phone number got added to marketing list

[feh]

I'm not sure how this happened, but our home phone number somehow got added to several targeted marketing lists recently. I've never experienced anything like this before - we're not talking about generic telemarketing calls. I'm talking about calls from companies saying they've "received my request for information or help through their web site", when I haven't requested any assistance with anything.

Specifically, we're talking about life insurance, credit assistance, back tax assistance, automobile sales. This all started about a week ago, and we're getting 5-10 calls per day!

I called the first person (local life insurance salesman) back and explained I hadn't requested any information. He thanked me for calling, because he pays $x for each lead, and he was going to let the source of the marketing list know that mine was bogus.

I should add that I recently changed employers, if that could have anything to do with it.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there anything I can do, or will it blow over in time?

Thanks!

[mommyof4]

Wow, that would be really annoying. Do you have your number on the "do not call" list? I wonder if that would help anything.

[disneysteve]

We keep getting recorded calls on our cell phones only saying something about our car warranty. We don't have car warranties and even if we did they wouldn't have our cell phone numbers. Plus, even my daughter (who is 13) gets the same calls. It is rather annoying. I've just stopped answering the cell phone if I don't recognize the number.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

We keep getting recorded calls on our cell phones only saying something about our car warranty. We don't have car warranties and even if we did they wouldn't have our cell phone numbers. Plus, even my daughter (who is 13) gets the same calls. It is rather annoying. I've just stopped answering the cell phone if I don't recognize the number.

Do a Google search. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of people getting these calls. It's a total scam, and having your number on the Do Not Call list will not prevent it as they are just trying random numbers and not pulling from any database. Pretty much everyone I know, friends, family, and co-workers in several states have received these calls . . . so they must be making hundreds of thousands of phone calls, if not more.

I started getting them earlier this year and filled several complaints with the FCC, which did nothing. I read on a blog a comment from a campaign worker who said most telemarketing systems allow the caller to label a number as "combative" and that the number would typically not be called again as they know you are not going to cooperative. I tried this a couple weeks ago (press "2" to speak to someone, and as soon as you get them on the line just realllllllly tear into them. Profanity. Insults. All of it). I have not gotten a call since. Getting them on the line and playing cat and mouse games does not seem to have the same affect.

[destiny10]

there is a site where you can list your number not to be entered into any marketing list. check it out it might help you.

[Mamaw]

I sure am glad this was posted. All on my cell phone cheap health insurance, car warenty and a drop in interest rates on credit cards all are recorded. I wondered where they were coming from.

[HamSandwich]

i get that car insurance call too. very annoying. im glad its a telemarketer. i really thought my car insurance was about to expire ><

[neatdesign]

Looks like you aren't the only ones annoyed by this:

US senator annoyed by spam call about car warranty

~ Jenney

[Couponers United]

How do you get on the "do not call" list. I know it won't stop ALL calls,but still....

[mommyof4]

Originally Posted by Couponers United

How do you get on the "do not call" list. I know it won't stop ALL calls,but still....

https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx

[kork13]

Originally Posted by mommyof4

https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx

In 4 years of being on that list, I've gotten a sum total of ONE call. My parents used to get at least a dozen each month. After I signed them up on the list, it dropped to 1 call every couple months. Maybe I've just been lucking out ::knock on wood::, but it seems to do the trick pretty well IMO.

[neatdesign]

More progress -- it seems people's voices are being heard:

FTC sues companies to halt auto warranty 'robo-calls'

~ Jenney

[red92s]

Originally Posted by neatdesign

More progress -- it seems people's voices are being heard:

FTC sues companies to halt auto warranty 'robo-calls'

~ Jenney

Yessss. I hope some good comes of that.

I filed at least 5 complaints with the FCC over those calls.