Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Telemarketing

Zar · 08-23-2006, 11:48 AM

I'm currently working parttime while in college for a company that conducts phone surveys of customers of various companies and their products and services. So although we're not cold-calling or selling anything (the companies provide us with the names and numbers and *should* have notified their customers that them may receive a courtesy call), we do use an autodialer, and I see a lot of what is being said in this thread.

First of all, the National Do Not Call List does not apply to phone survery companies such as the one I work for; only for companies attempting to sell something. We do however maintain our own do-not-call list, and we are required to put anyone who says the magic words "do not call" on it.

Also, although you may think it's hilarious to pull some of the various stunts described in this thread, to the caller on the other end, it's nothing new. For instance, I currently am on a project where an average survey lasts between 1 and 2 minutes, with most calls being shorter, as the person does not agree to do the survey. I make about 60 calls an hour over the course of a 5-8 hour shift. I've been working at this job for 3 months. I've heard every smartass response you can think of, including those in this thread. It's just annoying more than anything, and it'll probably get you a call back in the future.

For where I work at least, putting us on hold interminably does not work. We are supposed to make a certain number of completed surveys per hour, and we are told per company guidelines that after 2 minutes of being put on hold, we status the call as a non-scheduled callback and move on. This may differ with a true telemarketing company, but I'm not sure. In any case, it's not really an effective deterrent.

Hanging up without saying anything is a terrible idea to get rid of telemarketers. Doing so will lead to the caller pushing the button on their screen that says "Callback", in hopes that perhaps someone less ornery will pick up the phone next time.

We are required by law to push our "Do Not Call" button if you request it. Any telemarketer that doesn't abide by this is into some skeevy business practices, and legal action could probably be pursued.

08-23-2006, 11:48 AM	#40 (permalink)
Zar Tilted Location: St. Louis	I'm currently working parttime while in college for a company that conducts phone surveys of customers of various companies and their products and services. So although we're not cold-calling or selling anything (the companies provide us with the names and numbers and should have notified their customers that them may receive a courtesy call), we do use an autodialer, and I see a lot of what is being said in this thread. First of all, the National Do Not Call List does not apply to phone survery companies such as the one I work for; only for companies attempting to sell something. We do however maintain our own do-not-call list, and we are required to put anyone who says the magic words "do not call" on it. Also, although you may think it's hilarious to pull some of the various stunts described in this thread, to the caller on the other end, it's nothing new. For instance, I currently am on a project where an average survey lasts between 1 and 2 minutes, with most calls being shorter, as the person does not agree to do the survey. I make about 60 calls an hour over the course of a 5-8 hour shift. I've been working at this job for 3 months. I've heard every smartass response you can think of, including those in this thread. It's just annoying more than anything, and it'll probably get you a call back in the future. For where I work at least, putting us on hold interminably does not work. We are supposed to make a certain number of completed surveys per hour, and we are told per company guidelines that after 2 minutes of being put on hold, we status the call as a non-scheduled callback and move on. This may differ with a true telemarketing company, but I'm not sure. In any case, it's not really an effective deterrent. Hanging up without saying anything is a terrible idea to get rid of telemarketers. Doing so will lead to the caller pushing the button on their screen that says "Callback", in hopes that perhaps someone less ornery will pick up the phone next time. We are required by law to push our "Do Not Call" button if you request it. Any telemarketer that doesn't abide by this is into some skeevy business practices, and legal action could probably be pursued. Last edited by Zar; 08-23-2006 at 12:06 PM..