Phone Nightmares

PHONE NIGHTMARES

Here is a short article you may find interesting if you have ever gone through the process to getting a loan, either to refinance your existing mortgage or to get your first mortgage to buy your first home.

Mortgage guys have gotten a bad rap, and deservedly so, for many in the industry, and here are some of the reasons people are so averse to refinancing their home. A bad taste in the mouth usually begins with a poorly trained cold caller around diner time. Quite often the caller will not bother to check if the number they are calling is on the do not call list.

The more I think about that one the more I am likely to conclude it is our own fault the guy still calls us. I wonder, how many of us on the do not call list knows how to follow up if they get called by an unscrupulous mortgage guy? I’m on the list and I don’t know how to follow up. At one time I probably did know but after so much time has passed and having never reported anyone I no longer know how to report the offender, or the offender’s company. I could certainly find out, but isn’t part of the reason to get on the list so you would no longer be bothered, so why do I want to waste all this time finding out?

I don’t want to take the time and I believe I am not alone in this. Here is what you can do if you are getting those calls despite being registered. You can email your complaint to the FCC here. fccinfo@fcc.gov You can call in your complaint using this number; 1-888-225-5322 or 1-888-835-5322 or fax at; 1-866-418-0232. You can also opt for snail mail;

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries & Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.

Your complaint should include the following.

· your name, address, e-mail address, and phone number where you can be reached;

· the phone number where you received the call, and whether this number is on the national Do-Not-Call list;

· the date and time of the call;

· whether the call advertised or sold any property, goods, or services;

· any information (including a caller ID number) to help identify the individual or company whose property, goods, or services were being advertised or sold, and whether any of this information was provided during the call;

· whether you or anyone else in your household gave the caller permission to call;

· whether you have an EBR with the caller (specifically, whether you or anyone else in your household made any purchases of property, goods, or services from the individual or company that called, or made any inquiry or filed an application with the individual or company prior to receiving the call); and

· Whether you or anyone in your household previously asked the caller or individual or company whose property, goods, or services are being advertised or sold NOT to call, and when you made the request.

So there is a fair amount of work to do every time you are called and I think many companies or individuals call anyway, counting on us to be too lazy or just unmotivated to take the steps to stop the unwanted caller.

Maybe you are thinking, “Wait, I don’t want to get this guy fired” so you never report it. I wouldn’t worry about that. Companies make mistakes as do their employees, so they are not gonna fire someone for slipping up. Now if that ‘slipping up’ is flagrant, then the person probably deserves what he gets.

So, don’t be afraid to report, and take the time to do so. Or, if you feel the guy is a nice guy and it’s an honest mistake, just be polite and ask him not to call you again. I am sure he will appreciate that.

Good luck and happy phone answering.