the "answering machine", the "screening calls" process, and the "answer and hang up" process. If you infringe on my patents expect numerous calls from lawyers...
I use a Stargate to handle my incoming calls. I can filter on any CallerID string, including Private and Unavailable numbers, and play a custom outgoing message, based on the time of day, day of week, CID, temperature outside, etc.
.WAV files of SIT tones on the 'net, just adding the "disconnected number" tones to the beginning of your answering machine message will accomplish the same thing that many of the $40 gadgets do.
Telemarketers and other nusance callers get a SIT tone, a "DO NOT CALL THIS NUMBER" message, and then a click.
On sundays, the custom filters are disabled (telemarketers legally can't call on Sundays).
You can find
-This sig intentionally left blank
My brother & family moved into a nice new house last year... and as soon as the phone was set up, BANG! Telemarketers left right and bloody center.
He ended up installing this system (I'm not there so I couldn't tell you what it is) that will reroute all calls without Caller ID to an automated system so calls can be screened, callers have to give their name or business name and then the system literally calls the house itself to say "person or company x" is calling.
The number of telemarketing calls went through the floor, mainly because most didn't want to go through the screening check. They get the odd call now and then, but mostly by those who do persevere with the screening system or those that have valid Caller ID tags.
Originally he did have the system completely rejecting calls without ID, but since the rest of the family live in England, there isn't any ID transmitted - so we couldn't get through for a while, until we got a call from him wondering why WE hadn't called!! DOH!
Are you local? There's nothing for you here!
It is really silly that you need to opt-out to try to get away (and you still get calls even then). If there would be an opt-in it would probably kill off the whole telemarketing business, which I feel would be a good thing.
This problem is just as bad as spam, fax-spamming and all other broad adverticement methods. I wish that one day you would not get more ads than you ask for (i.e. 2-5% of todays load of shit).
For you people living in Sweden I would like to mention the Nix register, it is the Swedish opt-out register.
Since I had Qwest enable an anti-marketing feature they sell. Basically if the call would be "Unknown" on my caller ID box, the person calling gets a message that this line does not accept phone solicitations and if they're not a telemarketer, please dial their number now. It even seems to have worked for the Qwest telemarketers. Of course, that's an extra buck or two on the phone bill each month, but I've gone from 5-10 telemarketing calls a week to 0. Once my spam load gets obnoxiously high, I'll be implementing a similar solution for that.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Would I be right in assuming that it's a side effect of the free local calls you guys get? Whilst the whole idea sounds rather tempting it just seems like you have a lot of hassles and issues with the whole system - especially when it's possible to buy 6 or 7 different call screening devices!
Ps. the English accent on the Phone Butler really made me laugh :o)
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Someone pointed out that there is no Federal "Do not Call Registry". However, Some States do have them. Find your state and Sign up.
Do not read this
Plus, the machine also has a feature to send caller-id-blocked numbers right to voice mail (after a special message). The neat thing is listening to the different kinds of response -- some hang up during the "Your number is being sent to voice mail..." which tells me that it's a human calling. Some wait through the message, and then there's a pause, and then a click and a dial tone, which suggests to me that it's a machine that waited a certain amount of time and then gave up.
www.HearMySoulSpeak.com
You don't think you can get money from these scumbags? Think again. Friend of mine has gotten $1500 (if not more). See here: http://osiris.978.org/~brianr/telemarketing/
Most of the time they're in another state and it's far more expensive for them to send somebody to represent them in small claims court then it is to just pay you the $500.
Free Mac Mini
I work for a group of public libraries that uses a computer to call and say "Someone at this telephone number" -- we won't say who, because if you use a public library we consider it your own damn business -- "has an item waiting to be picked up at the So-and-So Public Library".
Unfortunately, if you use one of those gadgets that sends a "this number has been disconnected" message, the library's computer takes that at face value. You miss picking up the book, and then the library staff asks you to verify your phone number the next time you're there.
So, yeah, it works, but sometimes a little too well.
Really, on a boring night, it really can be a slightly entertaining trying to sell a telemarketer something YOU own.
Thing is, you have to really push it and not make it sound like a joke. When they scoff and give a laughing no to buying your Miata, use their tactics: Don't take no for an answer, incredulously ask why they would be interested in being a cool person with a cool car, ask where they live, how nice it would be to drive a convertible around, etc.
