Something to keep in mind about all these continuing bothersome calls for surveys, so called charities and so called charity pickups despite asking them to remove you from their list:

Call centers have sprung up in my town that make use of the survey and the charity loophole around the do not call list; they have been a headache for law enforcement, emergency services, neighboring businesses and residential areas.  When I ask any patrolling officer in town about these call centers, they are quick to state their frustrations about the criminal activity that some of these call centers have brought into the area. Several law enforcement agencies regularly visit some of these call centers looking for warrant arrests etc.  I have heard from sources including from frustrated employees that work for these call centers complaining about the drug activity, vandalism of cars and neighboring businesses, break-ins and theft, drinking while on the job, smoke breaks are actually marijuana breaks, drunk driving, very dangerous driving, tons of tossed out litter of empty liquor containers, trash, food etc.  I?ve even heard that the mangers are also involved in criminal activities and have even preyed on their legitimate employees who are simply trying to eek out a living on horrible wages.  Also the operators are untrained in a very high turn around, poorly managed and dysfunctional work environment.

Also realize this when you call a companies? customer service line and get horrible service from the call center that?s been hired by the company.  One time while on a call with our bank?s customer service, the operator was so loopy that it required ending the call and calling again to try and get someone else to help, think about that when you call a companies? customer service and the conversation gets odd, off the wall and obtuse ? you may be talking to an operator that?s drunk or on something.  After 6 months of getting a different and wrong answer to our ongoing problem each time we called our bank?s call center, we gave up and closed the account.

With so little police left in our town due to cutbacks, they can?t always respond to vandalism and break-ins when it?s witnessed as they have their plate full responding to the major emergencies, this allows the criminal activity free reign, the neighborhood becomes the hood.  Some insurance companies require proof of private security patrols before they will honor a claim due to vandalism or theft leaving the neighboring businesses off guard and uncovered.  These businesses also have the added cost to hire private security, install security systems/monitoring, upgrade lighting etc.  Then there are the dangers and headaches to the nearby businesses employees such as their cars being vandalized or broken into.  Some businesses simply give in, pickup and move out of town.

One of my neighbors owns a call center and he requires that his operators are bonded, but I guess there?s no laws requiring this ? there should be.  Right now in my town it seems like anybody can start up a call center and hire questionable labor for cheap without much regulation.

I my efforts the past several years to try and get something done, I am most struck by the fact that there?s no real help, everyone is more worried about being sued than dealing with the obvious problem - you are on your own while the town is taken over by the crime these call centers bring into the neighborhoods....

The caller referred to me as "honey."  I wanted to gag.

These guys just don't quit.  Third call in a week.  Still won't answer.

This is the second call from this number this week.  Did not answer either of them.  If I donate, it's never over the phone, face to face is the wiser.  Don't like to answer calls from numbers I don't recognize.

Came up unknown. I don't answer these calls - rang 3 times and they hung up.

Vets, looking for donations. Told him I only give money to animal organizations, because the animals never call for money!

Same ones...told me they were from Vietnam Vets charity. Very nicely, I told them I was on the "do not call" list and wasn't interested.  He tried to talk over me but I hung up.  They keep calling back anyway.

They said they were calling for special Olympics

I constantly got calls from this number and they never left a message. I blocked the number months ago, but they still attempt to call 2 or 3 times a week. Once I called back and got a "special Olympics" message.

Never answer toll free numbers without a caller ID.

Got a call from this number, they did not leave a message.

They called earlier today saying they were with the Disabled Vets. I told them I'm not feeling well today and it really isn't a good time - they have called back 3 times since then, but I haven't picked up.

I do not want to receive calls from this number.

You're being generous with the 90/10 margin.  Most the calls on behalf of real charities are made from for-profit corporations that can keep almost 100% of every dollar they collect.  By law they have to tell you that but of course many of these people are nothing more than scam artists.

Please, investigate any charity and make your donations directly to that charity.  If these crooks stop making money from people who aren't informed, perhaps that will put an end to their theft attempts.

I never pick up when I don't know who it is but it's fun to search the number and find out what others say.  Good rule of thumb - if they call you - NO INFO - EVER.   If it isn't a scam there will be a safer way to supply the information they claim they need.

Got a phone call from this number. No voice message left.

posed as existing credit card company with "final offer" on rate reduction, automated with option to press #1 to talk to rep.

Talked to rep to tell to remove from call list, 3rd party and no existing business contact at all.

Asked which card/bank they were calling for and only response was your existing credit card company.

On do not call list, told to remove, and for supervisor, argued/screemed and was told will be placed on list for a call back next day.

Call original number from caller ID and got the special olympics message.

*Never* give donations to a stranger who calls you. Might be a scammer. Might be a legit independent fund raiser who keeps 90% for themselves and sends 10% to the charity. Best to find what charity they are collecting for, research the charity to make sure it's legit, get charity contact info from an independent source, then donate *directly* to the charity so they will get 100% of your donation.

Called me too.   Ask them for something in the mail.   They won't do it.  Who are these guys?

Comes up "Toll Free" on Caller ID.