Star Tribune... anyone else have this problem?

[Deja Q]

7 years ago I did subscribe for a short while, but then cancelled. I never had the time to read it and papers piled up quickly.

Periodically I'd get called back with a new offer, but the last year (especially the last couple of months) has been utterly beyond rational thought.

They'd given me subscriptions in the past I'd never asked for (about 1.5 years ago) and then charged me. I've gotten them to cancel after fighting, but these cretins don't even record phone calls - and it's not my responsibility to write down who calls and when. (They said I had said "yes" and I asked them to whip out the ol' tape recording. Well, by golly, then didn't have any.) I've always say no. Somebody had said "yes" for me at one time. x(

I've told them before, many times, to stop calling. A few months later, they start calling again.

When they do call, they will call SEVERAL times per night. Often once every 15 minutes. Tonight it was once every 5 minutes.

They now even call and hang up after the 4th ring. Or they ignore the voice answering system entirely and keep saying "Hello?" 20 times before hanging up.

I do not want their newspaper. I haven't the time to read it and they can save a tree as far as I'm concerned. Why do they not understand this?

7 years ago I also had a Pioneer Press subscription (all these newspaper peddlers target those who move to new addresses, I reckon) but at least they're comparatively civilized and don't call every 3 minutes offering me a new deal.

After the 3rd call in 10 minutes, I picked up the phone when the dude said "Hello? Hello? ..." He started rambling about being from the Star Tribune and how he had a great deal for me, I said angrily "Not interested!" and hung up. If you think I was rude, consider this: 2 years ago I was polite to a Strib telemarketer. An old lady. I listened and then said "No thank you" courteously (as I'd done with ALL telemarketers at the time). She got angry, became rude, and hung up on me. WTF? This is what I get for trying to be civil? Since then, I installed a device which, when pressed, adamantly tells the telemarketer to stop calling and then disconnects. This is war. I've been polite and was urinated on as a response. I have no reason to be nice any more. I don't care which organization they're from. Period.

What I should do is to take down their names, play Mr. Nice Guy, and then write to their managers. Or is that too much of a combattant-like response from an American citizen, in a society that puts favoritism toward corporations? :eyes:

[question everything]

1. We now have our answering machine

comes on after one ring. If someone actually calls us and starts talking, we pick up the phone.

Last February we finally decided to sign up for the do not call list. I think that it takes three months for the list to be distributed. I've heard about some who complained and the telemarketing company was fined.

So... let the machine pick up the call. If someone says "hello hello" 20 times, pick up the handle and hang up. Don't even bring it to your ear. This will disconnect you.

You should also call the strib directly during the day and complain.

Last year I had something similar with TV Guide. Someone called and then hung up after I said no. Then someone else called to "confirm" the subscription which I denied and yelled at her. I then called TV Guide and they apologized, said the call did not come from them, that there are "brokers" or something - not sure - that solicit subscription on their behalf. As we were talking I realized that I've never given any credit card number, so they could not start a subscription.

If anyone sends you something that you did not ask for, they cannot ask for payment.

I'd say call the strib directly. Good luck.

[Lindacooks]

2. Report them to the Department of Commerce

http://www.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?contentid=536884681&contenttype=EDITORIAL&hpage=true&agency=Commerce#Top

If you have told them to place you on the 'no call' or 'do not call' list, they have to stop calling you.

On edit: this is the online complaint form:

http://www.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?contentid=536900509&contenttype=EDITORIAL&template=&subchannel=null&sc2=null&agency=Commerce