What is with telemarketers calling you by your first name??

Question

Is this the rudest thing on earth? Has anyone else been dealing with this????
How dare they call you by your first name! I wonder how many guys have gotten in trouble with wivies or girlfriends by telemarketers asking for them and saying this is 'Linda". Next time one of them calls me by my first name I am going to ask them for theirs and tell them to take a flying leap off a short plank!

Do not call registries don't always work, if your bank or credit card has sold your name down the river for some small print that you missed. They certainly are not illegal and lot are off shore callers who are within the law to still call.
Courtesy may have went out the window a long time ago, however, strangers still do not call strangers by their first name unless they have asked permission first.

Answer 1

Yah...i feel your pain. What makes it funny for me is that they ALWAYS mispronounce my name. i mean, how would you say "Bettina?" It usually comes out "Benita." Cripes. At least when they call me that i know to hang up right away! ;)

Answer 2

Contrary to one of the other responses, there is nothing illegal about telemarketing, or they wouldn't have laws outlining procedures and limitations. The do not call registry is only so effective. I have been on it for a couple of years, and while things have slowed down to a very tolerable level, I still get calls. It is safe to say that most of the calls I do receive are perfectly legal, as most lists today have been collated in a way that marketers' use of your contact information can be traced back to somewhere where you had authorized the release and use of the information for such purposes.

As far as using first names, the perceived sanctity of our first names as extremely personal went out the window years (maybe decades) ago. Get over it.

If you want to deal with annoying callers effectively, check this out:

http://howtoprankatelemarketer.ytmnd.com/

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Answer 3

While I see the point of whoever said it's easier to use a first name than mispronounce a last name, I disagree about that being the "best customer" experience.

I have a last name that is for some reason difficult to pronounce (I don't really think it is, but it gets screwed up all the time). On one hand, if the caller gets it wrong, I can be confident that they don't know me personally and I often say there is no one here by that name and hang up.

The "best customer experience", however, is being addressed with honor and respect. Using my first name does not accomplish that. Ask me how to pronounce my surname and then say "thank you, Miss K---." Easy as pie, and very respectful of my family name.

Answer 4

Yes, it is rude for anyone to call you by your first name without your permission.

When these yahoos call you again, they'll them to take your name OFF their call list. You are right. Credit card companies, charities and other agencies with which you have a "relationship" can call you. But, if you tell them NOT to call you, they must take your name of their list. If the telemarketer gives you a hard time about it, ask to speak to the supervisor and tell the supervisor that you want your name off the list.

I think there is a complaint "route" to go through when this doesn't work.

You can also get caller ID or keep your answering machine on and screen calls. We do this at our home. We tell our friends and family we are most likely home. We have more pleasant evenings at home since we did that!

Answer 5

Well usually telemarketers just ask for you by ur first name because... if i call u and ask for John Doe.. and he answers the phone then he is more than likely to say that he is not available and take a message.. however if i call and ask for John... the he will most likely say this is he or hold on let me get him... basically a telemarketers job is to actually talk to the person on the list.. and if asking for a person by just their first name will put that person on the phone then that telemarketer is about halfway done with their job... I have been a on/off telemarketer for about 10 years... so yes it is rude in a way... however just like everyone else we all have jobs to do... and also if it gets on your nerves so much then just ask the telemarketer to put u on the "do not call" list.. it take a couple of weeks to process so u might get another call just PATIENTLY tell the the peson to put u on the DNC list again... Hope this helps in some kind of way...

Answer 6

Have not dealt with this for about five years ever since I placed my phone number on the national do not call list registry

I suggest that you do the same if you do not like getting calls from telemarketers; here is the site if you are interested https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

Answer 7

Yeah... they figure they've got a better chance of getting ahold of someone if it sounds like a personal call. But You're right. It's rude. Luckily, if you're in the states, it is also ILLEGAL to telemarket call someone. Tell them in no uncertain terms that they aren't welcome to call you, and that if they do you will report their company for illegal telemarketing.

Edit:
Ok, it IS illegal to telemarket without express written consent or prior business engagement with the company in question if you are on the do not call registry. AND, if someone calls despite your status on the do not call registry, You can file a complaint and be compensated, monetarily.

I get NO telemarketing calls. Only those annoying calls for donations, since most non profit organizations aren't under the do not call laws... and THEY also use first names, which is STILL rude.

Answer 8

It's part of a basic sales script...calling you by your first name is suppose to make you feel relaxed.

Give them a break...they're just trying to make a living and have to follow some stupid script some person who's probably never sold anything in their life typed up.

Answer 9

From working in retail when I was in college, I found it was easier to call people by their first name because the last name for some people can be impossible to pronounce. Take for example the name Tim Goeke. Is it guck, goke, guke, go-ek, gek, etc? It is just easier to say, "Thanks, Tim" when you hand him his credit card back. Some people didn't like it, but you have to do what management deems is "the best customer experience"

Answer 10

When someone uses your name it supposedly does 2 things. It usually jars people to attention. It also, supposedly, endears the listener to the speaker.