Any idea how to get Bob from South Carolina to quit calling trying to buy my car

[Cadman-iac]

Speaking of car warranty telemarketers, I picked up on a number that looked familiar but turned out to be one. I asked how can I get you people to stop calling me. His Indian accented reply was "change your number or kill yourself" and he  hung up. I have to give him an A for his response.     Harry

You should have told him to follow his own suggestion. When I get calls like that, if I answer,  I'm immediately very rude, because I know the numbers of my friends and family, so it's no skin off my nose if I pi$$  them off.
My in laws are both legally blind and can't read the caller ID, so each call gets answered unfortunately.  When we are over and the phone rings,  I'll answer it as if it was a little child, saying random things and asking it this is grandma or something like that. I try to keep them on the line as long as possible just screwing with them. My father in law gets a kick out of it.
I've noticed that a lot of the calls are just recordings now too. Not sure what you have to say to get an actual person on the line so you can insult them. Still trying to figure that one out.

Rick

[David Greenburg]

I often answer unknown calls with “Special Agent.”  Weeds out the (live) scammers pretty quickly.

[Cadman-iac]

I often answer unknown calls with “Special Agent.”  Weeds out the (live) scammers pretty quickly.

LOL!!!  I like that one,  I gotta remember that and see how it works!

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Bo y'all think that by now Bob has gotten the message (if there is in fact one)?   I was taught early on that No is a complete sentence.
Greg Surfas

[harry s]

Oh he's real and as mentioned before "no" is not part of his vocabulary.   Harry

[Glen]

Years ago, when the telemarking thing was on the rise, I recorded the tones you hear when you get a number not in service.  I put those tones on my answering machine and after a short pause my outgoing message.  The telemarking guys hang up immediately and remove my number from their list.  Friends and family would pause a while and hear my message and they got used to it.   It worked for a while, but the wife did not like it and I had to remove it. 

[Jason Edge]

Again, I have to say I find all the effort used to figure out how to handle a phone call amusing. I guess I am just the odd person here. If I get an incoming call and don't recognize it, or do not have time to chat, or know it is a scammer, etc., I do not answer it, and let it go to voice mail. Simple as that. I will listen to the voice mail later at my convenience, and call back if needed.  If it is an annoyance call, especially if it is a repeat offender, the # gets blocked. 

[Lexi]

99.99% of the time I normally do what Jason does. Also did a variation of David's and Glen's thing a couple of times as well. Though sometimes I feel like having a little fun with these privacy intruders, so I give them a taste of their own medicine. I guess this is like an extension of David's play. What follows is how it was done.

Incoming call from say a telemarketer. I answer by saying in a business like tone; "R-U Ready", (i.e. Are You Ready). Silence from the telemarketer as they are not sure who they have on the line. I then add to break the awkward silence "Hello? This is the Reginald Usborne Reddy Funeral Home, may I help you"? (pun intended) Then I hear some awkward, muffled speech, so I jump in with "We offer an alternative to the Simple Alternative. May I help you"? They usually hang up but a couple of times there was some chit chat where I then explained they got hold of a private, back room business line newly acquired and that I am in the middle of an embalming procedure. Then I turn the tables on them by offering a funeral service plan by asking "By the way, seeing that I have you on the phone, have you made your final plans sir"? Sometimes adding that we have a special on cremation. One shocked caller profusely apologized and said they would take my number off of their call list. For this to work you got to be convincing and actually sound happy that you got them on the line, as this is supposed to be a business! As in the movie The Sting, the mark can't know that they have been conned. For years I had zero telemarketer calls.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Clay/Lexi

[Cadman-iac]

Clay, that's a good one,  love it.  My in-laws need some sort of message,  or a method,  to stop this issue.  My father in law is going nuts from all the calls.

[GBrown #8092]

We have made contact with Mr Williams about his business practices.
Please advise if the calls continue.

