Aaaargh! After yet another call from that lovely voice telling me they've tried to reach me on several occasions to lower my interest rates and that this is my 'final chance' (geez, sound familiar? Seems they're calling weekly now with these final chances!)...I talked to 'George'.
He informed me that he *could* remove my name/number, but I might still get accidental calls, since it's in the system?!? But that if I press "2" instead of "1" to talk to someone, it will automatically remove my name.
Uh huh. I've heard differently.
http://honeypot.net/scam-calls-card-services
When I asked contact info, the guy couldn't give me much, except for 'Card Services'. He had no phone number. I informed him that in Canada, solicitors are required to be able to give me all that contact info. Also informed him that after a request to be removed, I should not get any calls from them.
Of course, since they're not in Canada, they're probably not all too concerned.
I have filed a complaint with the CRTC, not sure if anything will come of it, but in the meantime, I may just follow some of the advice to get rid of annoying solicitors.
**Please note, I am NOT rude to all solicitors--wasn't even rude to 'George'-- (don't regard this as an invite to call, however!), since I know a lot of the companies that do call are legit, and WILL remove me from their list when asked. And I do know that the solicitors are merely doing their job, so I do try to be polite (even told 'George' that it was nothing against him personally), unless they start to get pushy and rude first.
And calling me at least once a week to try to get my credit card number(s) after being asked not to does count as pushy.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Helping someone up off the ice is bullying?!
First, the one local grade school has a VERY strict 'NBC--no body contact' (not to be confused with 'KPS--keep personal space').
Last night, my 12yo came home, a friend of hers had slipped on some ice, so 'A' and another friend were helping her up. A teacher saw this, and reminded them of the 'NBC' rule. Huh? So, the poor kid's supposed to slip and struggle to get up herself?
I wholeheartedly agree with no hitting, slapping, throwing snowballs, etc (although we grew up having snowball fights and turned out fine--I think!). But geesh, this is going just a bit too far. I worry that rules like this are going to turn our kids into cold-hearted individuals. Or that we're going to raise a society of what once would have been called 'tattletales', informing on the least offensive acts, and unable to cope for themselves.
I know of one girl who was suspended for 3 days because she touched another girl's earring. Not trying to hurt her, even.
With anti-bullying as well, the kids are taught at school that if another child wants to play with them and they say no...it's BULLYING. Huh? Kids don't always get along. To force someone to play with a kid that they don't really get along with is just plain mean (talk about bullying). My oldest had a teacher once that the day she started filling in for their regular teacher, had them write a piece about another student. With no need for talking: since they'd been going to school with the assigned student for 9 years, they should know all about them, including siblings, likes/dislikes...
Uh...not everyone gets along (gee, is there an echo?). To me, I'd just be happy that they're not beating the crap out of the other kid and not be worried that they don't know personal details.
I do agree that something has to be done about bullying, but wow, I do think they've gone too far when you can't lend a helping hand to someone who's fallen.
Last night, my 12yo came home, a friend of hers had slipped on some ice, so 'A' and another friend were helping her up. A teacher saw this, and reminded them of the 'NBC' rule. Huh? So, the poor kid's supposed to slip and struggle to get up herself?
I wholeheartedly agree with no hitting, slapping, throwing snowballs, etc (although we grew up having snowball fights and turned out fine--I think!). But geesh, this is going just a bit too far. I worry that rules like this are going to turn our kids into cold-hearted individuals. Or that we're going to raise a society of what once would have been called 'tattletales', informing on the least offensive acts, and unable to cope for themselves.
I know of one girl who was suspended for 3 days because she touched another girl's earring. Not trying to hurt her, even.
With anti-bullying as well, the kids are taught at school that if another child wants to play with them and they say no...it's BULLYING. Huh? Kids don't always get along. To force someone to play with a kid that they don't really get along with is just plain mean (talk about bullying). My oldest had a teacher once that the day she started filling in for their regular teacher, had them write a piece about another student. With no need for talking: since they'd been going to school with the assigned student for 9 years, they should know all about them, including siblings, likes/dislikes...
Uh...not everyone gets along (gee, is there an echo?). To me, I'd just be happy that they're not beating the crap out of the other kid and not be worried that they don't know personal details.
