Telemarketer Boycott List

I don't like telemarketer calls. They interrupt me and waste my time.

What to do about it? I've decided to keep a list of companies and organizations who cold-call me with the intent to turn me into a customer. That way I'll remember which companies to avoid.

The plan is to pause and enter this information into the list while the telemarketer is on the phone, inform them that they have been added, and then hang up.

I'm publishing this information on the web so that everyone can benefit from this boycott list. I encourage you to join the effort, as well as avoid doing business with any of these organizations.

The goal of this list is to help follow through on the following statements:

• I don't do business with companies that use telemarketers.
• I don't give money to organizations who use telemarketing techniques.

Without any further ado, the list!

Businesses:

• 310 Grocery - based in Hamilton (2006/05/31)
• CapitalOne - selling Mastercard, via a contract through National Collections Organization (NCO) to do the dirty work of telemarketing (2006/05/25)
• Cayman Windows and Doors - selling windows and doors... (2006/11/20)
• Citigroup / Citibank - selling Mastercard (2005/08/23)
Digital Security Systems - trying to setup a meeting for their system (2007/08/13)
• Direct Buy in Waterloo - trying to send info sheet (2005/12/02)
• Enerstar - asking about upgrades to windows (2005/09/22)
• Globe and Mail - offering a promotional deal (2007/01/09)
• National Post - selling newspapers (2008/05/20)
• Primus Canada - offering long distance rates (2006/05/16)
• Rogers Wireless - selling cell phones (2007/03/07)
• Shopco.ca - offering meat sales and delivery (2007/02/26)
• Toronto Star - offering subscription trial (2006/11/15)

Charities:

Survey Companies:

• CanTrak Research , Toronto ON - asked them to wait a moment, and they hung up early. Calling number was: 416-848-9304 (2005/09/21)
• CanTrak Research (aka: IPSOS-ASI) , Toronto ON - doing a survey about beer. Calling number: 416-848-9304 (2005/09/22)
• Macleans / Chatelaine , owned by Rogers Communications, Inc. - doing a provincial readership survey to find out what people are reading (2006/05/10)