Angry Telemarketer Tells Off Telemarketing Victim

[Sirotnikov]

http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=8917049&nav=0s3d

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- An Austin man claims he got more than an earful from a telemarketer.

Randall Whited said after hanging up on a telemarketer, he received a call back.

"She proceeded to tell me that I had to come in for some presentation and that's when I just hung up the phone." said Whited who had signed up to win a free car at the movies.

That is when the telemarketer called back.

"You just hang up, because what, you're not enough man to talk to me," said the telemarketer. "If you don't want to get contacted if somebody wins, then don't put your name in it. That was just such a girl thing to do, wimp. "

"I was shocked, pretty shocked," said Whited. "I just couldn't believe that would be tolerated in the work place. The message was pretty offensive to me."

Whited had the telemarketers number on his caller ID and called back to speak to a supervisor.

"I played the message to her and she absolutely said that could not have been one of her people, even though on my phone the number is attached to that voicemail," said Whited.

Whited tried to get the woman and company's name, but the supervisor refused.

When attempt was made to contact the company, they also denied the information. The company's voicemail identifies them as the "Award Claim Center."

Whited contacted the Attorney General's office who informed him the company was violating Federal Trade Commission regulations by not releasing the information.

"I plan on taking it to the fullest extent that I can possibly take it to so that these kinds of things don't happen to other people," said Whited. "I'd like to see the employee lose her job for sure and possibly the supervisor who I spoke with."

A google search of the number on Whited's cell phone found dozens of complaints from consumers on 800notes.com, a website that tracks telemarketers,

"I haven't gotten on the 'no call list'," said Whited. "I really don't worry about it too much but know I think I will definitely look that up."

We're with you in your fight, sloww

[Imran Siddiqui]

Title should have been: Telemarking Aggressor tells off victim

[SlowwHand]

I wonder why he answered the call, if he has caller I.D.?
I don't answer the phone. Nope.

[Winston]

I had the exact same thing happen to me, before I had the sense to get on the no-call list.

A female telemarketer (or market surveyor, I forget) phoned me, and I immediately hung up without saying a word. Half an hour later (yes, that's 30 minutes!) she calls again and without introduction tells me that I should not terminate calls like that, as it is very rude and inconsiderate behaviour. After which she proceeds to hang up on me before I could get a word in.

Pretty amazing stuff.

[PLATO]

And just what is wrong with saying "Not interested. Thank You." and then hanging up?

Telemarketers are people also...just trying to do their job and feed their family.

No reason to be rude until you are treated rudely. If you don't want to talk to them then get on the Do Not Call list.

Obviously the telemarketer in the OP was way over the top (which is why it is news), but I would imagine that it is hard to be hung up on and treated rudely all day long.

[Winston]

I didn't ask to be inconvenienced by their calling me. I don't owe them anything.

If I'm not in the mood to ask them ever so kindly that I'd rather not be bothered, I will hang up.

I am on the no-call list. This was before, as I mentioned.

[Sirotnikov]

tells me that I should not terminate calls like that, as it is very rude and inconsiderate behaviour.

yes because annoying people in their home is not rude or inconsiderate at all.

btw, i very clearly say i don't like it before i hang up.

if i'm in the mood then i waste their time as much as i can.
i say i don't want anything but i give off the impression that if she could just talk a bit more, then i will agree to what ever she wants.

that way i hope to get in the "he's a time waster, don't call him" list.

maybe i'll start being wierd.
that sounds interesting

"don't hang up on me. talk to me some more. i'm lonely. so that's it, you used me to sell your product and now you throw away what we built?"

[Asher]

Originally posted by Winston
I had the exact same thing happen to me, before I had the sense to get on the no-call list.

I'd probably tell you off on the phone if I first called you also. You give of an air of republican-fanboyism that angers many.

[Asher]

Originally posted by PLATO
And just what is wrong with saying "Not interested. Thank You." and then hanging up?

That works 99% of the time. Once I got called back saying "We must've got disconnected."

Just a simple "No, I hung up." and hang up again fixes that.

[C0ckney]

i get a few at work from debt management companies. you get a call and a recorded messages asks you whether you have a debt problem and to press a number if you'd like to speak to someone about it. i always press the number, wait for the person to introduce themselves and then repeat the message i've just heard, word for word, back to the muppet who picked up the phone. most hang up pretty quickly but you get one or two who will press the button on their phone, presumably to see what i'll do next, at which point i say hello, good morning this is [their name] and anything else they might have managed to say in intervening time.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Winston
I had the exact same thing happen to me, before I had the sense to get on the no-call list.

A female telemarketer (or market surveyor, I forget) phoned me, and I immediately hung up without saying a word. Half an hour later (yes, that's 30 minutes!) she calls again and without introduction tells me that I should not terminate calls like that, as it is very rude and inconsiderate behaviour. After which she proceeds to hang up on me before I could get a word in.

Pretty amazing stuff.

You hung up on her again, right?

[Winston]

I never had a chance to.

I was about to get really mad at her when I was cut in mid-sentence, the very thing she told me you're not supposed to do.

And I was steaming mad. So she really left me there with the telephone equivalent of blue balls.

[rah]

If you've got any documentation about the call and have a few minutes, I'd try to get something out of it.

If the call was someone (or somebody representing) a company you do business with there is opportunity. Send the specifics about the call back to the mother company and express you dissapointment and possible consideration of not using this company anymore despite many years as a loyal customer. I've gotten free airline tickets, hotel rooms, refunds on annual membership fees and all sorts of free products.

This serves two purposes, it let's you vent, and you get something for your time that has been wasted. I've worked in call centers and had to fire many frustrated workers that did crap like this. There was 0 tolerance.

[Winston]

No, no. I just want to be left alone.

And I don't think the telemarketing business here is as "customer-oriented" or courteous as seems to be the case in the U.S.

But thanks all the same. Maybe others of a more crafty nature than I can put your suggestion to use.

[Zkribbler]

The average telemarketer lasts 60 days on the job before quitting.

That's got be one of the world's lousiest jobs.

(Oh, and I too, hang up on them.)