I do agree that something has to be done about bullying, but wow, I do think they've gone too far when you can't lend a helping hand to someone who's fallen.
Friday, January 01, 2010
New Year, New Determination, Watch out One Specific Telemarketing company
I swear, the 'Do Not Call' requests give you more calls.
I have one 'company' that calls every couple of weeks. Something about I'm paying too much interest on my credit card, and this is my FINAL notice to lower my rates. After hanging up on these automated messages I finally chose one time to actually talk to someone.
Me=Me, TS=Telephone Solicitor
Me: "So...which credit card company are you calling from?"
TS: "Oh, we're not a credit card company, we're actually a financial institution..."
Me: "Oh-ho! Then, take me off your list. You know, your automated announcement is VERY deceptive, btw."
TS: "Okay, we'll remove you from the list."
Few weeks later, another call...
TS: "You wish to lower your interest rates?"
Me: "No, I want you to remove my name from your calling list."
TS: "....." Uh, wait, there was nothing, they HUNG UP ON ME!!!! (How's that for customer service?!)
Several weeks (and calls) later:
TS: "You chose '(whatever number)' to lower your interest rates..."
Me: "Actually, no, I clicked '0' to talk to someone. I've requested before to be removed from the list. I've also had someone hang up on me when I requested to be removed from the list."
TS: "I'm sorry about that, I'll remove your name now"
Few weeks later:
My daughter answered. For those old enough to remember the briefly-lived 'Valley Girl' trend, she used one of those voices. Complete with 'Like' (and not bad, considering she's 14 and is blissfully ignorant of the 'Valley Girl')
She was hung up on.
So, my new determination.
Next time, and I am SURE there will be one, I will talk to a person, politely ask what company and their contact information (which by law here, they HAVE to give me), then ask to speak to a supervisor (and hope to get one and not get hung up on) to let them know I will be reporting their company. To the BBB as well as the CRTC, which may or may not result in them losing their phone lines. We can only hope.
Some interesting reading for those who are in Canada and ticked off about telemarketers--and even getting dead air when you answer the phone: apparently the CRTC has rules about that too!!! Though due to the large number of such calls that I receive, I think some of these telemarketing companies are fudging their books.
I have one 'company' that calls every couple of weeks. Something about I'm paying too much interest on my credit card, and this is my FINAL notice to lower my rates. After hanging up on these automated messages I finally chose one time to actually talk to someone.
Me=Me, TS=Telephone Solicitor
Me: "So...which credit card company are you calling from?"
TS: "Oh, we're not a credit card company, we're actually a financial institution..."
Me: "Oh-ho! Then, take me off your list. You know, your automated announcement is VERY deceptive, btw."
TS: "Okay, we'll remove you from the list."
Few weeks later, another call...
TS: "You wish to lower your interest rates?"
Me: "No, I want you to remove my name from your calling list."
TS: "....." Uh, wait, there was nothing, they HUNG UP ON ME!!!! (How's that for customer service?!)
Several weeks (and calls) later:
TS: "You chose '(whatever number)' to lower your interest rates..."
Me: "Actually, no, I clicked '0' to talk to someone. I've requested before to be removed from the list. I've also had someone hang up on me when I requested to be removed from the list."
TS: "I'm sorry about that, I'll remove your name now"
Few weeks later:
My daughter answered. For those old enough to remember the briefly-lived 'Valley Girl' trend, she used one of those voices. Complete with 'Like' (and not bad, considering she's 14 and is blissfully ignorant of the 'Valley Girl')
She was hung up on.
So, my new determination.
Next time, and I am SURE there will be one, I will talk to a person, politely ask what company and their contact information (which by law here, they HAVE to give me), then ask to speak to a supervisor (and hope to get one and not get hung up on) to let them know I will be reporting their company. To the BBB as well as the CRTC, which may or may not result in them losing their phone lines. We can only hope.
Some interesting reading for those who are in Canada and ticked off about telemarketers--and even getting dead air when you answer the phone: apparently the CRTC has rules about that too!!! Though due to the large number of such calls that I receive, I think some of these telemarketing companies are fudging their books.
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