Watch Out for Global Subscriptions!!!

[Sam]

Last Saturday I received a call from Global Subscriptions telling me that I need to renew my Bassmasters and Bassin magazines.

They lady says that postage is increasing so the subscription prices are going up one-third.

So I have copies of both magazines in my Fishing Cave and take a look at them. Bassmasters goes to October 2015 and Bassin to November 2014 so I tell they lady no thanks.

She abruptly and rudely hangs up on me.

I check my checking account on Monday and there is a $60 charge from Global Subscriptions. I go bonkers.

I called the company back and told them to cancel what the wrench had done. On Wednesday the $60 charge was gone.

Bassmasters Magazine is free when you join B.A.S.S.

Bassin is going from 6 to 4 issues a year and they extended my subscription to 2018.

I told both organizations what happened and they said that Global was on their list of approved subscription services but they had no idea of their tactics.

So if you get a call from Global it is OK to tell them to take a long walk on a short pier.

As my junior high school principal once told me, "A word to the wise is sufficient." 

[moby bass]

I don't get either mag, but thanks for the heads up.  I'm at the point now where I tell telemarketers something worse than taking that long walk. I had one call not long ago and told me that they were taking my name off of their call list and that it would be recorded and I just needed to answer some questions. Problem was the salesman talked over the recorded questions.  Next thing I know I'm enrolled in a business solutions company with a $50 charge per month on my phone bill. I've had it with these scam artists. I used to at least be polite. Not any more! >

[BASSclary]

I get these sorts of calls all the time. You know they're up to no good when they want info like your age, how many kids you have, etc.

[Quillback]

When these bozos call and ask "Is Mr (Mrs) Smith there?"  Tell them, hold on a sec while I go find them, the set the phone down and see how long they hold on waiting for Mr Smith.  Time is money to these clowns, so waste as much of their time as you can.

[Stasher1]

We have our phone listed under my wife's maiden name. It's pretty obvious when it's a telemarketer because they'll ask for Mr. or Mrs. ________ (insert maiden name).

 

[.ghoti.]

When these bozos call and ask "Is Mr (Mrs) Smith there?" Tell them, hold on a sec while I go find them, the set the phone down and see how long they hold on waiting for Mr Smith. Time is money to these clowns, so waste as much of their time as you can.

That is my tactic as well.

[jdw174]

I didn't know BASSIN' was going to four times a year instead of six .  Guess that's why I haven't seen a new issue in the store for so long. 

[Fishing Rhino]

Before the days of caller ID, we'd answer every phone call.

If it was a telemarketer, I'd ask them to hold on for a second, take the phone to the bathroom, hold it close to the toilet, and flush.

Then hang up on them.

[moby bass]

I love that one.  Gonna try it on the next call! ;D

[J Francho]

I can understand getting ticked about scamming you, but to simply be rude because some schmuck is just trying to do their job? C'mon...flush the toilet over the phone? Just tell them not to call you and hang up.

:

[Fishing Rhino]

I can understand getting ticked about scamming you, but to simply be rude because some schmuck is just trying to do their job? C'mon...flush the toilet over the phone? Just tell them not to call you and hang up.

:

Nah, that wouldn't give me any satisfaction.  I realize they are only doing their job, but I don't care.  I consider those unwanted calls to be an intrusion of my privacy.

I know, I know.  I'm just an old grouch.  But, I was doing that when I was a young grouch.

With caller ID, I can ignore the unwanted calls.

If it's an important call, they can leave a message at the tone.

[Glenn]

We just let the answering machine answer.  All our friends know how to skip it, and then say who they are.  We'll pick up if it's our family or friends.  Telemarketers always hangup before the outgoing message is finished.

[J Francho]

Glenn, the 80s left you a message, they want their answering machine back, LOL.

I hope it's at least digital! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Rhino, commercials, billboards, print ads, and sales people must drive you nuts.

I hear you, though. It does bug me when the phone rings during dinner. I let it roll to voice mail. Nice thing about voice mail is I can get mine (or delete them) from the web, anywhere.

[moby bass]

I can understand getting ticked about scamming you, but to simply be rude because some schmuck is just trying to do their job? C'mon...flush the toilet over the phone? Just tell them not to call you and hang up.

:

Nah, that wouldn't give me any satisfaction. I realize they are only doing their job, but I don't care. I consider those unwanted calls to be an intrusion of my privacy.

I know, I know. I'm just an old grouch. But, I was doing that when I was a young grouch.

With caller ID, I can ignore the unwanted calls.

If it's an important call, they can leave a message at the tone.

No, I used to be very polite, sometimes I would even listen to the pitch. I had one call that sounded good so I made an appointment for the rep to come talk to me.  I was even more interested while she was here and signed up for their credit card program. Only after that, when I had enough info to do some research, did I find out how bad a reputation that company had.  Needless to say I canceled immediately but had a lot of trouble doing so.  I know, it was my fault for even agreeing to the meeting in the first place.  Believe me when I tell you that if I had not canceled within the 3 day period, I could have been on the hook for thousand's of dollars in a contract that would have been extremely difficult if not impossible to break. Meeting with the company's rep opened the door to extreme high pressure.

The last call signed me up for something through nothing but sheer fraud.  Nope, not polite anymore. 

[grimlin]

http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Telemarketers_prank_calls.aspx

Turn the tables back on them...

[Fishing Rhino]

Glenn, the 80s left you a message, they want their answering machine back, LOL.

I hope it's at least digital! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Rhino, commercials, billboards, print ads, and sales people must drive you nuts.

I hear you, though. It does bug me when the phone rings during dinner. I let it roll to voice mail. Nice thing about voice mail is I can get mine (or delete them) from the web, anywhere.

Billboards don't bother me in the least.  They are not intruding on my space.  Neither do print ads or commercials.  I buy a magazine or paper knowing the ads help to keep the cost of said publication down, whether I buy their product or not.  Same thing for commercials on television.  I "invite" commercial television into my home when I turn it on.

Those are perfectly understandable.  But I absolutely hate unsolicited solicitations.

Sales people don't bother me unless they become annoying, obnoxious, or knock on my door. 

If I go to a Best Buy, or car dealer, I am on their turf, and fair game.  I have no problem telling any salesman to scram in polite terms.

Don't mind the Boy or Girl Scouts or kids selling stuff for their class projects.

[Fishing Rhino]

We don't get much "junk mail" these days.  But, I can recall getting bundles of credit card offers from gasoline companies, banks, and all manner of businesses every week.

Then I read something very interesting.  The article suggested two things. 

The first was to take company A's offerings, and stuff them into company B's postage paid return envelope.

The second was to really punish repeat offenders.  About those return envelopes, the company making the offers only has to pay postage when the Post Office scans the bar code on a return envelope.

You can past that envelope onto a box full of rocks, or any other non forbidden items, and they will be charged the appropriate postage, which could be several dollars.  And, there is no way for them to trace it back to the sender.  Unless of course one is dumb enough to provide that info when it is mailed.

[J Francho]

OK, now this is getting silly.   :

[NorcalBassin]

http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Telemarketers_prank_calls.aspx

Turn the tables back on them...

Holy cow, that Mabe one was freakin funny with the whole homicide questioning. That was great.