STORM2K

DULUTH, Minnesota (AP) -- An exasperated resident turned the tables on a company that hounded him with telemarketing calls, calling them more than 100 times in two days.

Marc Plaisted said he started calling Minnesota Auto Glass after the St. Peter-based company's telemarketers called him up to three times a day -- even after he asked them not to.

Plaisted had figured the calls would stop when he signed on to Minnesota's "do-not-call" list months ago.

"I'm following the law and asking them to be taken off the list and they ignore me and then, on top of it, start swearing at me," he said. "That was where they flipped the switch with me and I said, 'Enough is enough. I'm going after you guys now.'"

Plaisted started calling the Minnesota Auto Glass's Duluth office last Thursday, and placed more than 100 calls, he said.

"I just called them every five minutes and let them know that, no, I don't have a crack in my windshield, because this seems to be something they are very concerned about," Plaisted said.

A Minnesota Auto Glass manager in Duluth said Plaisted's number had been removed from its list and that proof of the removal would be put in writing.

Telemarketers have so much time to make phone calls.
Of course, we have so much time to get things done, as well.
But - if you CAN take a few extra moments, my brother
found a hilarious way to get them NOT to call you, anymore.

When they start their spill about who they are, and, proceed
on with what they have to offer, stop them....and, in a very slow
voice, say, "Now....WHAT did you say your name was?"

They'll spill the name, quickly, and go warp speed into their pushing
of the product. That's when you say, veeeery slowly, "Uhhhhh...
can you SPELL your name?" Frustrated, they usually will. Back
into their spill.

That's your cue to interrupt, and, say, "Now....WHERE did you
say you were from?" Another frustrated remark, and, off they
go. "Uuuuuuhhh....can you SPELL where you're from?"

At that point, they will usually become so exasperated, that,
they will hang up, and, you will automatically be removed from
their list ...

I'll remember that Breeze. I think that I did that to a poor guy who was trying to get me to change local telephone providers. I kept asking all kinds of questions. For some of them he had to go ask his supervisor. Finally after about 20 minutes I said no.

LOL. Thanks for the suggestion Breeze. I thought this story was great and so I thought I would post it. I sometimes feel sorry for telemarketers, but then I get ahold of a really annoying one.

turn the tables, when telemarketers call i ask them questions like so "how much do they pay you? ever get death threats? what's the funniest call you've ever had? where are you calling from? what's the weather like up your way? why are you calling me to fix a leaky basement when i rent a third floor apartment? what's your favorite color? what's your favorite song? do you like Chinese food? do you... ?"

works like a charm. i've actually had them hang up on me! p

(nice tip Breeze, i'm gonna try it!)

Those calls really urk me too. and why is it they always call at the least opertune times.

It's when they know people are home... typically after work, preparing, eating and/or cleaning up after dinner; between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

They alot of times call when we are HAVING dinner... Grrrrrrrr. I absolutely HATE tele-marketers! :o

great ideas guys !! LOL! I had MCI calling me 3 times a day for 2 weeks.I think they were trying to drive me insane. I told them no,take me off your list,I'll press harrassment charges.... Nothing worked.That is until I answered the phone at 8:30 am and it was them again, all I said was," Gee, I'm kinda busy sleeping right now. Could I have your home phone number so I can call you back at 10pm ?? Maybe your address too so I can just stop by when ever I feel like it. Like when you're kids are taking a nap,when you're in the shower,when you're eating dinner...." I got my point acrossed ! Never heard from them again.~K

Me and George ask them personal, very personal questions.