OT - Spam Phone Calls ESPECIALLY those about Car Warranty...

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:28 am

I'm tired and cranky and angry with myself for a bonehead move yesterday and then for the upteenth time I get three different calls this morning about my car warranty expiring (which one, who knows, they don't say) without ID asking me to press one or two or do something else. I've got all my numbers on the do not call list but still get calls. I know they are a scam of some sort because if it was truly for say, my F150, they would say something "Like, hey Mr. ________, I'm Joe Blow from Ford Motor company calling about the warranty on your 200_ Ford F150 which is about to expire. Are you sure you don't want to extend that warranty?" Anyway, I'm burning right now.

cutter · Post by **cutter** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:34 am

Ya know, I look forward to those calls.

'specially on whiskey night!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:14 am

Callers have about 3 seconds to impress me or they get a NoThankYou and a click.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:27 am

Cutter Has it right. 'specially on whiskey night!them Guys don't like to here me sing Jonny Cash. they go away.Jim.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:29 am

I would say that I've gotten at least 500 of these calls about my "car warranty" expiring. Most every time I just hang up the minute I know what the call is.

Gun Smith · Post by **Gun Smith** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:03 pm

I'm lucky, I have a surname that can't be pronounced correctly unless you have heard me pronounce it for you. It comes in handy as I can identify who I want to talk to in about 2 seconds, otherwise-- click!

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:47 pm

Hobie,

Me too....not as many but probably at least 70 or 80. I try to *69' em but of course it comes back untracable. Usually they call as soon as my little 6 month old has fallen asleep

cnjarvis · Post by **cnjarvis** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:56 pm

Can we say:

Not that I'd acutally do it...

Leverluver · Post by **Leverluver** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:06 pm

cnj I like your style.

That has worked for me but it hurts my ears as much or more than theirs. The calls do give me a chance to practice my Turret's syndrome though

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:52 pm

On beer night, I'll let them go thru the whole nine yards, then ask them for their home number so I can let them know my decision. What's that, you say? You don't do business at home? Well, you big dummie, I don't either...CLICK! (Resisting temptation to use evil icon)

cutter · Post by **cutter** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:55 pm

My wife likes to say," Huh? What? Ok." repeatedly untill they figure she's hackin on them.

If you can get them to hang up, with no cursing on your part, you get a point!

I had one babe from a loan company on the line for several minutes a while back. I was trying to get her to help me work on the JD, but she wasn't any help. When she finnaly hung up, I had just asked her ,"Where should I buy plugs, cuz I think this one might be fowled."

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:54 pm

The car warranty folks that call here use a recorded msg.. But the most sure fire way I have discovered to stop most of them cold is to answer with a cheery, Hola!.. If it goes any farther than that in English, then I use my best Speedy Gonzales No Sauveeee... If they start speaking Spanish I just hang up..,

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:42 pm

Most all the calls I get now are pre-recorded so you CAN'T ask them a question...

Jeeps · Post by **Jeeps** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:00 pm

Ya kinda have to go where the flow takes ya.

I have friends that got rid of there home phones and strictly use cell phones
to avoid the hassles.

With my wifes business we don't have that luxury, instead, as soon as I get
home from work I go around and shut off all the ringers except the one on
our coffee table(that one is put on low). So while we are watching TV or
having a family chat, which includes the honey-do list or the "riot act".
I'll hear the phone ring, look at the caller ID, if I know the # it gets answered
if I don't I just hit the "off" button and it goes to our message machine.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:11 pm

Hobie,
Try going to www.tommabe.com and listen to some of his stuff. Maybe you'll get a few ideas.

Rusty <><

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:03 pm

Heck, I get the calls and the junk mail about that. These folks are so smart, they don't realize I bought my last auto in '82. I wonder if they would offer a warranty on my Jeep.

Ram Hammer · Post by **Ram Hammer** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:57 pm

"Hello"?

"Yes sir, is this Mr XXXX"?

"Oops, someone is at the door". "Hold please". (go back to reading paper). 5 minutes later if they are still on the line, shout loudly "who left the phone off the hook?" And hang it up.

rhead · Post by **rhead** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:06 am

I have a friend who is an ex leo. When he gets a live one he leads them to believe that they have just called the number of a homicide scene (with him as the victim). He tells them that the call is being traced and that they will be listed as a suspect. Questions include their relationship to the victim, when did they last see them and instructions to stay on the line untill the trace is compleated and the local sherrif can arrive.

I wouldn't be able to keep from laughing, so have never tried it. I do try to waste as much of their time as I can. If everyone they called could waste 5 minutes of their time the entire industry would go bankrupt in a few months. Sometime I can't and sometimes I get ticked off and don't but when I can manage it it sure is fun.

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:38 am

I get calls, and voice mails on my cellphone from collection agencies wanting to collect a debt. I get to listen to this long spiel about paying my debt to this agency, assorted threats, dire consequences, then a toll free number to reach them, all the while, the minutes are rolling off my tracphone(you know, the one I need for my job, that the county doesn't reimburse me for). I usually wait at least 24 hours for my blood pressure to go back down then give them a call back: Hello, this is Deputy Sheriff XWY, Agency XWY, I'm NOT BLAH, I don't KNOW BLAH, If you send a warrant, I'll go look for him, but If I get another call from you about this, on my work cellphone, and it not about said warrant, The SD Attorney General's Office is gonna call your 1-800 # for a CHAT about the SD laws on phone harassment. That does seem to work.

The latest ones are emails to my phone: they cost 30min each

to answer, I've only answered one(car warranty, sheesh my newest car is a 1988). I don't even know my email address for that phone how the h#@$ do they know it. I no longer answer emails to my phone.