How do I stop the crank calls for credit card balance transfers

Doublej · « **on:** 2 Mar 2013, 06:33 pm »

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes.

I keep getting robo calls to transfer my credit card balance and lower my rates. Every time they call they use a different caller ID number. How do I get these f'ers to stop?

Devil Doc · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 06:38 pm »

Try the Do Not Call List.(just google it) It's takes time to go in effect, but it works for me.

Doc

NIGHTFALL1970 · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 06:57 pm »

It cut down most of the unwanted calls for me as well.

Don_S · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 07:45 pm »

I am on the nationwide "Do Not Call List" but it seems like many telemarketing companies are ignoring it.

The worst offender is the telemarketing company that the OP mentioned--There is no problem with your credit card but.................

Please understand what I am saying next is not guaranteed to be a fact. I would appreciate confirmation if anyone knows. I think telemarketers like that paid off Congressmen and Senators to get an exemption under the pretense that they are helping people with financial difficulties.

I tried filing complaints against them and other telemarketers (carpet cleaners) but the online form never worked. I would fill it out and then it would not submit. Also the telemarketers have stopped leaving numbers that can be used to identify them when filing a complaint. I think the government should balance the budget by fining telemarketers into oblivion. Woops--politics??? I prefer to think of it as justice.

Phil A · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 07:57 pm »

I am on the do not call list and these companies just keep calling. I finally bought the Digitone Call Blocker. It is a little Caller ID unit that gets hooked between the jack from the wall and a telephone. When numbers are blocked (it does 80 numbers), it rings once and hangs up. It comes with out-of-area calls automatically blocked (you can override it per the instuctions) and you basically hit a button on the unit, pick up the phone, put in a 2 digit code, then the number, and then the star and then they are on the list. They may call again but at least you know when the phone rings once and that's it, it's a pretty good bet it is not worth it to get up and look.

ArthurDent · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 08:06 pm »

There was a great Senate hearing on C-SPAN probably a month or so ago, not a channel I watch with any regularity, but surf thru on occasion. It was about this very situation, and how the telephone companies are trying to address it. Given the use of computers & VOIP it has become effectively unstoppable. The responsible parties can call from anywhere, spoof any number, and it's impossible to locate them. They even noted that we all probably know Rachel from cardholder services. They've been trying to track her down for years now. And of course, don't we all want clean carpets ? Of course we do, but even if you don't pushing #2 to remove your number from the list won't work. In fact the tele folks said either don't answer, or simply hangup, don't push any numbers.

I've been on the Do Not Call list almost since it's inception, and with regards to legit telemarketers, it works. Pretty much the only calls I get other than from Rachel or Diane, are surveys (which are not covered by the regulation), and nonprofit solicitations (also not covered). So at least for the moment there's not much you can do with regards to the noted calls, in theory the tele companies are trying to figure out a solution. Signing up for the Do Not Call list will help, but only to a degree.

ArthurDent · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 08:09 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 2 Mar 2013, 07:57 pm

I finally bought the Digitone Call Blocker. It is a little Caller ID unit that gets hooked between the jack from the wall and a telephone.

Thanks for the tip Phil A, that's going in my shopping cart before days end.

Don_S · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 08:10 pm »

Phil,

How do you get the telemarketer's number to enter? I am pretty sure Rachel keeps changing her number.

decal · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 08:10 pm »

If the calls are from companies you do business with or have done business with in the past, there's not much you can do except ask them not to call anymore (not gonna work though,trust me). If you are on the national "do not call list" and companies that you are not a customer of, continue to call, there is a process to report them. Here's a link to the National Do Not Call Registry.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 08:48 pm »

If it is one of those deals where you press X to speak to someone, do it and then curse them out when they get on the line. Remember, THEY called YOU, so you can say whatever you want. Another technique is to play dumb and waste as much of their time as possible. Get Tom Mabes "Revenge on the telemarketers" from iTunes for ideas on how to f*** with telemarketers.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 10:15 pm »

I had a similar prob with my bank, to worst the situation this bank use a server to do the phone call, so they call me every 15-20 minutes monday to friday thru 9h00 to 20h00.
So I was forced to update my phone in the bank registry file to a fake number...rs rs rs and voilá no more phone calls

Napalm · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 10:54 pm »

Get a 1-900 phone number.

Don_S · « **Reply #12 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 12:14 am »

So that is why YOUR bank is now calling ME every 15 minutes Monday thru Friday!

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 2 Mar 2013, 10:15 pm

A had a similar prob with my bank, to worst the situation this bank use a server to do the phone call, so they call me every 15-20 minutes monday to friday thru 9h00 to 20h00.
So I was forced to update my phone in the bank registry file to a fake number...rs rs rs and voilá no more phone calls

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #13 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 12:26 am »

Certainly was my guilty.

This was a annoying situation in winter early morning, also I had to wait some seconds to the server transfer the call to some guy and listen all that same boring talk again.

Phil A · « **Reply #14 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 12:58 am »

Quote from: Don_S on 2 Mar 2013, 08:10 pm

Phil,

How do you get the telemarketer's number to enter? I am pretty sure Rachel keeps changing her number.

It shows up on the Caller ID units. I believe (have not tried it), you can block area codes too. They got so annoying that I finally got the device even though I may only use it about a year as after I move, I may get IP telephone and have blocking capability on that. It is obvious that the do not call list is of limited value.

Phil A · « **Reply #15 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 01:03 am »

Quote from: dB Cooper on 2 Mar 2013, 08:48 pm

If it is one of those deals where you press X to speak to someone, do it and then curse them out when they get on the line. Remember, THEY called YOU, so you can say whatever you want. Another technique is to play dumb and waste as much of their time as possible. Get Tom Mabes "Revenge on the telemarketers" from iTunes for ideas on how to f*** with telemarketers.

If I am sitting at the computer, and it is convenient I have hit the speakerphone several times and let them do most of the talking, take up time and have apologized to them at the end that I inadvertently recorded the conversation and if that is not OK to just send a letter with their company details to the address with the listed phone number. Have had no takers yet

timind · « **Reply #16 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 02:12 am »

Get caller id and don't answer the phone. Not a big deal.

Doublej · « **Reply #17 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 02:39 am »

Quote from: timind on 3 Mar 2013, 02:12 am

Get caller id and don't answer the phone. Not a big deal.

It's my work cell phone and it's obnoxious when it goes off during a meeting. Just looking at it to see it's a no name number pisses me off.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #18 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 02:52 am »

I just signed up for the national do nto call registry. it iss a .gov address.
I had signed up for the local state one before.

Bizarroterl · « **Reply #19 on:** 4 Mar 2013, 08:39 pm »

I was getting a lot of spam calls to my cell. I moved it to google voice and set it to block all calls without a caller ID. I don't get spam calls any more to my cell. At home I'm getting spam calls even though I'm on the do not call. Seriously thinking of moving that number to google voice too.