Int'l Issues British man sues telemarketers for wasting his time

KILLER_CLOWN · 10-29-2012, 11:53 PM

October 29, 2012
British man sues telemarketers for wasting his time

Fed up with calls from telemarketers, Richard Herman of the U.K. issued an ultimatum: Call again and he would start charging 10 pounds (about $16) per minute for his time.

Herman's warning went unheeded. He continued to receive calls, despite being on the U.K.'s Telephone Preference Service (similar to the Do Not Call list). So he started keeping track of the minutes and recorded each call on his computer. Then, true to his word, he sent an invoice to the offender.
The invoice went ignored. But Herman would not go gentle into that good night. He took the marketing company to small claims court and won for 19 minutes and 30 seconds of annoyance. Multiply 19.5 by 10 pounds and you'll see that Herman took home about 195 pounds for his troubles, not to mention the righteous thrill that comes with sticking it to the man.
After the ruling, Herman told the BBC, "It cheered me up to think that actually instead of being the victim of these calls I can actually defend myself against them to put the boot onto the other foot." But Herman isn't done yet. "I continue to receive further telemarketing calls, albeit from other companies. And I say to them every time now, that I will charge them 10 pounds a minute if they call again."

Now that he's an expert on stopping the calls, he's sharing his knowledge. He's started his own site:Say No To Cold Calls. The site, which may be down at the moment, features tips and tricks on how to sue telemarketers who won't take, "Please, for the love of God, stop calling me" for an answer.
Listen to Herman recount the story:

http://refreshingnews99.blogspot.in/...eters-for.html

**patteeu** · 10-30-2012, 07:09 AM

That's great.

KILLER_CLOWN · 10-30-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

That's great.

I'm surprised it worked, I don't think we would have much luck here in the states with that.

**patteeu** · 10-30-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

I'm surprised it worked, I don't think we would have much luck here in the states with that.

Probably not, but there's always the chance that the company just wouldn't bother to show up to fight the small claims suit and that they'd lose by default.

fan4ever · 10-30-2012, 10:38 AM

I did just a bit of research on this a few months ago; if you do your homework you can sue telemarketers/advertisers for bothering you if you're on the "no call list"...for about $500 in small claims court...but you've got to gather their information and most companies will hang up as soon as you begin to ask questions.

BucEyedPea · 10-30-2012, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fan4ever

I did just a bit of research on this a few months ago; if you do your homework you can sue telemarketers/advertisers for bothering you if you're on the "no call list"...for about $500 in small claims court...but you've got to gather their information and most companies will hang up as soon as you begin to ask questions.

I've been getting a bunch left on my VM and I am on the "no call list." When I call back to warn them, it has turned out to be a bogus operation. It just rings, and rings and rings. I still have the names but there's no way to locate them. When I called the FTC one time, I was told that some of them originate from China and are scams.

There's also these scams: ( red type )

https://www.donotcall.gov/

**J Diddy** · 10-30-2012, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

I've been getting a bunch left on my VM and I am on the "no call list." When I call back to warn them, it has turned out to be a bogus operation. It just rings, and rings and rings. I still have the names but there's no way to locate them. When I called the FTC one time, I was told that some of them originate from China and are scams.

There's also these scams: ( red type )

https://www.donotcall.gov/

You do realize that most call from outbound lines only.

BucEyedPea · 10-30-2012, 07:28 PM

Um, they still leave numbers to call them.

Why are you conversing with me if you are so against it?

alpha_omega · 10-30-2012, 07:52 PM

There are many exemptions to the "no call" list.

BucEyedPea · 10-30-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpha_omega

There are many exemptions to the "no call" list.

As far as I know it's just: charities, political organizations, and telephone surveyors, companies with which you do business and debt collectors. I see per the link to the registry complaint page ( linked below) that even a recorded call whether you're on the list or not, can get a complaint.

https://complaints.donotcall.gov/com...k.aspx?panel=2

alpha_omega · 10-30-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

As far as I know it's just: charities, political organizations, and telephone surveyors, companies with which you do business and debt collectors. I see per the link to the registry complaint page ( linked below) that even a recorded call whether you're on the list or not, can get a complaint.

https://complaints.donotcall.gov/com...k.aspx?panel=2

That is correct. But there are many organizations that fall in those categories.

BucEyedPea · 10-30-2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpha_omega

That is correct. But there are many organizations that fall in those categories.