You'll run THEM off the phone in no time.
---"What did I say that sounded like 'Tell me about your day?'"---
So far, telemarketers haven't started calling it. Everyone who is likely to call me knows that number. I have the ringer turned off on the landline, and just check the answering machine every evening. The only reason I have a landline is for 911 service.
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Pennsylvania recently passed the "No Calls Please" law, where, if you register with the state, you are added to a do not call list and Telemarketers have to download the list and remove you from their database if you're on it. Adding yourself to the list is free!
When a telemarketer actually does call me, I explain to them about the law. A lot of telemarketers actually tell me they don't believe me. I then ask to speak the supervisor on duty because I need to get the companies name and address in order to report them to my attorney general so they can be fined $5000 for disturbing me. They usually hang up real fast and don't bother me any more.
What we really need is an active law NO ONE in PA can receive telemarketing calls unless they ADD themselves to a list.
I often compare living in teh US to living here in Norway, Europe. It seems that we can learn a lot from each other, this time it is your turn to learn... ;)
So. WHAT?!?! Are paying for hardware and services to stop telemarketeers? Aren't they obliged by law to check if your name is on a do-not-call list? A friend of mine in the US said that he had to pay to be on a do-not-call list, operated by the telemarketeers association. That is nothing short of insane. Paying people to not bother me? Hello; it's not very difficult to operate such lists.
I'm on the Norwegian goverments do-not-call list. There are three levels: 1) Any call accepted. 2) Commercial calls not allowed. 3) Neither commercial nor charitable calls allowed.
I'm already a member of the chartiable orgs i want to, so my do-not-call entry lists me as option 3. This is a free system, no fees. Any company that calls you even though you're on the list will face fines if you turn them in to the Consumer Council.
I think this system is
In the UK, you can register on-line with the Telephone Preference Service to avoid telemarketing calls.
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk
Similar services exist for Snail Mail
http://www.mpsonline.org.uk
and Fax.
http://www.fpsonline.org.uk/
The Data Protection register monitors these, and operates enforcement, so you can expect good results.
I would like to see a more high tech version of this running on a PC. I think it would be liberating to press a button and have an Eliza-like program take over the call from my end. Initially, it could ask the telemarketers to repeat everything several times... then play dumb for a while - asking for things to be repeated in more and more depth - then present an automated sales pitch for some ludicrous randomly chosen product - finally thanking the company for an amusing conversation - and hanging up. I think this would be a particularly effective anti-scam as a result of the way in which I suspect many call centres are run - I understand that those making the calls are required to be polite at all times and are frequently are required to follow strict rules about how they must direct conversations and answer questions. I'm having fun ideas about stock phrases like - "Very interesting - but I'm afraid I was distracted by my next door neighbours' cat - please could you repeat all that" on a rule where the caller has spoken for over 3 minutes. "I'm very interested in this idea - please would you wait while I get a pen I'm back again - what was it we were talking about again?" "Can you explain to me what you meant by that first bit again?" (The possibilities are only limited by our imagination :-)
I worked for a market research company. Our company would pick the area code and first 3 didgits of the phone numbers in the area we wanted to research, then our computers would randomly pick the last four digits. If you are unlisted or on a list, it doesn't matter. It is random. When I called someone who was unlisted it always puzzled the hell out of them how I got the number.
A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
Info here.
I used to get 7-10 telemarketer calls a week before this service, now i've got blissful silence. It is very worth the $4.00/mo. verizon charges.
-ted
I used to work as a telemarketer in the past (Don't mod me down because I needed a job...) and I've learned a few tricks to beat telemarketers.
Do Not Call Lists: All telemarketing centers have a Do Not Call list. Two of them in fact. The first is required by law for the center to remove you from their calling list if you say the words "Put me on your do not call list" This information is entered by the telemarketer into the system and your name is then removed from the system for that Company.
In many cases, A center will have multiple Companies that they do calling for. Requesting to be placed on the "Coperate Do Not Call List" will not only remove you from the list the telemarketer is calling for, but also any other company that the center does any telemarketing for at that time and in the future. That will help in making sure that the center does not call again in the future (Next time, try asking the telemarketer who they actually work for, usually it's not the one they're calling on behalf of.)
