I just got a phone call at work that sounded like it was from overseas.  The caller was "confirming" our company's "free yellow pages business listing."  He already knew our company name and contact info and I said "correct" as he read it back.\n\nThen the call got weird.  He got me to spell out my name and then asked for my job title.  When I answered, he said that title wasn't in their system and I should just say I was a "supervisor" when he transfered me to someone who was going to confirm our listing.\n\nA second guy came on and said his call was being timed, so to please not interrupt him because he had to complete it in so many seconds.  Then he said to interrupt him if the info was wrong.  He repeated this mumbo-jumbo several times.  \n\nWhen this caller asked me my job title, I gave my original answer.  He said, "A supervisor?"  When I answered, "Not really," he hung up.\n\nHas this happened to anyone else?  I'm afraid I said "yes" at one point and they'll be able to scam me.
134252
Yes, happend to me at work. They try to get your info so next time they cold call again they act like they know you or refer to you when they talk to your colleague.\nJust hang up and say thank you next time.
382780
Wrong?? No.  Maybe looked a little foolish, though.  Hey I wouldn't count yourself out on this.  Wait until you hear back from him--you never know!!  Good luck!\n\nEDIT:\n\nYes, it was unprofessional.  As, someone who hires where I work, I would question your ability to make a decision.  But, if I was very impressed with your experience and skills I would probably give you a chance.
82343
Ok you want to get the points on your Quality Eval. \n\nI am a former Operations Manager in call centers. Here is what most reps missed.\n\nCheerful- say your greeting script cheerfully\n\nGain agreement with the customer- customer mentions his/her issue you reply, something like this," Mr____ ,so I understand you correctly you are calling today because your cell phone isnt working properly and you feel it may be the signal, is that correct?" Once your customer says yes to the question, then you can move on to helping him\n\nNo dead air. Never leave a customer listening to nothing, if you have to say "is it a nice day in______?" while you are looking for something on your system. If it takes too long put your customer on hold\n\nIf you are going to put a customer on hold ask the customer permission,"may I put you on hold for 1to 2 min" Customer says yes, you say thank you. Stopwatch your hold time, watch the phone (hold indicator time) never put your phone in wrap-up while on hold it tricks the main computer in the call center and messes up your talk time, it will look like you are spending too much time. Make sure that you come back to that customer after the time you gave him to check in. Come back on the phone and say, "thank you for holding Mr.___, I am still researching, may I proceed to keep you on hold?" \n\nThese are very important things\n\nOnce you feel you may have resolved the issue. make sure you gain agreement again with the customer. "is everything working properly?" \n\nuse words like great good, excellent, etc positive words always make the customer more happy they are talking to you.\n\nAfter you have gotten agreement that you have resolved the call you can then say, "is there anything else I can help you with today?" customer says no then you end the call with the script. never say bye bye at the end of a call. i know it is hard, but it lacks professionalism. \n\nIf the customer has other issues go back gain agreement, and go back through everything again..\n\nAs long as you do those things you will get top scores.
495638
I hear that! I am currently working in a call centre also for a few weeks and am fed up with the amount of abuse that I have to take. I am a New Zealander and as such am called some pretty nasty racist names. I have heard some awful things shouted down the phone at me and there really is no need for it. Do people seriously think that you will want to help them if they abuse you?\nI thought face to face was bad but i think people have a mind set that if they can't see you it doesn't count.
210411
Last I heard, that number was a scam to get information from you to allow others to market to you for specific services. Avoid it. :-)
519896
It's a good thing they are not coming after you, so be thankful for that. Sounds like he owes somebody some money. Short of changing your telephone number, get as much information as you can from the next person who calls you from that place.  Ask about exactly what it is they want from him and who that company is and how to contact them.  Get their phone number, maiing address, and as much specifics as you can.  Ask them as many questions as you can think of and keep them on the phone for as long as possible. Then tell that person that you are not your ex, you have nothing to do with him, that he is no longer with you, you have no idea where he is, whatever, and request that they stop calling you, and if they call you one more time you will file a complaint with the police. You might also try something like saying "Put me on your 'do not call' list.  That's supposed to be for telemarketers but tell them you don't want what they are selling.
