Do Not Call Register

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I recieved this email today.
Thought it might be useful to you guys and gals too.

Hi All

REMEMBER: Mobile Phone Numbers Go Public next month. (APRIL)

REMINDER all mobile phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls.

Below is a link where you can enter your phone numbers online to put an end to telemarketing calls

https://www.donotcall.gov.au/

[Jen]

Yeah JJJ i got that email too is it a hoax or not ?
Is this for real

[astroturf (Bryan)]

Hi JJJ & Jen

It looks like its half & half (true v false)
Take a look : http://www.hoax-slayer.com/do-not-call-register.shtml
Good site for stuff like this

Cheers
Bryan

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

The Register is genuine, but the bit about mobile phones going public is false.
The link takes you to a Govenment Site where you can list your phone number.
Telemarketing to me is a damnable invasion of privacy.

[Ric]

I'm already registered, it cut down my unwanted calls from around 20 a fortnight to about 2 or 3

Well worth registering if you value your peace and quiet.

Cheers

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

They say it takes about 30 days before the calls finally stop.
It's going to be heavenly.

[astroron (Ron)]

Get yourself an answering machine Jeanette and you wont get any

[Tandum (Robin)]

The calls don't stop, they ease a little. Charities asking for money are allowed to call you, any banks you have ever delt with can call you, offshore companies can call you. The answering machine and caller ID is the best way to deal with it. All private caller ID numbers go to the answering machine.

[marki]

I use caller ID and a answering machine which works well to keep these annoying people away. When I do stuff up and pick up the phone I always ask them for their home phone number so I can call them back. When they refuse I simply hang up.

Mark

[badchap]

astroturf already posted the link to the hoax slayer article (I had only just had this same email a week or two ago)

The hoax slayer website - IMO - is a very helpful website to start from to check email chain letters/ hoaxes /claims and scams, including any other emails that include wording similar to 'WARNING - send this email to everyone you know' .

[Karls48 (Karl)]

After being harassed day and night by all sorts of phone calls asking for money or wanting to sell me something I did put my phone number on the register. Calls become less frequent but did not stoped. So I have become quite rude in answering those calls. And I do not care if the caller is someone from India trying to sell me some dodgy mobile phone deal, or Save children charity. I got right to my privacy and right to choose what charity I will support. After being very rude for few months answering those pests, I don’t receive more then one call a month.

[Enchilada]

Originally Posted by Karls48

After being very rude for few months answering those pests, I don’t receive more then one call a month.

I agree with Karl. Give them no respite and no mercy. When you know it is an unwanted call, immediately ask them where did they get the number. Then I'd hound them relentlessly until you get some satisfaction - without letting them get a word in, then hang up. (Do exactly the same with the door knockers. In my experience it has been with persistent "Origin Energy", who visit once every three months for the last four or five years! God I hate them. )

The problem is people are too nice to them, which only encourages them to keep going.

Pity it is against the law to literally blow their brains out with a loud high-frequency sound. I think there are also laws protecting them against you causing them any kind trauma - as psychological damage. I read somewhere in the local newspaper that these tele-marketers were complaining about how rude people could be, and this upset them (we are just doing our jobs) However, when I read the plea for people to be nicer too them from the companies that represented them, just made my blood boil !

My own solution was to get a silent number when I first got a telephone number. Peace and quite is such a rare joy in this busy world. The $2.70 a month is worth every goddamn cent. Yet, I do still get one or two calls per month when they dial random numbers!! Again, I show absolutely no mercy!

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Originally Posted by Enchilada

I agree with Karl. Give them no respite and no mercy. When you know it is an unwanted call, immediately ask them where did they get the number. Then I'd hound them relentlessly until you get some satisfaction - without letting them get a word in, then hang up. (Do exactly the same with the door knockers. In my experience it has been with persistent "Origin Energy", who visit once every three months for the last four or five years! God I hate them. )

The problem is people are too nice to them, which only encourages them to keep going.

Pity it is against the law to literally blow their brains out with a loud high-frequency sound. I think there are also laws protecting them against you causing them any kind trauma - as psychological damage. I read somewhere in the local newspaper that these tele-marketers were complaining about how rude people could be, and this upset them (we are just doing our jobs) However, when I read the plea for people to be nicer too them from the companies that represented them, just made my blood boil !

My own solution was to get a silent number when I first got a telephone number. Peace and quite is such a rare joy in this busy world. The $2.70 a month is worth every goddamn cent. Yet, I do still get one or two calls per month when they dial random numbers!! Again, I show absolutely no mercy!

We don't get many (private number) but when I'm in the mood, and I receive a call from them, I like playing with them.

1. There is always that 1-2 second delay in between you and them, so I add my own 1-2 second delay, and stop and start talking when they do. I pause when they pause and start a sentence when they start one.