Glenn Brown

[Big Fins]

My phone number area code is 954, which is Broward County, Florida. When I'm in the mood to play with their brains, I just answer, 'Broward County Medical Examiner's Office, Autopsy Department'. CLICK, they're gone.

Many scammers use the home area code and a number rotator to place scam calls that cannot be traced back to them. 99% of the time, if they are not in my contacts, I have no reason to answer. Leave a voicemail. Chances are, I'll call you right back.

But, Bruce and now Glenn, have done what they can to alleviate the situation. Hopefully it works.

[Lexi]

Clay, that's a good one,  love it.  My in-laws need some sort of message,  or a method,  to stop this issue.  My father in law is going nuts from all the calls.

Cadman-iac I sent you some suggestions! As for Mr. Williams, I hope he amends that aspect of his business conduct. Clay/Lexi

[Cadman-iac]

Cadman-iac I sent you some suggestions! As for Mr. Williams, I hope he amends that aspect of his business conduct. Clay/Lexi

Thanks Clay,
Got them, and responded. Appreciate it.

[dadscad]

Clay, that's a good one,  love it.  My in-laws need some sort of message,  or a method,  to stop this issue.  My father in law is going nuts from all the calls.

Look at "First Alert" telephones. My wife and I bough one on Amazon for her elderly mom. It verbally announces the incoming number when it rings. You can program in names and matching numbers for a verbal announcement of the incomming callers name. It had an emergency pendant she could press to call 911 for an emergency. HTH

[Cadman-iac]

Look at "First Alert" telephones. My wife and I bough one on Amazon for her elderly mom. It verbally announces the incoming number when it rings. You can program in names and matching numbers for a verbal announcement of the incomming callers name. It had an emergency pendant she could press to call 911 for an emergency. HTH

  Thank you very much for the information.  I didn't know you could get such a thing.  It sounds perfect for them.  Once we get them one,  we'll have to train her to listen to the announcement before she grabs for the phone.  That is very helpful,  thank you for the suggestion.

Rick

[Lexi]

Look at "First Alert" telephones. My wife and I bough one on Amazon for her elderly mom. It verbally announces the incoming number when it rings. You can program in names and matching numbers for a verbal announcement of the incomming callers name. It had an emergency pendant she could press to call 911 for an emergency. HTH

Yes that sounds awesome. Probably better that way. Truth of the matter is that while years ago we had live telemarketers on the other end of the line, today with robo-calling, I don't think a robot is going to care about the "R. U. Ready Funeral Home" ploy, (as per my post above)-as Big Fins pointed out. LOL. But it was fun while it lasted. As is often the case, technology marches on and takes away much of the "fun" that we used to experience. Clay/Lexi

[dadscad]

  Thank you very much for the information.  I didn't know you could get such a thing.  It sounds perfect for them.  Once we get them one,  we'll have to train her to listen to the announcement before she grabs for the phone.  That is very helpful,  thank you for the suggestion.

Rick

You're welcome. I should mention that you have to have caller ID for it to work.
David

[76eldo]

Isn’t against the rules of the forum to bash an individual ?
I never met the guy but I’m sure he’s not such a bad guy.
Obviously he’s using the directory improperly but I think this ones been discussed enough.

[Bill Balkie 24172]

Hello ,
   Bob Williams had called me a few times . I have always found him to be very respectful  and courteous.  He is looking to match cars with people . We almost had a deal but the potential buyer  always bushed back the date on the deal . He even had a fellow Cadillac LaSalle club member check out my car . It went very smoothly except for the sale . I had a buyer show up with cash and as always cash talks .  I explained to Bob I had a buyer and he was very understanding and polite . I think he is a guy that has been around Cadillacs all his life and enjoys being the middle man . He told me he is 92 years old and had a Cadillac dealership in his younger days . I found him to be a very nice person . Although I never met him .

       Bill

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Time to lock this topic.

Bruce.