My phone just rang three minutes ago. No number showed up on Caller ID, but I foolishly answered it. "Hello?" Long pause, and then an accented male voice, clearly Indian, said, "Hello Ma'am, I am calling on behalf of Sprint..." So I did my usual number. "Please put me on your do-not-call list." Normally, that little phrase works its magic, and the telemarketer will read me standard legalese ("I will change our records, please allow 4-6 weeks, during which time you may receive additional calls until the changes go through..." blah blah blah) and hang up. Not this time.
"Ma'am, I have no such list."
"You obviously aren't familiar with the law in the U.S. May I speak to your manager?"
Shuffling, then a woman's voice, also Indian. "Hello?"
"Hello. Apparently your employee isn't aware that he's totally breaking the telemarketing laws in the United States. You are required to honor requests from callees when they ask to be put on the do-not-call list."
"Oh. Heh-heh."
"So are you going to honor my request? Or do I have to totally sue you?"
More shuffling, then silence.
They actually broke two laws — apparently now companies are also required to unblock their telephone numbers so they display on Caller ID.
I think I remember getting a previous call from Sprint like this. The fuckers are using low-paid slave workers in India and weasling out of the telemarketing regulations.
In case you couldn't already tell, I'm really annoyed. Anybody else have this experience? Anyone have any luck nailing their sweat-shop running, third-world employee-exploiting, consumer-bugging asses?
Bad, bad Sprint!
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