544010
I thought creditors would be listed just like other businesses in the Yellow Pages reverse look up. Have you tried looking up similar numbers but with a different last digit? You should be able to get a new phone number without problem if you're getting harassing calls. And get it unlisted if you can.
181607
What I've taught everyone in my family....and it works.\n\nOver the years, I've learned whether dealing in person or on the phone [I always carry a pen and small notebook]\nI always ask...\n"Hi, who am I speaking to?" {get first & last name]\n"What is your identifier number?" [if they can't give a last name....they always have a number.]\n\nIn person, I do the same thing....waiters, waitresses, nurses in emergency rooms...etc.\n\nNow I have it!!!  Their Name.  Before anything else happens.\nI have their name.....they know if they are rude, inconsiderate or hang up on me......I have their 'name'.\n\nIf....any of the above occurs.  I call back and immediately as for a supervisor [you'll get..."Oh, maybe I can help you." and you say "No.  Get me the Supervisor."\n\nThe same holds true for any 'in-person' contacts.  Any ingnorance...ask for a supervisor or manager.\n\nMind you....\n  \nI also use their "name" to call back a supervisor to tell them what "excellent" service I've had also.
312318
As everyone mentioned above shows most of the people are being irritated and harassed by them. I aggree they all more than they should, but if we don't want any more calls why don't we put our number on DNC (do not call) List. This list is by federal government and once you register your name on this list, you won't get any telemarketing job.\n\nOne more thing about telemarketers is they have an ability to sell big things on phone. I have seen telemarketers selling cars, internet connections, refinancing mortgage... I really appreciate the hard work they follow.\n\nAs you asked about the impact on the world i would say, it really help people to save there time as they don't have to shop around for something they are looking for.\n\nI also aggree with one of my friends comment as said they call poor english, for this i would suggest companies to give them more training on accent and language and then make them call.\nThanks and regards
320124
Sometimes, I pretend to be one when a stupid person dials a wrong number.\n\nIt's amazing the information that some folk will provide to an "operator".
534443
These are my thoughts on this.  \n1) The fact that they only provide a PO box not a street address is a cause for alarm.\n2) There is no listing for them in the local business area on the site: http://www.eatonrapidsmi.net/  Another cause for alarm, if they are a legitimate thriving business it would seem to me that they'd be listed/involved in the community in some way.\n3) Take heed, you did not mention if there is any "start up" costs for you (sometimes these scam things tend to lure you in with promises on big returns for a small outlay for supplies).  Even if the initial offer is not indicating this they "tell" you in the teeny tiney print or at the last second after they've gotten you hooked on the idea of easy money, this is how they make their money.  Any job where you have to put money up front to make money is not a real job it's a scam.\n4) If you're still not certain, take a minute and check with the local chamber of commerce  or equivilant, for Eaton Rapids.  If this is a legitimate business they should have at least heard of them or they'd be a part of the chamber.  \n5) IF the company has a contact # then find out their real address if at all possible.  You may be able to use that to search the Better Business Bureau site.  But I can almost guarantee they won't be willing to give that out.\n6) If you do decide to write/contact them keep in mind that your name address & # will now be a part of their records and you could find yourself the recipient of tons of unwanted junk mail & phone calls.\n7) DO NOT!! GIVE THEM YOUR PERSONAL INFO WITHOUT CHECKING AND VERIFYING ALL OF THEIR INFO FIRST!  Sorry to "shout" that but it cannot be said enough.  In this day and age of identity theft security improvements you'd be surprised the lengths people will go to to obtain other's personal info, even to the extent of taking out ads for a bogus job offer, it does't take a whole lot to rent a PO Box, and once they harvest enough info they let it lapse and move along, well before anyone is on to their scam.\n\nJust remember, just because they don't have anything on them at the BB doesn't mean they're good or bad.  They might be legitimate but if they are they'll be willing to provide to you their credentials, (Business license #, contact names & numbers, a physical address & more).  Still unsure, check out the BB site again, they have links and info on prevention of scams and bogus job offers.\n\nNote:  I just checked the BBB myself for C & R and noted that they warn about the possible fraud in this type of job and do note a contact # but they have not received any info from this company.  From my own experiences if the company is legitimate with nothing to hide, then they'll willingly provide info to the BBB.  Whatever you do, just use caution in your dealings with them.\nhttp://www.westernmichigan.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=25004851&language=1
