We too get random calls from California PAL 510-686-8917 even though our number is registered with the Do Not Call list.  It's rude!  When we answer the phone, no one answers, they just hang up. What is that????  It needs to stop.  I just emailed tpetrillo@calpal.org and requested my number be removed from their call list so let's see if they comply.  I'm not holding my breath.

No response when answered.  Periodically get these calls.  Annoying.

Received a call from the same number too.  As for the hang up -- they are most likely dialing from an automated dialer. These things are machines so can only recognize so much and are set to go through only so many rings and disconnects if no response.  I know how it works having experience with autodialers.  So, the good thing is no one is intenionally hanging up on you.  The bad (annoying) thing is that you have to get up to get the phone and be disconnected from.  I just block the call so that it doesn't come through.  Easy enough.

Hi SO -- Unfortunately, DoNotCall does not apply to charities. Check it out and look the fine print - I know, annoying.

My ignorant husband is stupid enough to donate $25 to this "charity" every year, they are so agressive  in thier calling to his his measley $25, I have shown him how they spend thier funds on Charity Navigator and my husband just wants to argue with me and ignore the facts that PAL spends 67% of its income on more soliticing. They rely on old fools like him.

The REAL California PAL does not do phone solicitations!!!  This is a scam by a telemarketing company.  Ask ANY police department!!

This from California Police and Sheriffs. The problem is the California Police and Sheriffs have outsourced the fund-raising to some other marketing company. I have once donated long back since this marketing company acts as if it is some neighborhood cop is calling you. The unfortunate thing is you get into a "possible donor's list" and will be a target for all the fund-raising activity by that marketing company. Hence my recommendation is not to donate. They have called at least 5 times in this month and not taking my name off the list. The problem is it is a non-profit and is exempted by the donotcall registry.

Someone called from this no.Did not leave any msg.Caller ID:CALIFORNIA PAL

They called at about 6:15 PM asking for someone who has been deceased for over three years now, and if i was over 18, i said no im 17, and they said that they would call back later. did research, found this site, hopefully the number will be removed

I answered the phone but there was no immediate response.  I didn't give the system time to connect.  I hung up so I don't know who was actually calling.  I only suspect that it was a computer generated call.

I went to the calpal.org website and sent an email to ALL of the contact email addresses complaining about their calls and demanding to be placed on their DO NOT CALL list. I received the following email from them:

I apologize for any inconvenience that our telephone calling has caused.
Your number nnn-nnn-nnnn will be deleted from our calling list.

Once a number is placed on our "do not call" registry calling usually
stops immediately.  Sometimes it takes 24-48 hours to clear our
computers.

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention so that we may
correct the situation.  I agree that the hang-ups can be  annoying.
This is an issue that are fund raising office is working on.  As
recently as yesterday the supervisor and callers were advised to take
corrective action.

Thanks again for calling.

Sincerely yours,

Charles McNeil
California Police Activities League
510-544-4302 (direct line)

We will see if the calls stop.

P.S. The return email address is cmcneil@calpal.org

At this point it doesn't matter, both my wife and I are so pissed off at them we have promised to never give to CalPal or other such orgs again, and we have gotten dozens of friends to agree with us.  If you Google this subject you will find that they have been getting complaints on these boards for months and months now and done nothing.  So I don't believe this "we are working on it" crap for a second.  And don't fall for that stuff about wanting to help the kids either.  At this point it has all become about the telemarketers and the auto-dialers.  What a terrible way to scam good hardworking people who may really want to help the community.  They should really be ashamed of themselves.

Those of you who, like me, use VOIP for your phone lines can get your VOIP providers to add this and other numbers to a blocklist.

In the not too distant future, VOIP phone providers should be able to team up to provide customer-opt-in anti-phone-solicitation blocklists much like the anti-spam blocklists. e.g., a blocklist consisting entirely of nonprofit donation-seeking telemarketers.

If your VOIP provider doesn't currently offer this, ask them when they will.

I received the same call no message left

Clicking sound ....... no one answers.

I am also tired of having them call, and hang up when I answer.  No matter how noble they think their cause is this just isn't acceptable.  BTW, looking at CalPal's "Program Expenses" is still misleading.  They spend money on things like an annual awards dinner, and they send people on expense paid trips.  I suppose that they are trying to raise moral, and I am sure that those trips are "About the Kids".  But they can't exchange ideas over the phone, or have an internet conference?
Like any such org, give them too much money and they get fat dumb and happy.

Simple answer folks...works every time.
1) When any "charity" calls, ask them for their contact number and tell them that you will call them when it is convenient for you and to remove your name. This leaves you the option to call or not.
2) For the "SCAM" groups out there, a simple questions to the caller: What percentage of the money I donate will be given directly to the charity. If they do not know or they have to pass you to someone else (a supervisor), they are a scam (paided solicitor or not). They should know this right away and you would be surprised how many say 6 to 50%. Yep, that little. It they say anything less than 100%, please feel free (like I do) to tell them they are a scam and to remove your name.

calpal keep calling my house from a 310-862-9093 number

I have called and left a request to put me on thier do not call list, yet my phone still rings several times a week from them.  Lately, I wait to talk to somebody and the system hangs up on me.  Weekend, middle of the day, night time, all the time I get called.  I will have to file a complaint with the FCC.

