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FTC Targets Massive Car Warranty Robocall Scheme
coondoggie writes "Robocalls are a scourge, and the Federal Trade Commission today took action against one outfit by asking a federal court to shut down companies that have been bombarding consumers with hundreds of millions of allegedly deceptive robocalls in an effort to sell vehicle service contracts. According to the FTC, the robocalls have prompted tens of thousands of complaints from consumers who are either on the Do Not Call Registry or asked not to be called. Five telephone numbers associated with the defendants have generated a total of 30,000 Do Not Call complaints. Consumers received the robocalls at home, work, and on their cell phones, sometimes several times in one day. Businesses, government offices and even 911 dispatchers also have been subjected to the calls, the FTC said."
Reader powerlord points out that another such company, not named in the FTC filing, raised the ire of thousands of internet-goers, who struck back by rickrolling the company's voice mail and digging up personal information on the company's president.
OK, that's great about the warranty and stuff, but what I really want to know is... what are you wearing?
Whenever I'm having a bad day I can just wait for their call and keep yelling obscenities and laughing like a twelve-year-old. In fact yesterday morning I got one and greeted with "PENIS PENIS PENIS PENIS PENIS PENIS lol."
QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
I almost miss getting telemarketing calls. It was kinda fun to have someone that you can mess with and insult in most disgusting ways without feeling the least bit bad about it.
Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
I gave them Todd Davis' social security number a few times.
Support my political activism on Patreon.
x2. I get alternating calls from these guys and a company that wants to help me lower my rates.
That said, the best thing you can do is waste their time. It's like Groundhog day. Every time they call I get to try something different.
Sure warranty my 1969 VW beetle. Click
Oh I don't carry a credit card balance. Click.
*FCC*. Click
vs
Oh my Gawd. I'm so glad you called. So yesterday I was out shopping and my credit card got declined. Have you ever had your credit card declined, trust me it sucks. So how much can you lower my rates. [Cut them off] So that's great. So when do you think that I can get this rate actually implemented. I'm planning on proposing to my girlfriend, do you have a girlfriend. I'm so in love, she's going to love her ring. I just put it on layaway with the last $500 on my Visa. You do lower the rates of Visa right? [cut them off]. So. Oh, you need my number. Damn it, my card is out in the car. Can you hold for ONE second. Please. [set phone down for 5 minutes]. Hey are you still there? Great. So my card number is, hey wait a minute. Are you sure this is safe. One of my friends, John, yeah he got his credit card stolen through his pants. Some guy had this magic reader that you just need to brush up against someone and it steals the credit card.
See how long you can keep it going...
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That said, Today I just left my cell phone at home. I came home to 5 missed calls.
I've filed both companies with the FCC, but the calls keep coming. I can't wait for both of these to stop.
Do you wish to look as happy as me? Well, you've got the power inside you right now. So, use it, and send one dollar to Happy Dude, 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield.
Don't delay, eternal happiness is just a dollar away.
for a 1963 Opel Kadett.
I told them I was planning a trip across Botswana, and I wanted to make sure the vehicle was covered.
Those bastards hung up on me.
Even better idea that would add no new stuff - just make it illegal to call people on the do not call list. And allow people the sue if they are called even once
i misread this as a "robocop" scheme, anticipating warranties to come with the ultimatum "you have 20 seconds to comply."
Good people go to bed earlier.
I also really hate that people generalize ax murderers and baby rapists because of a few bad apples.
Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
Your solution requires warrants.
My solution requires air strikes.
Most of the stuff on
Telemarketer: Hi, would you be interested in switching over to TMI long distance service.
Sienfeld: Gee, I can't talk right now. Why don't you give me your home number and I'll call you later.
Telemarketer: Uh, I'm sorry we're not allowed to do that.
Sienfeld: Oh, I guess you don't want people calling you at home.
Telemarketer: No.
Sienfeld: Well now you know how I feel.
While we're at it, let's require all thieves to leave their business card in the place of any item they steal. It would make it a lot easier to find them.
-1 disagree is not a modifier for a reason. -1 troll, flaimbait, redundant, overrated are NOT acceptable substitutes.
think of the baby axes?!?
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage?
Sorry dude, my policy is still to waste a telemarketer's time in the most effective and entertaining ways available to me. If you then have to watch a powerpoint presentation I count that as a bonus because it's wasting even more of your company's resources.
I don't buy the "no other jobs" defense either. I'm sure the guy who stole my bike last year would give the same excuse but I'm not going to give him a moral pass either.