2. When they start their pitch about a 'free mobile phone offer', I give them a long pitch about "What a coincidence! I was just about to call you for the same reason. I'm selling a [fake product - shoe buffers, car polish, rocks from my garden, whatever.], are you interested?" - I just don't stop talking until they hang up.

3. When I answer, I say "can you hang on a minute", put the phone down and walk away. Come back in 10 minutes and they've hung up.

4. I get personal. I start asking how their family is going, how long have they been in their job,what's the weather like in India, etc. Then start rabbiting on about the weather here...

As you can see I have too much time on their hands.... but none of this costs me anything and it's only 2 minutes out of my day. And they won't let me do this sort of thing at my work, so I have to take it out on someone!

[Enchilada]

Originally Posted by redesford

We don't get many (private number) but when I'm in the mood, and I receive a call from them, I like playing with them.

I like that!
One of my favourites of all is with the hawkers.

Someone who is selling something, I've always loved;

"Hello. My time is valuable. If you are here to sell something, I am obliged to tell you that I charge $4.70 per minute from the moment you start speaking. Now before you do reply, you will have to sign this piece of paper (one is always near the door) as a contract with me saying where you are from and that you agree with these terms. (Wave the paper in front of them) Do we have an agreement, yes or no?"

or

"Hi! I've just got new hinges on my front door and have been dying to test it out on someone like you! Goodbye. (slam the door) Then say in a very loud voice - "What a good investment THAT was !!"

Needless to say, they don't stick around very long!

[stephenb (Stephen)]

or answer the door completely naked. That'll test their religion! (I have not tried this yet, by the way)

[kinetic (Steve)]

Originally Posted by Enchilada

I like that!
One of my favourites of all is with the hawkers.

Someone who is selling something, I've always loved;

"Hello. My time is valuable. If you are here to sell something, I am obliged to tell you that I charge $4.70 per minute from the moment you start speaking. Now before you do reply, you will have to sign this piece of paper (one is always near the door) as a contract with me saying where you are from and that you agree with these terms. (Wave the paper in front of them) Do we have an agreement, yes or no?"

or

"Hi! I've just got new hinges on my front door and have been dying to test it out on someone like you! Goodbye. (slam the door) Then say in a very loud voice - "What a good investment THAT was !!"

However, with the very persistent Jehovah Witnesses knocking on my door, (actually averaging about once every four weeks with me) my favourite line is;

"What blood group are you? I'm actually the rare AB negative and sadly a haemophilic. I am after a good honest Christian soul who might help me with my frequent blood transfusions!" (Their jaws drops every time in astonishment!)

or even

"Sorry. I believe in the Trinity - you know - Isis, Ra and Seth"*

* Others could be like;
- Vishnu, Brahma and Krishna
- Zeus, Hera and Poseidon
- John, Paul, George (and sometimes, of course Ringo)

Needless to say, they don't stick around very long!

Where do I sign up for a register for stopping posts like this?
Have you read the TOS Enchilada?

Steve

[Enchilada]

Originally Posted by kinetic

Where do I sign up for a register for stopping posts like this?
Have you read the TOS Enchilada?
Steve

Just click on the red x button on the post, and report the complaint to the Moderators.

[Enchilada]

Originally Posted by kinetic

Where do I sign up for a register for stopping posts like this? Have you read the TOS Enchilada?
Steve

Steve, I don't think this necessarily reflects on religion in the TOS as such, but the problems of persistent people "wanting to convert you", hawkers or tele-marketers. People have the right to privacy and being left alone in their homes.
While these people might be nice and decent folk, it is very frustrating to be constantly being interrupted. Where I live, the frequency of these religious 'visits' is about four per week! Most are at 8pm to 10pm on Saturday mornings - annoying when you finally get a chance to rest. I like to go out in Friday night and have a good sleep-in on many of those Saturdays.
Believe what you must, but frankly I could not care one iota about their religious views or products being sold by hawkers. Being polite doesn't work, telling them not to bother me any more doesn't work. The only way seems to be obnoxious as possible - and that is what others are mostly saying here too.
All I would like is to be left alone and recover from the rigours of the week. It really annoys the hell out of me - a frustration that sadly need venting! Modern living in a city is really becoming a real pain!

[Enchilada]

Originally Posted by Enchilada

Where I live, the frequency of these religious 'visits' is about four per week!

For 2009, I have kept an on-going tally.
So far the number in three months is forty-five (45) till today.
- 27 being 'religious'
- 9 being real estate agents
- 4 Telco products
- 3 Energy products
- 2 Product 'hawkers'

In my view this is actually 45 too many!

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Originally Posted by kinetic

Where do I sign up for a register for stopping posts like this?
Have you read the TOS Enchilada?

LOL You might want to not quote the whole post that offended you. Looks like mods or Enchilada have deleted the "offending" portion in the original post, but it remains in yours. Ironic.