Who is Canada's worst telemarketer?
There’s no shortage of reasons Seinfeld is the greatest sitcom to grace television, but what sets the show even further apart is its ability to speak for the masses.
So when, in the fourth season, Jerry gets a pesky call from a telemarketer, he says exactly what we’d all like to.
-“Oh, gee, I can’t talk right now,” he says to the caller, who’s promoting a new long distance phone plan. “Why don’t you give me your home number and I’ll call you later?”
-“Uh, well, I’m sorry,” the telemarketer replies. “We’re not allowed to do that.”
-“Oh, I guess you don’t want people calling you at home.”
-“(pause) No.”
-“Well, now you know how I feel.”
Not surprisingly, it’s one of the most referenced scenes from the show, and – wouldn’t you know it? – it’s relevant again.
Rarely do Canadians get to fight back against telemarketers. Best we can do is, while someone leaves the dinner table to answer an inopportune call, scream, “Check who it is first! So help you God, don’t answer that phone if it’s not from a number you recognize!” At least, that’s the routine my parents always do.
But today is a day when telemarketers get their due. According to the Canadian Press, Rogers Communications is getting dinged $275,000 for their too-aggressive automated calling practices, having been caught spamming its prepaid mobile customers with robo-messages on how to buy more minutes.
The CRTC brought down the hammer on Rogers (who will donate the $275,000 to two Canadian schools) and it’s not the first time the watchdog has cracked down. Last December, according to CP, it charged Bell Canada $1.3 million for breaking telemarketing rules, which dictate companies can’t subject customers to automated calls without their prior consent.
Anyhow, hopefully every Rogers customer sleeps a little easier tonight knowing they haven’t been alone in getting hassled by the company’s telemarketers. Yet the ruling also lets us highlight Rogers, Bell and other notorious, ruthless solicitors.
Who routinely spams you with telemarketing phone calls? Who is Canada’s worst telemarketer?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Lam | Mar 25, 2021 8:17:28 PM
That is why you need a phone that can block all those phone and you can sleep. It works better than any CRTC rule.
Posted by: George Bushy | Mar 25, 2021 8:20:58 PM
I have recorded the telemarketer in the DNC list. So far I see those telemarketers have not called back.
Posted by: mike watson | Mar 25, 2021 8:47:02 PM
Here is the number 1 way to stop a telemarketer from calling, the conversation would go something like this; TELEMARKETER: "Good evening Sir, My name is..." , HOMEOWNER:(yelling really loud) " Hold on-- are you guy's done with the body yet????", then ask the telemarketer how they are acquainted with the deceased? Trust me they will NEVER call back!!!
Posted by: Mem | Mar 27, 2021 3:31:02 PM
Ask the telemarketer for their personal credit card information and tell them that you charge $3.95 per minute to talk dirty to them. If they give you the credit card, go into great detail about doing laundry, cleaning your oven and how disgusting the cat box gets!
Alternate response: " I'm so glad you called. God has answered my prayers. I really want to talk to you about Jesus. This should only take about 20 minutes of your time." It's odd how many telemarketers arn't Christian yet!
Posted by: scr | Mar 27, 2021 5:37:00 PM
Telemarketers drive me nuts. I have to call my clients sometime with information they have asked for for or to call them back when I need to make sure they have received important documents. We use a 1866 numbers so our clients don't have to spend long distance if they want to return the call. What ends up happening is they see our number turn off their answering machines and don't answer the phone because they are scared we are telemarketers. They are then angry when they don't get their information on time because they won't take our calls after we tell them when we are calling them back from a toll free number (they forget or just get paranoid). We never ever call out to people for sales or marketing. These companies that bombard people are making it difficult for legitimate businesses to offer good customer service.
Posted by: whistleblower | Mar 27, 2021 6:07:37 PM
get a loud high pitched whistle and when it is clear that it is a call center, blow the whistle as hard as you can into the phone, this will cause pain in the ears, great annoyance, and may get your number removed from their list, as for the caller and a potential ear injury, too bad you are bugging me and wasting my time, find another less parasitic job.
Posted by: wayne h | Mar 27, 2021 7:59:08 PM
if I have time, I play with them by thinking they are roping me in then tell them i don't want it, what I really hate is credit card or bank calling selling you a protection coverage, it only benefits them,
Posted by: redman | Mar 27, 2021 9:47:22 PM
why do people get fucked up the ass in canada they like it
Posted by: Sandi | Mar 27, 2021 9:50:07 PM
Duct Cleaners, Security companies and Window Cleaners -- very pesty. I work from home, the phone rings all day long. I have caller ID .. I don't answer and I hope it costs them a fortune to run their ineffective call centers
Posted by: J Lindon | Mar 27, 2021 11:10:09 PM
I used to get angry when telemarketers called, but no longer. Why should I? I now lead them on; have fun wih them; waste their time; try to convince them that I am a serial killer or some other ridiculous tihing. My wife is a pro at this. When she gets a sucker on the line, I almost get a hernia from laughing so hard. Don't get mad, get even! And don't ANYONE EVER give me any BS that these "things" are just doing their jobs!
Posted by: Julie | Mar 28, 2021 12:02:02 AM
I was a telemarketer for Bank of America credit card insurance based in Canada called OMEGA. I am a university student and I only took the job because of financial need at the time and I have to say it was the worst I've ever had. The supervisors were obnoxious and demeaning to their employees. Breaks were poorly observed and the working conditions were deplorable (I called fire inspection after several computer systems had electrical fires). Also the nature of the job itself, repetitive, mindless and staying seated for long periods with no chance to leave your station.
The call list was 90% seniors, obviously because they're at home more and easier to coerce into buying a product based on health or family compensation fears.
When I get a telemarketing call I tell the person to think about where they are and what they're doing but I definitely don't listen to full pitch since I know what sneaky garbage most of the products are.
Posted by: telemarketing | May 5, 2021 6:51:51 AM
Not sure how things work in the US - but 'do not call' lists do not work here in the UK. There are a few, and no-one really follows them.
Posted by: dave | May 9, 2021 9:38:11 AM
This is a problem in the UK - and something that is growing; unsure what can be done as rules are in place but do seem to be being ignored.