No

College alumni association

They have called my office and every time they hang up.  Its getting really annoying.

NYU Alumni association

She called, spoke my name, asking if I were he, and then I heard only chatter or what sounded a bit like a sportscast in the background. I hung up, of course, but after unfortunately answering her question in the affirmative.

these people call for info from my mom about college/unversity directory listing we never get the book and really don't want anyone knowing where we live and they still call saying "we need the infortmation".  Yea and I need for you to stop calling either way it never works.

Got a call. They hung up on me.

I was a UW Alumni as well and have a received a call from them numerous times this week from this number.

please take us off the list

The one feature of my VOIP service that I love is the one that lets me intercept calls and route them anywhere I choose. The first time I get a nonsense call I enter that number in a table with instructions about to do with it if they ever call again. When they do, my phone never rings and they get to talk to who or whatever I route them to. I usually send them to an 800 number that answers with a recorded message trying to sell them something. I can sign on to my VOIP account to check when and if and how many times each caller gets routed.

I also route all calls with an anaonmous CID directly to my voicemail. Less than 1% of those callers ever leave a message. My phone never rings!

Looks like it is a group claiming to represent the university in order to sell overpriced school directories.

So apparently this is a national scam. These people gather our information from the time we actually answer their calls. Tell some of the people around you not to answer this number. I am a current student at the University of North Texas, where my father is an alumni. I doubt that our universities are giving out our phone numbers to be called by silence.

A telemarketer in DALLAS TX (apparently NOT the company in Little Rock AR -- I have this information from the Little Rock company) that claims to call on behalf of schools, but really is just selling yearbooks. See: http://www.publishingconcepts.com/ These guys don't quit. Report them every time they call, particularly if the call is "abandoned" or otherwise a violation of the do-not-call law. Report them to the Dallas BBB, too. No honest caller would block their name on caller ID or use an untraceable number. Very sleazy.
PCI,
4835 LBJ Frw 1100
Dallas TX 75244
972-386-0100
800-395-4724
214-530-0393
www.publishingconcepts.com

I have no association with any of the universities mentioned, but sounds like my school could be using them as well, or perhaps one of the professional associations I belong to.

They have called me several times this week, but never left a message.

Keep receiving calls from them. They always hang up as soon as i answer. The last time they asked for a person, I asked them to clarify and they hung up. I get this call once every two weeks. Its getting annoying.

Have gotten several calls almost everyday from this number and others identified as "800 Service".  They never leave a message and usually hang up before my answering machine picks up.  I'm not affiliated with any college or sorority so I have no idea why they are calling.

Now that you say Cal State, I realize it isn't really them. But a group that is trying to get information for alumni directories that they create - for you it was Cal State. For me it was my sorority. I bet it is an automatic call and that is why there seemed to be no one there. Eventually the computer will switch to a human...

I just got a call/voicemail from them, claiming they were from the sorority I was in in undergrad.  They wanted my contact information for an alumni directory.  I know it wasn't anyone from my sorority's national organization-- some kind of a scam.

Got called from 3 different numbers asking for the same person, but a wrong number.  Calls came from "212-690-3018" "212-690-3026" and "877-259-2953".

Missed the call. I have no connection to U. Cali or U. Wisconsin.

They left a message ... they are working for St. John's University and looking to update their alumni directory.

I get a call from this group about once a week (either to my cell phone or my work phone).  They never leave a message.  In addition, I get almost weekly emails from them as well as periodic notes sent via snail mail.  All are asking me to call them to update my contact info.  I never respond and they keep trying to contact me...grrrr...  They are too the point of badgering (pun intended) me.

I sent an email to Susan Sheehan at the Alumni Association expressing my irritation with them and their incessant attempts to contact me.  She didn't get it.  Below is her response:

"Thank you for taking time to write us about WAA's Commemorative Directory. This special project to create a printed directory of all UW-Madison alumni is the start to a celebration of our 150th Anniversary.