As Well, in the United States, you as a consumer are protected by the "Telephone Consumer's Protection Act" (TCPA), which requires the telemarketer to give you the company name and telephone number where you can reach them. If they fail to do so at the end of the call (IE, if they think you hang up, and just don't say it even to dead air), then you have the right to sue the company for up to $10,000. Not all states fall under the same rules, so check out here for more info on it
Some states also have what's call a no rebutal law, which should prevent the telemarketer from rebuting you (ie. saying "I understand your hesitation but..."), when you say "No" they have to end the call there. Check out your state laws to find out if you fall in this category as well.
-- Never monkey with another Monkey's monkey
The best way to get rid of telemarketers? Tell them a joke.
You "What has a small penis and hangs up side down?"
Them "I don't know"
You "A bat. What has a big penis and hangs up?"
Them "I don't know"
You *click*
Since doing that our telemarketing calls drop dramaticly.
Why are people still even using land lines? Cell phones are cheaper than land lines in most cases now. All I use my home phone for is for dialing out to the Net. I have no telephones connected to it at home, thus, no telemarketers.
- EZ Hangup - an annual-fee "opt-out" list, and a single-point device that tells telemarketers to fuck off
- The Phone Butler - a device that lets you, from any phone in the house, tell telemarketers to "piss off" (British accent, donchaknow)
- TriVOX - call screening device that requests callers to enter a code to "ring through" to the hosue
- Screen Machine - not quite sure, looks similar to TriVOX. The linked site (and the manufacturer's site) are pretty skimpy on info.
These are not, of course, the only solutions to the problem. Some other approaches (discussed here and elsewhere):- Do Not Call Lists - State, Federal, Industry, and Company-specific -- a list of numbers wishing to be left alone
- Interrupt tone generators - The idea is to generate the "booo-dee-dweep" sort of sound you get when you call a number that's out of service, and the belief is that telemarketer dialers will hear that and remove your number from their DB. Nobody knows how many call-generating systems actually do this (it's probably a small number).
- Call Screening with an Answering Machine - you still have to run downstairs to listen to the machine, and many telemarketers will just hang up and try again later
- Caller-ID Rejection - Most telemarkters don't pass CID information (thanks, FCC, for dropping that requirement!), some legitimate organizations (some college dorms, for example) don't pass the info, and other telemarketers deliberately pass "appealing" names to entice you to answer.
And what list of potential solutions would be complete without a list of why they all suck?- Opt-Out Systems - They still have to call you once so you can tell them to leave you alone. Not all telemarketers follow the rules, and fighting back is difficult. Not all telemarketers are even bound by the rules (there are a lot of exceptions). Not all subscribe to industry-based lists (like the Direct Marketing Association). Proposed national Federal "opt-out" lists are riddled with exceptions, too, and still rely on callers actually bothering to obey the law. It's difficult to tell a recorded message (illegal, by the way) to place you on a do not call list.
- CID, Interrupt tones, answering machine screening, etc. - discussed above
- EZ Hangup - see #1, plus you gotta run to the phone where the EZ Hangup box lives
- Phone Butler - see #1
- TriVOX - Would be nice to have the ability to manually place numbers on the system so that friends, family, etc., calling from recognizable numbers can ring straight through
- Screen Machine - ??? Probably similar to #5.
Of all these possible solutions, the TriVOX comes closest to what I've been hoping to find for about the last 10 years. The ideal solution, for me, would be:- Hardware solution that sits in my basement, between the outside world and all my inside extensions
- Connects to a computer for inbound CID logging and configuration (including setup of whitelist and blacklist phone numbers)
- Passes whitelist numbers straight through to internal extensions
- Blocks blacklist numbers immediately with "do not call" request
- Interrupts unrecognized numbers, before ringing inside the house, with user-recorded announcement giving callers the option to "hit 1" to ring through.
