Has anybody come up with a way to get Cardholder Services to stop calling?

[Class III]

I don't answer calls that are not local to me. If they don't bother to leave a VM I'll google the number. It usually comes up with a hit for either Cardmember Services or a cruise line scams.

I have several contact set up in my phone listing the numbers they've called me from. When they call from one of these numbers my phone shows "DO NOT ANSWER" and the ring tone is set to silent/no vibration for these numbers. So far I'm up to 53 numbers.

Listed below are the numbers I've collected. Feel free to save them to your phone.

202-499-1488
203-998-7000
206-487-6025
216-452-1339
216-574-6354
234-542-5932
250-448-7574
251-725-1770
263-989-7373
269-804-3366
281-616-9198
308-210-8578
310-409-1059
312-800-9037
321-621-2545
321-734-6986
321-951-7985
347-639-0275
360-474-3968
360-529-6968
401-562-1450
403-905-8000
406-577-1215
407-849-2786
407-937-9365
407-973-4737
415-484-9507
424-273-2029
479-274-1769
503-457-1283
503-902-8252
506-227-4565
508-475-1388
571-441-0071
601-887-0000
609-227-4849
613-706-0563
615-953-0087
617-371-4000
701-264-5001
701-671-9224
701-671-9447
712-357-3090
714-408-4230
724-382-9917
757-276-3120
757-603-3512
802-488-3064
813-293-7586
818-539-6135
849-936-4863
858-410-1033
936-228-7116
949-798-7054

Class III


Update: Now up to 54 numbers. Just got a call from
407-973-4737. I've added it to the list above.

 

[Road Rat]

Too bad your government is not doing its job!!

Don't tell me they don't have the equipment to track down telephone numbers!!! Give me a break.............

 

[nawilson]

If you can get a live person on the phone, it might be fun to answer with something anonymously official like, "Department 47"... then ask the caller to "wait one" as you put your hand over the mouth piece and shout, "We got another hit... Can you reposition a Keyhole satellite?... what about a Predator drone?... Good." Then come back on the line and act like you are stalling.

It may not do any good, but it would be fun. Who knows? Maybe when the caller leaves work, they will be eyeballing the skies.

 

[williamlayton]

I just tell them I am having sex--butttt if they will hold for 30 seconds I will get back to them----they seem to hang up.
Blessings

 

[george minze]

They have a pretty crappy job, but at least it is a job...In Mo. you are supposed to have a non random call number if requested. Call th AG's hot line. It makes you feel better but is usless. the calls keep comeing. I loive the one that says "There is no problem with your credit card, but let us show you away to blah. blah. " Aty about 4pm CDST it starts,,,,From soup to soap, and every credit sevice known to man . We also get the Friends of Law Enforcement...I found out the agency gets less than 30% of what they(the call service) receive. Even our highly rated Highway Patrol uses one of the sevices...Hard to believe......Money's tight these days, I guess there is no shame in being in debt, our government sure doesn't think so !!!

 

[P&R Fan]

I just tried calling the last two numbers that I received. I get a recorded message that says "Message CR22, welcome to US Cellular, the number you called is no longer in service".

If they're no longer in service, how are they calling out on it?

I guess that also explains why they can't track them down. It's not a land line, it's a cell.
Jim

 

[sierra255]

I have been getting about 2-3 calls daily from different phone numbers. Most begin with "Don't Hang Up".. I have no land line so I called my cell provider and said what can I do since these calls come at all hrs. Their response was pay us $4.99 a month and you can block up to 30 different numbers. They also suggested the National do not call list. However, I have been on that list forever, and I am convinced it does not work.

The majority of these annoying calls are pre-recorded, so the only option I have is to ignore the ring. I contacted the Attorney General's office, and they advised that although most calls show a USA area code and location, but most are routed from out of the country or other unknown false locations.

Bottom line? The AG can't do anything to help & if you Google the number, you will find hundreds of entry's and the same complaints. Unless someone on the forum has a sure fire suggestion, I will continue to receive them as I just won't pay any more money out for my current cell plan........

 

[wheelgun28]

They have ways to trick the caller ID to show a different number than they are really using.

I no longer answer the phone unless I know the number, and it isnt often...

If the ringing is annoying, I just pick up let it stop ringing then set it back down, click click.

We are seriously considering getting rid of the house phone.

Years ago I spoke to someone who called and asked them not to call me anymore, they guy got an attitude. Basically told me to bad, he needs a job. I asked if it was his job to bother people and told him to get a new job then hung up. They guy really was getting mad

 

[diamonback68]

I have been getting about 2-3 calls daily from different phone numbers. Most begin with "Don't Hang Up".. I have no land line so I called my cell provider and said what can I do since these calls come at all hrs. Their response was pay us $4.99 a month and you can block up to 30 different numbers.

