SPAM phone calls

I really don’t get it!  Tonight, we received the 2nd phone call in as many nights offering us a ‘FREE’ nokia mobile phone.

My hubbie, who is far more tolerant than me, took the first call and just hung up them. You would think they got the message!  Alas, no…. tonight at 8.45pm… just in time for the household to be winding down, children to be heading to bed and hubbies and wives trying to steal some valuable alone time… the phone rings!!!! and they’re trying to ‘sell’ me something.

My approach is possibly a little more direct.  This time, I asked which number they rang (I have two phone numbers on the one line), what company they were from, their name and a contact number.  I really laughed when they said “You want our number?”.  Well… doesn’t it make sense?  They rang me, shouldn’t I be able to call them?

The number provided was a 10 digit number, perfect for Australia, and started with 60.  Not being familiar with a 60 area code, I asked what state they were calling from.  I was told I could “work it out” — I was a little insistent about the state….

Kudos to the operator – they lasted this long.  My next question “How do you spell your company name” elicited the required response… “I have to go now”.  My response of, “Do you have to? You’ve interrupted my evening already and I want to talk” was not taken well, I think.

The Australian “Do Not Call Register” is somewhat of a joke in the face of these calls.  Under the Australian legislation, we need to get a name, Company Name and phone number.

In fact, the legislation states that soliciting companies MUST display their number to their targets.  Given that, when I receive a call that has a ‘number available’ or ‘private number’ I am immediately suspicious…..

So, I endeavour to collect as much information as I can, so that I can report these companies through.  Do I believe the information they provide me is legit?  Nope…

In October 2008, Dodo copped a record fine for ‘flaunting’ the Do Not Call legislation. What did they do?  They thought that because their call centre was located ‘off shore’ the laws didn’t apply to them.  Think again…. Dodo copped a $147,000 fine.

An admirable start, but as any Australian homeowner will tell you – we receive at least one call a week from some other mobile phone network offering great deals to upgrade.  That we are on the Do Not Call register does not seem to register with these people.

Yes, I will continue to report these people.  Yes, I will continue to be so hard to deal with that we get a black mark against our name and they don’t call back (it’s worked so far), but will the Australian Government realize that the legislation is somewhat of a toothless tiger and provide us, their tax payers, with better recourse?

What say you?