I'm sorry to hear your concerns about this project. The process we're using is unique, but it is allowing us to both update nearly 400,000 alumni records and let graduates know about their opportunity to purchase this commemorative directory.

When WAA enters into business relationships with companies like PCI, we carefully consider their practices regarding the use of customer information, and we work with only those we find to be reputable, trustworthy organizations. The alumni information we share with them is limited and in strict accordance with our privacy policy, which is posted at http://www.uwalumni.com/privacy.

Unfortunately there are a multitude of alumni in our database by the name of xxxxxxxxx.  So in order for me to ask our partners at PCI to remove you from any future contact, I will need some more information from you.  (ie; date of birth, address, etc.)

I can make that request as soon as I hear back from you.

Thank you again for taking time to write us."

It's not about privacy it's about understanding that when I don't respond after 30 attempts that I'M NOT INTERESTED in what you're peddling.  This whole debacle has done more to tarnish the university's reputation than whatever value they receive by having their database updated.

Also, I like how she needs my DOB and address to remove me from their database.  hahahaha

I encourage everyone to contact Ms. Sheehan and tell her how you feel.

Susan Sheehan
Director of Membership & New Business Development
Wisconsin Alumni Association
650 North Lake Street
Madison, WI  53706
ssheehan@waastaff.com
Voice 608.262.5895
Toll Free 888-WIS ALUM (947-2586)

Additional info:  please note that the UW Alumni website (as well as the alumni websites of many other universities) have indicated that they have hired PCI to update their alumni info for the publishing of a new (monster) alumni directory.  The Alumni Assc succombed to PCI's wishes and they REQUIRE a phone call from you to "update" your information.  You can do this online, but you must be confirmed by PCI.  I think we all know that this is way to gather fundraising information for the respective alumni association as well as a vehicle to sell to other marketers.  Read the Privacy Policy.   Good luck.

Dudes, I have received the same calls from 877-259-2953 as well as 877-761-8350.  The first number is the general number for a company that "updates alumni directories", i.e., tries to solicit money.  If you call it, it will offer you a chance to talk to an agent to update your alumni info (which we know is BS), the second option is to have your number placed on a do-not-call list.  I went ahead and did this. We'll see if it works.  The second number is a "direct" line to the Univ of Wisc alumni foundation update list. When I called, they asked for my name.  I told them "NO" and that I wished to have my number placed on their do-not-call list.  The girl told she could not do that without my name.  I told her that was baloney.  She finally relinquised and I gave my number to her.  I suspect she was just placating me.  I am going to call the Madison office of the UW Alumni Foundation tomorrow and tell them they have lost any future donations due to this alignment with this company who is doing the fund raising. I suggest many more of you do the same.  Maybe that will stop these crappy calls.  The name of the company is PCI (Publishing Concepts Inc).

Just got this call again. No message this time, but have previously gotten the message about the UW Alumni Association wanting to update my contact info for a directory (which I know they already have, as I have received mail from the university!). Also, the number they leave in messages to return the call is not the same as the one they use to make the call.

They left a message stating they were from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Alumni Association. They want my contact info for a directory - which I presume they will want to sell.

I got this call as well... I'm thinking it's also Walsh University calling to ask for money... I didn't realize they paid other people to make these calls now... I guess it makes them feel better about themselves

Got this today--I'm a Fordham/Harvard alumna and no one else in my household went to college. Absolutely no connection to University of Wisconsin. So if they take collections for colleges, it must be more than one. (Not that I'd donate *anything* over the phone)

Apparently University of Wisconsin seeking donations.  Contribute annually but no more.  So tired of these unwanted call.  Does the federal Do Not Call List even exist?

Rec'd call just now.  Msg was that she was calling on behalf of my sorority and needed to update my information for a directory.  Seems they do this every 10 years or so and then put the hard sell on to buy the directory.