False or misleading "gifts"

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

I've just received another of those phone calls... "Thank you for being such a good user of X card or whatever, we would like to give you a gift, a $100 gift card you can use at any gas station... yada yada yada... for only a $3.99 (change the value according to the call) processing fee, and they talk for half an hour at a speed you can't just comprehend. You have to use 100% of your processor just to try to follow this lady/dude on the phone.

If they are already giving me $100 on a gift card, why bother charging me the "processing fee"?, why don't just send it to me for free?, or send me a $95 gift card and charge the fee out of those $5?.

I hate when they make you lose time like that. I politely try to hang up the phone, I just don't want to be rude because the person on the other side is just doing his/her work.

Have you ever had one of this calls?, have you ever had the time to answer all of their questions?, if so, have you ever actually received the infamous "gift card"?.

I wonder if this is true or it is just another scam...

[Xylob the Destroyer]

sounds like a big fat scam to me...

...I politely try to hang up the phone, I just don't want to be rude because the person on the other side is just doing his/her work...

to hell with that -- if your "job" is to pester and/or run a scam on me, then **** you. If I have the time, I'll spend up to an hour screwing with them. Otherwise I ask for their supervisor and tell them to do everything necessary to ensure that nobody from their company calls me again, ever.

[lordsmurf]

to hell with that -- if your "job" is to pester and/or run a scam on me, then **** you.

I agree.
You call me with BS, I'll tell you to **** off. Job or no job.

[davideck]

Think of it as a game. Do you want to play?

If yes, then calm down and keep the conversation going as long as possible. The solicitor is likely to become more and more frustrated as he/she attempts to sell you something.

If no, then say "Can you hold on for just one second?". Then put down the receiver and walk away...for 10 minutes.

[b1tchm4gn3t]

to hell with that -- if your "job" is to pester and/or run a scam on me, then **** you.

I agree.
You call me with BS, I'll tell you to **** off. Job or no job.

My sentiments EXACTLY.

[lordsmurf]

Yeah, I do that too, the "set down the phone" thing.
Make it more fun by putting the receiver by a radio or tv.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I usually just start asking them all kinds of fucked up questions interspersed with questions about whatever it is they're trying to 'sell' me...
"what are you wearing?"
"are you ready to accept the lord as your saviour?"
"are your nipples pink or brown?"
"what kind of interest rate can you get me on my Discover Card?"
etc, etc,
it's also fun to try to sell them things

[Cobra]

For our British members:

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

It's free, and it works perfectly. If you get a lot of these phone calls, you'll notice a drop after just a few days. After three weeks, they'll be virtually gone and after four weeks you won't be bothered again.

I don't know if such services exist in Canada, the USA and other parts of the world.

[waheed]

Thanks for the info Cobra.

[MrMoody]

The US has something similar:

https://www.donotcall.gov/

I registered on it years ago when they first started it and I can only remember 1 call in ages.

[lordsmurf]

The DO NOT CALL list does not apply to many situations. Read the fine print. Politicans can waste your time. Companies whom you have a "current relationship" with can pester you too.

This means your jackass VISA company can still call you with "you're such a valued customer that we'd like you to sign up for our new free program for only $49.95".