There aren't many that do make calls then it seems. I am on the NDNC list and I don't get many from charities. Just three a year. Politics only during elections which I expect. I never get them from people I already do business with. By that I mean as a consumer. I get email from them if I gave it to them. Nothing from debt collectors.

I get a lot less telemarketing calls since I signed, except for a rash of recent ones from spring through september that were not authorized.

yvonne · 10-31-2012, 08:23 PM

About time we start exercising our rights! Good job, Richard!

yvonne · 10-31-2012, 08:32 PM

By the way, I'm wondering if I could still file for complaints, too. I've received unsolicited calls before and I got them all reported to Callercenter so I have all the information to make a complaint. So can I?

KC Jones · 10-31-2012, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

I'm surprised it worked, I don't think we would have much luck here in the states with that.

I found a blog once from a guy in Washington that was using a law against spam to sue spammers. It was an interesting read about the mindset of small court judges. Many of them were flat out ignorant of the legal code and some very hostile towards him for using the law as it was intended. I suspect that's about how a suit against telemarketers would go over here.

10-29-2012, 11:53 PM
KILLER_CLOWN Be HEALED!!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Fascist State Casino cash: $11111212	British man sues telemarketers for wasting his time October 29, 2012 British man sues telemarketers for wasting his time Fed up with calls from telemarketers, Richard Herman of the U.K. issued an ultimatum: Call again and he would start charging 10 pounds (about $16) per minute for his time. Herman's warning went unheeded. He continued to receive calls, despite being on the U.K.'s Telephone Preference Service (similar to the Do Not Call list). So he started keeping track of the minutes and recorded each call on his computer. Then, true to his word, he sent an invoice to the offender. The invoice went ignored. But Herman would not go gentle into that good night. He took the marketing company to small claims court and won for 19 minutes and 30 seconds of annoyance. Multiply 19.5 by 10 pounds and you'll see that Herman took home about 195 pounds for his troubles, not to mention the righteous thrill that comes with sticking it to the man. After the ruling, Herman told the BBC, "It cheered me up to think that actually instead of being the victim of these calls I can actually defend myself against them to put the boot onto the other foot." But Herman isn't done yet. "I continue to receive further telemarketing calls, albeit from other companies. And I say to them every time now, that I will charge them 10 pounds a minute if they call again." Now that he's an expert on stopping the calls, he's sharing his knowledge. He's started his own site:Say No To Cold Calls. The site, which may be down at the moment, features tips and tricks on how to sue telemarketers who won't take, "Please, for the love of God, stop calling me" for an answer. Listen to Herman recount the story: http://refreshingnews99.blogspot.in/...eters-for.html
Posts: 19,988

10-30-2012, 07:09 AM	#2
patteeu The 23rd Pillar Join Date: Sep 2002 Casino cash: $421220	That's great. __________________ Obamacare’s fix for an American health care system that the federal government long ago broke, is to give the federal government far more power over American health care; that its solution to escalating health costs is to mandate greater health benefits (and, hence, higher costs); and that its solution to the pricey overreliance on pre-paid health plans — offered by insurance companies in lieu of real insurance — is to have the government require Americans to buy those pre-paid health plans under penalty of law.
Posts: 67,801

10-30-2012, 10:38 AM	#5
fan4ever Veteran Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $32503	I did just a bit of research on this a few months ago; if you do your homework you can sue telemarketers/advertisers for bothering you if you're on the "no call list"...for about $500 in small claims court...but you've got to gather their information and most companies will hang up as soon as you begin to ask questions.
Posts: 3,202

10-30-2012, 07:28 PM	#8
BucEyedPea Frazod Loves Hammy Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: None of your business Casino cash: $53300	Um, they still leave numbers to call them. Why are you conversing with me if you are so against it? __________________ "In government, the scum rises to the top."~ Hayek
Posts: 47,293

10-30-2012, 07:52 PM	#9
alpha_omega MVP Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liberty Casino cash: $142642	There are many exemptions to the "no call" list.
Posts: 5,418

10-31-2012, 08:23 PM	#13
yvonne Rookie Join Date: Aug 2012 Casino cash: $535	About time we start exercising our rights! Good job, Richard!
Posts: 2

10-31-2012, 08:32 PM	#14
yvonne Rookie Join Date: Aug 2012 Casino cash: $535	By the way, I'm wondering if I could still file for complaints, too. I've received unsolicited calls before and I got them all reported to Callercenter so I have all the information to make a complaint. So can I?
Posts: 2

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