Called, left no message Caller ID said California PAL

ITS PROBABLY "CALIFORNIA POLICE ACTIVITES"   "PAL"
DOES NOT MEAN ITS LEGIT...BEWARE ANYWAY
LOCATED IN HAYWARD CAL...510 AREA..
YOU CAN LOOK IT UP ..CALL THEM TOMORROW
AND B***H THEM OUT...IF YOU WANT

Called and hung up at 8:45 at night!
Same thing as everyone else: a recording of BS.
 They're not legit. I know at least 100 police officers personally, (no, not from them arresting me, lol) and this is bogus.

Yup i got this number on my caller id and no message on my machaine,so i got suspicious and decided to look it up.and havent foung anything legit on it yet!

It's easy to complain...but what have you done to help your local kids??? Facts right off the website, about 5 mins of research, would of given any of you this info...check the facts before you blow up with untrue negative remarks...

The facts:

California Police Activities League is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that has been helping prevent juvenile crime for over 36 years.  Over 300,000 children are enrolled in 125 Chapters across the state of California in vital sports, educational and youth activities year round that are free.  They have little to no help from the government and rely solely on the public for contributions to keep the programs going.  We all know how bad gangs are getting in California, and it has a lot to do with the kids not having anything better to do after school (which is the peak hours for juvenile crime 3pm-7pm).  Pal is no longer with a 3rd party telemarketing company, so they do the fund raising themselves.  A larger portion of the money goes directly to the kids because of this.  The average percentage of a donation made to a charity that actually goes to the cause that has a 3rd party doing the calling for them is 15%-18%.  When you donate to California PAL, 64% of your donation goes directly to the children.  The most recent fiscal statement is available if you ask them to have it.  The old one is what is posted online from 2006 (when there was a 3rd party involved).  Also, many people are confusing California PAL with California cypc.  California Police Youth Charities is a scam.  They have been misrepresenting PAL  tricking past supporters that they have merged together and PAL no longer exists.  They have even been recently caught using PAL's caller ID display with a disconnected call back number.  Do not be fooled.  They work with Telcom, a 3rd party that gets most of the profit, and little money goes to the cause.  
The calls people have been getting and there is no response at the other end is due to the automatic dialer Pal is using.  There could be a delay once you answer the phone with when you are connected to the representative.  If you don't give the dialer the opportunity to connect and just hang up, it will automatically code it as a call back.  Thats how all automatic dialers work.  If you really want to be taken off the list, simply wait a few extra moments to be connected and tell them politely not to call.  People are stressing over a phone call, when if handled appropriately can be an easy issue to resolve.  

Just remember, the inconvenience it may have caused you is minor compared to what could help prevent youth violence.  It saves children's lives everyday.  People need to be more informed of that.

Also if you call this number back and leave a 30 sec message stating you wish to be removed from the call list...it will happen within 24 hrs... must be pretty boring out there to get so up set about such an awesome cause??

shut up man, you're probably 50 then if you're writing that.  being on the do not call list should include this kind of "cause."  they should be fined.  they've called me a dozen times too.

You can contact the FCC about these phone calls. I would recommend that you be on the "Do Not Call" list and also answer the phone telling them not to call you again. You can file a complaint online.

I just received a call from the same number and they hung up on me after listening to me say hello about 4 times.

They call my number every weekend, and then they hung up…
All because I told them not to call me any more and that was over 6 month ago.

Hi Everyone! Email ALL of these people and ask them to have CalPal stop calling you! They are partners of this organization and they need to know that this company is harassing you! Tell them to stop!

tpetrillo@calpal.org, pr@calpal.org, events@calpal.org, membership@calpal.org, donate@calpal.org, support@calpal.org, webmaster@calpal.org, info@calpal.org, sales@calpal.org, bferreira@CALPAL.ORG, osbanospal@calpal.org, tehamacountypal@calpal.org, napasal@calpal.org, santabarbarapal@calpal.org, montereycountypal@calpal.org, PALmagazine@calpal.org, berkeleypal@calpal.org, napasal@calpal.org, concordpal@calpal.org, oxnardpal@calpal.org, rexley@calpal.org, glenncountypal@calpal.org, gwilson@calpal.org, chowchillapal@calpal.org, gwilson@calpal.org, atwaterpal@calpal.org, postmaster@calpal.org

I have donated money to them in the past. But when I was no longer able to do so due to a layoff, they still insisted I could afford at least $10.00. When he kept insisting I told him,"you come to my house, with two other officers, your police ID's, in a offical police car and in uniform, and I will dig up the $10.00. After arguing with me another five minutes he said, "Ok, I'll be there in the moring". My husband and I waited all day and he never showed! LIMA-TANGO-PAPA is absolutely correct. BEWARE.