I am a DiscoverCard holder. Recently I started getting calls from 866-831-4847 that listed itself as an “800 service” on the CallerID. This didn’t bother me until I started getting at least 3 to 5 calls daily from the same number.
Per an internet search I found that yes, this is a marketing phone number from Discover (thank you, Internet) and the way to get them to stop calling you is to call them and request to be taken off their promotion/offers list.
I called and did just that. And I figured it would be over and done with.
However the problem is that it takes 2 to 4 weeks for the system to update (this is absolute b.s. by the way as it should be instant).
Again that same number called today. Three times. I answered on the 3rd time. Someone was actually on the other end (normally it’s just blank air).
Me: WHO THE @#*& IS THIS?!
Discover: Hello, Sir! This is DiscoverCard calling you with a fabulous offer on–
Me: I CALLED DISCOVER AND TOLD THEM TO TAKE ME OFF YOUR F@&!ING LIST. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN BUYING ANY !*%# FROM YOU, AND DON’T EVER F#$*ING CALL ME AGAIN, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Discover: (notably hesitant at this point) Uh.. um.. okay sir, thanks and have a good day..
[click]
Yes, I reamed the poor girl out who cold-called me. And she deserved it.
Note to DiscoverCard: When one of your card members calls and specifically tells you to stop calling them peddling your crapola, you stop, else you may get blogged about on a rather large web site telling the world how much you suck.
Additional note: The fact you have “800 service” on your CallerID when calling is very, very shady.
Rich Menga is PCMech's video guy, an author and part-time host of PCMech LIVE.
Steve Stone said:
7/9/2008 4:19 pm
I got tired of similar solicitations. If you have an old dialup voice modem you might like this free program to intercept crank calls… I have it loaded on my home file server which runs 24hrs a day. http://www.phonetray.com/ptfree_download.htm
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HAL9000 said:
7/9/2008 4:21 pm
Well, working in a call center I can say I am offended by your response. That poor girl did nothing to you other than the job she is assigned by Discover. She didn’t set you up on the call list and it’s somewhere down the chain of command that is pulling the crap keeping you on that list. Remember that the next time somebody dumps on you for something out of your control because using that theory, it’s obviously your fault and you deserve it.
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Alan David said:
7/9/2008 7:54 pm
Funny how I have two cards from Discover and don’t get any calls. Oh yeah…I remember…when I applied for said cards I do recall checking that box (both times) that said ‘Discover Card may contact me…’ or something to that effect.
Seems to me you reamed out someone for your own stupidity and carelessness. But I digress…this is after all the internet and you are a blogger. So it’s never your fault.
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Greg Wicks said:
7/10/2008 12:56 am
I disagree with Hal9000, the fact that it takes two to four weeks to get him off their calling list is nonsense. I would say Rich could have a been nicer if they weren’t calling as much as they have been but enough is enough.
As a side question, will advertising people ever get hold of cell phone numbers?
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HAL9000 said:
7/10/2008 8:53 am
Greg, note that I said being on the list for that long is crap, I am in full agreement there, what I am in disagreement with is the treatment of that girl. It was not her fault that other departments take that long to switch things over. There is a chain of command and that chain is not at the CSR level.
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Floyd Bufkin said:
7/10/2008 9:01 am
I get marketing calls on my cell phone almost every day. Someone wants me to buy an extended warranty for my car. What they don’t know is, the newest vehicle I own is a 1991 Chevy Pickup. I never actually take these calls, because I never turn my cell phone on unless I need to make a call. I just let everything go to voice mail, which I check a couple of times a day. I used to get a lot of bill collector calls for whoever had the number before I got it. But I finally got those stopped. At home, I never answer calls fro toll free numbers. Just let them go to the answering machine. No thank you, I am not interested in participating in your “survey”.
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archer9234 said:
7/13/2008 12:49 pm
I just simply cancel the ring with my answerning machine.
When are they goning to make Phone block lists like AIM block lists.
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ted said:
8/11/2008 7:24 pm
I have asked them (politely) to remove me more than once. Today I got another call and pointed out (very calmly and politely) that it was more than 30 days since my last request to not be called. She said that this was a “new” calling list now. I then replied (calmly, plainly and not at all in a rude voice): “so then you are saying that in 2 months I will have to ask to be removed again when you have another “new” list? She rudely hung up on me at that point…
I think we know who the jerks are here HAL9000. If you are doing a job that requires you to be rude, then get a different job.
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kristen said:
9/30/2008 4:22 pm
The girl did not deserve to be yelled at like that. The minimum wage that she makes does not entitle her to extra abuse from you. Yes, telemarketing calls suck, but so does getting yelled at all day by people for doing your job. And, it wasn’t her who decided that it would take weeks to remove your name.
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liz said:
11/3/2008 2:48 pm
Some may consider yelling at a telemarketer rude. I think getting 13 calls from this number since yesterday afternoon is RUDE!!!!!!!!
I have no clue who is on the other end. It says telemarketer.
If it is Discover, I have never had nor will I ever have a Discover card so I don’t know why they would call me.
Interestingly, I have found several different listings for this number on other sites like this one. One of the people said it is a survey asking who you are going to vote for.
I have Comcast phone service which allows me to block numbers. I put this one in so hopefully I won’t hear from these idiots again.
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jeepldeep said:
11/14/2008 11:05 am
1-866-831-4847:
Just because they use “Discover Card”, (by whatever spelling or word order), doesn’t necessarily mean they are actually a part of the Discover network or any of their subsidiaries, or marketing companies…BEWARE!!!…Truth…Their behavior is very shady!…
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