- Tone-sensor to allow any extension in the house to interrupt a caller who has rung through and is still a telemarketer (ala Phone Butler)
- (optional): capability to do multi-extension ringing ("hit 1 for david") or multi-mailbox voicemail (extra credit: record voicemail to computer and make available for software to include in email or web interface)
I've always thought that this would make a great open source hardware project -- complex enough that it doesn't already exist, simple enough to be within the reach of hobbyist hackers.Like I said, the TriVOX comes VERY close to this, but is missing some key features (like the ability to whitelist friends and family). It is, however, very encouraging that we're finally getting close to being able to truly solve the problem. At least as well as can ever be done.
Employement.
Nobody likes telemarketers. But we're talking about a *lot* of jobs. It sucks that people don't have actual skills, literacy, insights, money to invest, etc. But the bottom line is that call center jobs are sometimes the only game in town.
The real problem is that the telemarketing industry is part of our welfare system...
-fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
... is the people who answer the questions.
I get very few telemarketing calls, maybe a dozen or so a year, but I object to them on principle so a couple of months ago I decided not to accept them in future.
About a month ago I got a call and a very polite guy explained briefly who he was, what his company did (market research) and asked if I had a few minutes to answer some questions.
I told him: "Actually I don't like taking part in these things, sorry."
His reaction told me so much. Slight pause, then in a surprised tone: "You don't?"
I imagine lots of people make excuses not to answer the questions, or they just say they don't have time or whatever, but judging from that guy's reaction I bet I was the first person to just say that I didn't want to take part.
Maybe if more people make it clear to cold callers that they aren't welcome, they'll quit doing it. It's not like spam where the sender is pretty much anonymous. The cold caller is right there on the phone! Just tell them that their call isn't wanted.
But remember that the person on the other end of the phone is just someone paid to sit at a desk and dial numbers and ask questions. No need to be rude to them. I'm sure they'd be doing a better job if they could get one.
Well some people do want these calls! This guy seems to have the most fun with them. I get a chuckle everytime I hear the calls he gets.
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
I have not had any telemarketing calls since signing up with it.
Here's what YOU can keep in mind, to avoid the need for any high-tech solution:
Before you flame me, realize I am not apologizing for telemarketing. I wish I could make the entire concept disappear with a wave of my hand, but I can't; telemarketing is too profitable to just go away. "There's a sucker born every minute", after all.
(*)Well, last I checked it was free if you sent them a letter for the cost of a stamp, and $5 if you register on-line (to keep you from registering all your friends and family and the phone book presumably).
So I keep a pad of paper by the phone. When they call, I ask the person their full name, and I have them spell it. I ask them the name of their company. Then I politely say "I want you to take me off of your list, and never call here again". They are used to dealing with aholes, but they aren't so used to dealing with someone who takes down all their info and speaks nicely but firmly with them. They get a little freaked when you ask for their name, but they usually give it to you. Now THEY are tied to the call, so they have a vested interest in not pissing you off. As we all know, people are a lot more bold when they are Anonymous Cowards.
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
The link in the posting for EZ Hangup links to a site that's running a scam. Zenith's EZ Hangup is a $10 product--I have one. For $49.00, the site hangupnow.com is offering you one Zenith EZ Hangup device and a "free" listing on the "national do not call list" (a $39.00 value). On top of that, there is no national do-not-call list--they're advertising a private service that contacts telemarketers to have your number removed, and it is doubtful they even do that much (particularly since their FAQ highlights that you may still receive calls, and the service has no guarantee).
Chicago fan is RIGHT on the money with this one.
I'm not gonna go into a mini-rant about how we interrupt EVERYTHING for the phone and have become slaves to communication technology, cuz I don't believe it.
But if it REALLY bugs you you can screen your calls. Have a very short Outgoing Message.
My parents do this, My wife does this, I sometimes do this (or I'll just wait 3 rings and pick up- usually those multi-calls just drop the trunk when they get someone ELSE to pick up!)I don't need the WAshington Post to call me up on a sunday morning, twice, when I already get 7 day service! Infact I won't even answer a doorbell ring if I'm not expecting anyone.
But mekka b! What if it is your long lost friend and they had an accident just down the road in in their last dying breath they crawled to your door?
Hmmm, possible, but not probable. More probably, it is some schmuck trying to sell me something door to door. Empirical evidence states that you are probably someone who I don't want to waste my time on becuase I can't bill my lost time to your account. Fuck off.
