Incessent solicitation calls

[JohnT]

I've been getting numerous calls, sometimes up to four or five per day, from an outfit called Strategic Fundraiser. Not all the calls come from the same number. It's starting to get old. Anyone else getting calls from them?

[KdLaneJr]

I don't have an issue with phone solicitors. Probably the biggest reason is I don't answer my landline. I let the machine get it. If phone solicitors start leaving messages I turn the computer fax on and let it answer the phone.

People that need to talk to me have my cell number.

I know this doesn't work for a business, but I pay for a landline to have 911 services available and for my use (unlimited long distance, nice when necessary to fax) not so solicitors can call me.

Don't forget to OPT OUT.

[Toad]

Answer the phone and say "I'm really glad you called. Have you accepted the lord jesus christ as your personal saviour?" Then procede to quote/read bible verses to them. Anytime they try to change the subject, steer it back to religious discussions. Make sure to get REALLY into it.
Guaranteed to stop the calls quick as nobody wants to be preached at.
Toad

[futurshox]

We got a shiny new landline when we moved house and within a week, we got junk calls. One quick visit to the Do Not Call website later, a few days later the calls stopped. So far, so good.

One question though - I know charities are exempt from the Do Not Call list. Why do we get a call about once a month from some crowd who want us to fund the police force? They always start by saying that a number of officers have been killed or injured on duty, but it goes on like they want us to fund the force. As a newcomer to the US, I have no idea who these people on the phone are or what they do. (I do know what the police do, just I'm not sure if they're the ones calling!) Can anyone fill me in, please?

[Davidtxs]

Strategic Fund Raiser Do Not call page lol

[Graydon]

Jo,

I've run into the same issue... and what I've found out is that there is one organization that represents several police related funds... and so they have enough to call and solicit for about every month... top it off with the fact that if you don't answer, they call back every single day...

I'm all for supporting a few causes... but this one group is getting annoying.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Davidtxs

Strategic Fund Raiser Do Not call page lol

Kind of afraid to do that. LOL

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Toad

Answer the phone and say "I'm really glad you called. Have you accepted the lord jesus christ as your personal Saviour?" Then proceed to quote/read bible verses to them. Anytime they try to change the subject, steer it back to religious discussions. Make sure to get REALLY into it.
Guaranteed to stop the calls quick as nobody wants to be preached at.
Toad

Unfortunately, this would probably work.

[onewingedangel73106]

Yes as far as I know charities are exempt but the fraternal order of police which I have dealt with which is who I believe your getting the calls from, and you can tell them your not interested and that you want to be put in their system to not be called. They will tell you that they cant do it but they can and will.

OWA

Originally Posted by futurshox

We got a shiny new landline when we moved house and within a week, we got junk calls. One quick visit to the Do Not Call website later, a few days later the calls stopped. So far, so good.

One question though - I know charities are exempt from the Do Not Call list. Why do we get a call about once a month from some crowd who want us to fund the police force? They always start by saying that a number of officers have been killed or injured on duty, but it goes on like they want us to fund the force. As a newcomer to the US, I have no idea who these people on the phone are or what they do. (I do know what the police do, just I'm not sure if they're the ones calling!) Can anyone fill me in, please?

[Gildersleeve]

This sounds like a "boiler room" operation. NEVER give anything to these people. They like to prey on older people (or anyone that will listen to them for that mater). A very small amount of the overall contributions reach the police organizations. Besides, WE fund the police departments thru our federal, state & local taxes! I don't know about you guys, but I pay a bunch of taxes!!! When they call me, I just set the phone on the table and let them talk (to themselves).

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Yeah it was on the news a couple years ago about these "Police" solicitors, most are not legit and the funds that they do raise do not get to the actual police depts (something less than 10% gets sent on after all the EXPENSES are taken accounted for).

If you want to give to a smaller Police Dept or Sherriffs Dept contact them DIRECTLY and ask if they have a Benevolent Fund set up- kind of an orphans and widows fun- for their dept and how you can send money to them, some of the smaller depts across the state do not have much to fall back on to help the family of an officer killed in action and they gladly will take your donation (I believe those donations may even be tax deductable as a charitable deduction). To be honest I don't think payments made to these boiler rooms are deductable. Also don't fall for these guys who send you a sticker to stick in your window (just says your a chump to a cop who pulls you over-bet some LEOs on here can tell you a story or two) or the ones that want to send a kid to the circus so can you pay for the ticket. (The circus donates a certain number of tickets to local organizations in most larger cities for them to distribute to kids in need).

All sorts of scam/con artists out there.

BTW you handing a $100 bill to a cop who has pulled you over for a traffic violation with the comment "see that this gets to the Children of Fallen Officers fund" is not a good idea.

[JamesB]

my father once told the "police officers fund" people to send a marked patrol unit to his house and he would gladly make a donation when the officer brought him more information about the "police officers fund", he also let them know he was retired and had nothing to do but wait for the patrol car. they hung up on him and did not call back for a long time

James

[futurshox]

Thanks for the input, that's very helpful. I won't feel guilty about saying 'no' any more!

[Jim Victory]

I take an easy approach. I ask them if I requested them to call me and when they say no I hang up.

I have to admit most of the time I just hang up when it is apparent it is not someone I know. I use my primary line for fax and DSL service and most people that call me use my cell#. If they are persisitent I just put on the fax and let that ring in their ears.