This week I got the first unsolicited telemarketer call I’ve received in probably four years. I’ve been blissfully immune to that damned phone-ringing-during-dinner syndrome. That is, until last weekend.
The perp was a mortgage company which wouldn’t take no for an answer. Three times, Kelly and I hung up on this woman, telling her “no, not interested.” It was only when Kelly said the Magic Legal Words “Do Not Call” that she finally quit. Now what kind of idiot wouldn’t stop after the first no? The second? Why did it take three frigging times before she got the message? Did she think we’d give in or something?
I have long ago registered our name, address, and number on the Direct Marketing Association’s Do Not Call list. I have also told the credit bureaus (1-888-5-OPTOUT) and credit card companies not to sell our number. Miraculously, they have all kept their word. It was the easiest and most effective way I tried to stem these annoying calls. Until this week, it was bulletproof.
I suppose the telemarketers, on the ropes from the recent legislation, have resorted to desperate measures. I mean, blatantly ignoring the Do Not Call list! Idiots. I only wish I’d gotten the name of her firm so I could trash it here. That, and maybe track down how they found me.
On the subject of banning the calls altogether, I’m not in favor of that. The privacy advocate in me (no calls!) gets overruled by the libertarian in me (First Amendment!). As long as the industry respects the consumer’s wishes, no legislation should be necessarsy. Sadly, it’s idiots like the one who called me that drive the legislation.
Too bad phones don’t have stateful inspection of source numbers. I would have long ago created a very small whitelist which would ring the phone from people I know – otherwise *POOF* you’re in voicemail. I suppose you could issue some kind of majic code for the rare times when someone you know had to use someone else’s cellphone or a payphone.. otherwise gimme my phone firewall.