But for some reason many (like the guy before me) will SLAM you for how inconsiderate it is to force him to suffer through your message! Well I got news for you buddy, if you don't want to listen to the machine, don't leave a message and don't call. I'm not crying over it.
Besides, if you want instant communication, send me an e-mail! I'm always on line!
In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
I take one of the following tactics, depending on my mood:
ONE The legal approach, which could probably make you some (odd todd voice) Money.
Ask this question:"What company do you work for?"
Write down the answer, or don't... unless you want to try to get them, write down the date as well.
Read this to them:
"In accordance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 I formally request you put me on your do not call list. Any repeated calls to this phone number will result in legal action against your company. Do you understand?"
Then hang up
TWO The fun approach, start asking them random survey questions, and expand on the answers. The goal here is to find out what kind of people are in the world with no worry of their opinon of you. Keeping them on the phone raises their long distance bill too I guess...
What kind of computer do you own?
What operating system do you have on it?
Have you heard of linux?
How much memory does your system have?
What type of internet connection do you have?
What browser do you use?
Do you own or rent?
What type of car do you drive?
Do you smoke cigarettes?
-Or any slashdot poll...
THREE Make them listen, If I am doing something like playing the piano/guitar or listening to music, I usually just put the phone down without hanging up. I've had people listen to me play the piano for about 20 min without hanging up. Pathetic part is they go right into the pitch after that, as opposed to, "That really sucked, why don't you take some lessons"
FOUR, Two year old, Give the phone to my two year old, she doesn't have a credit card yet.
FIVE, Porn Read them something from the Penthouse Forum, or make something up along those lines.
SIX Turrets syndome, don't hang up, listen to response.
M@
Krispy Cream is people
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
It reduced the calls by 99%. Aside from occasional mortgage refinance idiots and clueless SNET morons, the teletrash is pretty much gone. What little gets past the DNC list will be ignored since I only answer when Caller ID shows me a name or number that I recognize.
Before the state offered the DNC list, I played around with a modem that just happened to include caller ID recognition. I wrote a quickie app to detect the "number unavailable" situation and have the modem go off-hook for 5 seconds and hang up. Any call that rang more than once was worth answering, because otherwise my program would have intercepted it. The sheer fun of hearing a single ring followed by silence made it all worthwhile. In a way, the state DNC list has deprived me of the enjoyment I used to get from my homemade teletrash defense system.
Pennsylvania recently passed an anti-telemarketing law that created a "Do Not Call" list. When they started accepting info (via phone and web) from people who wished to be added to that list, they got such a crushing, overwhelming response that their call center and their servers couldn't handle it, which made the local news and really drove the point home about exactly how many people HATE telemarketers.
I am one of those people. I signed up successfully, early on the first day, but I still continue to do what I've been doing for years-- applying technology myself to keep the bastards from bugging me:
For the last two years, I've had a Caller ID modem connected to the Mac that runs all my home automation stuff. I set it up with a whitelist of my friends and relatives. When someone on the whitelist calls, the computer verbally alerts me through wireless speakers placed thoughout the house, and I know to pick up the phone. The computer will also mute the sound on the entertainment center if I'm watching TV or have my stereo on, so I don't have to fumble for a remote. The end result is, the only people who can interrupt what I'm doing are people that I want to talk to. Everyone else gets the answering machine. This works for me because I am not so such a social butterfly that the whitelist needs constant updating. I suppose that if I were, though, I'd just create a web interface for it so I could edit it from anywhere.
The bottom line, though, is that Caller ID is your friend. Don't pick up if you don't know who's on the other end, just let your machine get it. If the call is important enough, the caller will leave a message.
~Philly
The system you describe is something I'd like, too. Now, a quick Google search led me to look at Zeus Phonstuff over here. The price of this particular model is USD 249, but the device provides you a simple interface from caller ID box to PC (via serial cable). From there, doing the matching of the number against a database (perhaps even a shared database, much like spam blacklists) shouldn't be difficult. I just glanced through the online manual for this 2 line unit and it says that that unit doesn't do blocking (but this suggests that the 4 line unit does, since the switch is present, just not selectable).
Oh, go on, check out my job.
How do I know which outsorced telemarketing company is making each call?
Just invite them for a swim with their new gift from you: the Sodium Swimming Suit.
Table-ized A.I.