We keep getting these stupid calls, and I'm sure you have, too. You know the ones, the recorded calls that start out with "Hi, this is ___ from Credit Card Services. Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with your account. We're calling to help you lower your interest rates." Later the message says "Press 9 to speak to a representative."
Most of the time, we just hang up as soon as the message starts and you can tell what it is. Every now and then, I'll press 9 and try to get our number off their call list. Usually there's someone with a very thick foreign accent. When you ask to be removed from the call list, they want to know your phone number. I refuse, since THEY called ME, and it should be up on their screen already. If they refuse to do anything else, I hang up.
Today's call was different.
I pressed 9, and it rang several times. The voice that answered was plainly a young male from the Midwest - no foreign accent (like you usually get). Here's the conversation to the best of my memory:
Rep: Thanks for holding, you're interested in reducing your credit card rates?
Me: No, I'd like you to take this number off your call list.
Rep: Ummmm...... No.
Me: You have to.
Rep: [sing-songy] No I don't.
Me: Federal law. the No-call list.
Rep: [starting to sound like a snotty 5 year old] I don't HAVE to follow your STUPID law, so how do you like that?
**pause**
Me: Put me through to your manager.
Rep: I AM the manager.
Me: I rather doubt that. Put me through...
Rep: [interrupting, very nasty tone] Shut up. You know what, you're dead.
**click**
What the hell?
Either some drunk fratboy is having a gigglefit wherever that call center is, or some sick fuck is working at a place with some access to people's contact info. (Or maybe it's that sick freak with the caller hacking site has managed to take over the numbers from that call center. What the heck is it, pranknet or something? The one that calls and convinces hotel guests the hotel is on fire and they should smash windows?)
Of course, caller ID is blocked.
Normally after having no luck getting our number off their list, I'd just say "whatever" and forget about it.
This one freaked me out a little, and I'm not sure if I should call the phone company and report it, try to find some contact information for this "Credit Card Services" entity and call them on it, or what.
Not sure I feel okay letting this one go. It's probably just some stupid shit who's sick of his crappy job (and I do empathize, call center jobs tend to suck mightily), but... "You're dead"?
Update 18:37 CST: Thank you all for the advice. It was too late to call the police, since other phone calls had been made and received in the meantime, but I will be reporting this to the state Attorney General, and I'm looking up the phone company's number now.
Unfortunately we don't have caller ID service so I don't have a number for them (unemployed and trying to keep costs down), though I'm told these always come from blocked numbers, anyway.
Update 2 19:09 CST: I've downloaded the complaint form from the MN AG's website; that will have to be mailed in.
*57: I called Qwest and was directed to the "Annoyance Call Bureau" (1-800-582-0655); unfortunately, they are only open 8AM-5PM, M-F. They did refer to dialing *57 to have a call traced. When I checked on that, I found that dialing *57 automatically traces the last call and stores the information in the phone company's system; the phone company will then release that information to the police upon request. (Good to know.)