You would be wasting your money and the 30 numbers would fill fast. As already posted, one guy has already noted 55 numbers he's blocked and I'm sure there are 100s more to come.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

If I don't know the number I answer:

"Acme bar and grill, can I take your order please? The special tonight is meatloaf delivered to your house for $14.99 with tax included and your standard delivery charge. For an extra $3 more we can include a 2 Liter of Coke products. We cannot guarantee 30 minute delivery. Can I have your phone number please?"

Normally that will fluster most sales agents. If they ask for me or my wife or they go into their spiel, then I semi cover the phone and say "who at the bar wants to take THIS one. We have a live one on line 1 and set the phone down.

Most never call back.

 

[Lost Lake]

They won't stop so you may as well enjoy the time to chat.

I put them on speaker phone and go about my business. When they pause for a while I know I was asked a question and I say, I'm sorry, can you repeat that?

Usually they tire of me, but at least I have wasted their time and time is money in their business.

Tom Mabe has a couple really good ones. I love the one where he pretends he's a detective and the telemarketer just called a murder crime scene. He keeps the guy on the phone and tells him the call was traced. He asks how he knew the deceased and how suspicious it is that he would call at this exact time of the day.... He says he's going to send a unit down to the telemarketer's place and interrogate him... The guy just freaks out... Classic.

Or the one where the police charity guy calls and Mabe acts drunk and yells to his wife that the kid drank all his beer. He says "Get that boy out of his bunk bed and give him my ID so he can go get me some beer!" The telemarketer keeps trying to find out the kid's age that is supposedly drunk and wants to inform the cops, but Mabe plays it well and says "How old is he? Well I ain't had to wipe his rear for around 7 years now". Gawd it's some funny stuff...

 

[swampersand]

Work your way in -

The person you get when you press "1" or whatever number you give them is a screener who "qualifies" the contact. If you play along with them and sound a little confused about which of your many cards they are calling they will go on with more questions and finally ask what card you owe the most. They will ask for the last 4 digits, make up any 4 and see if you can get passed on to the money people. I think the screeners get paid every time they pass someone through to the money people. The screeners don't place the calls and if the company has to start paying for people who are putting them on they may figure on dropping your number. If nothing else, it's kind of fun practicing your accent on them and sounding like a potential gold mine.

Otherwise, take a deep breath and hang up.

 

[Onomea]

Here is some guy called Tom Mabe, a comedian, I guess, dealing with a telemarketer. Pretty darn funny:

YouTube

 

[P&R Fan]

After my last post I got another one, and after I pressed 1 they answered. I started talking in my best stern voice about this being a Federal Safe House as previously stated. I didn't even finish the sentence and they hung upon me.

My main gripe is they wake me up. Missus P&R Fan gets up really early to do her E-Bay business. She has been taking my phone downstairs early in the morning so I don't get woke up early.

I do love that Woman.
Jim

 

[Hack]

Used to get constant calls from Card Holder Services. After searching the internet, it became apparent that they are a royal pain across the country, and have been targeted by numerous state AG's. Calls were tracked back to the Gulf Coast (Tampa area) of Florida, but through the marvels of electronic geekdom, the true origination was unknown. However, I haven't gotten a call from CHS in over a year.

I really don't know why I even have a regular phone. During the election season last year, I unplugged the darn thing from June through the end of November. Now, we just don't answer it, rather let it go to the recorder. Most times, it's a robo call and never gets to the recording phase. I only have one phone upstairs where my bedroom is, and the ringer is turn off on that phone.

 

[HELLSING]

Well... I'd post the link to it, but the video clip has some strong language in it.

Just go to YouTube and type in : angry ANGRY BT customer! Very Funny!

I found it hilarious when I heard it for the first time.

 

[Intheshop]

Thanks for the Tom Mabe link,haven't watched/listened to it yet,but will.

The phone in shop didn't have a ringer for years......could call out,just couldn't receive calls.The new phone has all the bells N whistles.It blocks 90% or so BS calls.The ones that get through get to listen to a mix of commercial country music(phones by stereo)and the whine of machinery.....both of which are cranked up pretty LOUD!

 

[Maddog 521]

When I get to a live person I blow the whistle. Sometimes they start cussing, then I blow the whistle some more. I was gone all week and only had 2 calls on the answering machine.

 

[Engineer1911]

I've used the "He is dead. He was killed by a drunk driver yesterday." This requires a very stiff, formal tone in your voice. I have happily reduced two callers to tears and emotional upset. The upside is neither company ever called back.

My son did it once when he answered the phone. After 3 or 4 minutes the call ended. I asked who it was. He said, "Credit card company." My reply, "Good job." Death does work to stop telemarketers.

 

[NYlakesider]

A friend that has a good job with "the phone Company" give me some insight on a lot of these nuisance calls.

He said many come through very complicated systems that mask there identity. Many come from out of the county so our laws do not apply. He has also said when you press Accept or 1 or whatever number they tell you are transferred to another system and are considered the maker of that call.

Getting those idiots will be hard to impossible. The government (AGs or law enforcement that handles this stuff) should go after the companies that use this service and be heavily fined for each call. In other words the people that are actually the ones that hire and profit from the nuisances should be gone after.