651628
I just got scammed today fro 891.00. After calling several times I realized this was a scam. Every time I called a different person answered the phone. I spoke to a Sara Walters, Elizabeth Jefferys, Adrien (he did't have a last name) and finally A Jim Jones. I asked him how dose he get away with what he is doing and he told me I was the stupid one for sending my money Western Union. So he addmited scamming me. He even went on to disguse his voice to act as if he was White and then Jamacan. He told me he was so good that he could act like he was from any race. Meaning he is one person imatating several. Then I spoke back to Sara (I guess she didn't know about the conversation I had just had) and she told me that my account had a "RED FLAG"  and she couldn't send me money unless I sent her another 585.00.  Can you believe she had the nerve to ask for more money.  I ended up calling the Canada police, they gave me a numver to a dept. called phone busters so I could give a report. I also found out that it is illegal for a Canaden company to ask for any money down before sending the loan. Unfortunally I found this information out too late!!!
417284
Yes, if you enter into a working relationship with a company (i.e. place an order through them) it is accepted that you have impliedly consented to the fact that they can call you if they so desire.  This is true even if you have an unlisted phone number.  Such things do not matter in the world of contracts.  So, always give out a fake phone number at any possible chance.
603613
Same thing happens to me the creditors on the other line do not listen when you tell them . you have the wrong person I am not who you are looking for they say they will take your number out there system but never do. So now I look at my caller if it is not a known number I don't answer the phone because the companies never listen to us.
364947
Definately a scam, but I have not heard of this one. If he calls again ask for his phone number so you can call him back, see what happens.
463860
I worked as a call centre agent for many companies from selling webpages to inbound Fed Ex calls to Land Rover info line to banking and surveys.  I have done inbound (when people call you) and outbound (when you interrupt people's dinner)\n\nExperiences...it depending on where I was.  There was one company that treated us like crap and had no morals.  They did not follow the do no call laws and didnt do anything to people who harassed elderly people and sold to dead ones.  Other ones I worked at were very good, good environment, good pay and lots of support to help you do a good job.  \n\nCall centre work is very stressful.  Either you have sales targets to meet where any number you call is luck of the draw, or you have to do as much customer service as you can while keeping your talk time down.  Working inbound call centres there will always be certain times that the call you are on will have just disconnected when another calls in.  You will go home hearing the "ding" in your ear when a call comes in.\n\nYou have to learn to leave your job at the door when you go home or it will drive you insane.  People think that because you are on a phone, it gives them latitude to scream at you and say things they never would in person.  You didnt know it was their dinner time; it was 8:00 or later...but you get yelled at.  You didnt create the storm that grounded 35 Fed Ex flights in Memphis....but you are responsible.  Its not easy and anyone who says it is easy is lying to you because they have lost their morals at work.\n\nYou can try it, and see how it is.  Some people are okay with it for awhile, but rarely is it a "career" unless you are in management or IT.
544912
I had the same problem as you last year, when I was conned into getting a phone through SMS (claiming to work on behalf of Orange).  They sent me a new phone also a new number, (which I didnt request) which meant I was going to be paying 2 contracts at once.  I was not happy.\n\nI spoke with Orange and asked them to put the new phone on hold.  and eventually spoke with someone from SMS.  It was all sorted in the end, but my main problem was that at midnight on the 2nd day my new number kicked in and I was unable to use my real phone for a while.\n\nIt taught me a really valuable lesson.  I will never buy anything over the phone ever again!