Request Advice on Harassing Phone Calls

[Nancy in Nokomis]

It is a shame that charities and political organizations are allowed to call even when you are on the "Do Not Call List" - it is a shame that they are allowed to terrorize old people - I would look them up and call them - or - get a big very loud blowhorn to blow into the phone when they call.

[ersatz]

Thanks again to all who responded.My parents have a caller ID machine. In fact, they've gone thru several. They used to use it but now that both have failing eyesight they claim the LED screens are too difficult to read. I've also gotten them several. They don't like them.The Rents are also registered on the Do Not Call list. However, as 5Stones points out, charities are free to ignore the list and do. They seem to aggressively target older people. I knew one older person who paid out huge amounts to charities - they told her that the suggested payment slips they sent were bills that she owed. Some "charitable organizations" spend as little as 3 percent of recieved funds for legitimate charitable purposes.

[ersatz]

POSTSCRIPT:

My Dad wants to thank everyone for their advice too. He did use his caller ID to record the number and will file a complaint with the Attorney General. I googled the number: 800-641-6027. It turns out that this is a notorious telemarketer boiler room that "represents" scores of charities. However, only around 6% of the money they get goes to the charity - the rest of it goes to the boiler room.

There are hundreds of complaints about them on the Internet. Their standard modus operandi is to claim (falsely) that someone made a pledge and they inundate the unlucky recipient with dozens of calls that escalate more and more unpleasantly. Senior citizens are their preferred victims as well as any unfortunates that ever sent them money.

So, it pays to carefully check the credentials of telemarketing charities before sending any money, especially this one.

[Mike From NIU]

Originally Posted by ersatz

POSTSCRIPT:

So, it pays to carefully check the credentials of telemarketing charities before sending any money, especially this one.

Ersatz,

Thanks for the update. As someone who worked for a small non-profit in fundraising for 5 years, I would go further on this one and say do not ever donate via telemarketing charity. Very few telemarketing agencies pass more than pennies on the "supported" charity, if there is an actual charity at all.

It would be a far better use of your money to send a donation directly to the charity or cause you support. Don't fall for the guilt trips ("But don't you support widows and children of fallen police officers?"), but do give generously to the causes you support.