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Some of you might have experienced this kind of thing already but I feel rather shocked by what has happened to me.
I advertise regularly inTeddy Bear Times....rarely Teddy Bear Scene..and Hugglets Teddy Bear Guide. Yearly I decide my advertising budget so when unsolicited calls come trying to sell advertising I always say 'no thanks'.
For about a year I have been getting monthly calls from a local newspaper (not local to me ...but a local rag in the UK..one of these free papers that no-one reads)...and each month I say, 'No thanks, and please don't call me again...' Yesterday I got the call again and said the same thing, but this time the girl wasn't having it, she became immediately abusive and after I explained...though I didn't need to...that there is no benefit to me in advertisng anywhere but a specialist magazine...she bacame even more rude so I put the phone down.
Today I received a similar call from the same girl...she became immediately aggressive in her manner and I again put the phone down. This was followed by a series of silent calls...then a man called ,who was threatening and obscene to me in front of an office full of giggling girls with the speaker-phone on so they could all hear. I have called the police and had a trace put on my line but this kind of thing to sell advertising is unbelievable.
I'm a real tough cookie and not much gets past me these days...but this has now made me feel quite uneasy and insecure about putting my telephone number in any future advertising....but how else do you do business.
Jenny
Kim-Bee BearsWOW... sorry to hear that... I had a call from some kind of organization requesting money donations and I told them I couldnt afford to do so at the time, which was true. The person kept going after I told them this several times so I hung up. not even 30 seconds later I get a call that I answer and the person hangs up. I had caller ID and it was that person calling back to be a jerk and hang up on me... I hate when people get nasty on the phone!
Flying Fur StudiosGee, I thought the best advertising was to be good to your customer, and word of mouth. Looks like in this case they do neither. I can't imagine them being around too much longer if they're relying on advertisments.
Sounds like a bunch of high school kids runing a paper.
Weird
Heather
Jenny, I have had a little community newspaper asking if I want to advertise and I am sure that
they think I must have an endless supply of money. I say no thank you also.
If they wanted to do an article so much why don't they do a write up about your Bears.
Sorry to hear that you have been having trouble and hope that they leave you alone.
Hugs
Carolyn
Posts: 3,177Bet i know the local rag that you're talking about Jenny. Happened to me earlier this year and i had a right to-do with them - they are really nasty. Bear in mind that someone at TBTimes gave them your name, i no longer subscribe to the TBT. Contact me privately if you want the full story of my experience with them.
Cheer up ducks - they're just a bunch of losers 
Penny
Kiprie BearsOh no Jenny, I'm sorry to hear that.
What a horrible experience....:(
I hope you will feel better soon and hope
the local newspaper will go out of business soon.(I'm sure they will......)
Hugs/Marie.
Delartful BearsOh Gee, these advertising people can be very persistant.
It's one thing to hassle someone, and phone often, it's another thing to be abusive.
I wish you the best of luck Jenny- what a terrible thing to happen to you. You were right in calling the police - let's hope something can be done!
Danni
Posts: 8,574Sounds like you handled it really well.
Good for you. And they do sound like a looser rag.
Dilu
DoodlebearsBig (((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))to you Jenny!
I had the same phone call about six weeks ago. First I was offered a free quarter page add, then if I wanted to pay a small fee I could have a half page add. When I declined both the offer came that I could have a picture of one of my bears over half of the front page plus a half page add inside and a story. I told them that as I had never heard of the newspaper and don't even know if it is areal newspaper, the woman got a bit nasty and said 'What more do you want for nothing' I reminded her that what she had offered was indeed not going to be for nothing as she had said about a fee and that if I want advertising I would be using one of the bear magazines and not an unknown to me little newspaper. I then hung up. Two hours later another caller from the same newspaper phoned and started all over again with the same sales pitch, I don't think she knew about the earlier call. I told her I had just become bankrupt but maybe I could be helped by having a free add in their newspaper...they hung up.
Jane
P.S. I did a search on Google and couldn't find any newspaper of the name which they had called themselves.
Delartful BearsMmm Jane, sounds dodgy!
Danni
Pandy Potter BearsHope you are OK Jenny. When abuse like that is coming in your home it can be horrible. I thought of ringing you to see if you were OK then thought better of it. I sure you are fed up of the phone! What a bunch of idiots. Years ago I had the same kind of thing over 'they could get me cheaper rates' when I said I already had looked into it myself they acted if I was stupid. Best leave it to BT or who ever deals with that kind of thing. Hang in there.
Doodlebears
Danni said
Mmm Jane, sounds dodgy!
I'm not dodgy, honest I'm really not. ;)
I know what you meant Danni....punctuation slightly out my friend. Rolling around laughing now ...me dodgy...Nah!
Luv yer Danni! 
Jane
Thanks for all your supportive messages...I am up and at 'em now and I won't let this drop. I have contacted trading standards and they are taking it extremely seriously as are the police. The trading standards guys have got me details on the company I will be taking further action. as I have witnesses to the whole nasty episode.
Yesterday I was feeling extremely fragile and pathetic...but as I said I am a tough old bird and usually this kind of thing just puts me in fighting mode.
Thanks again everyone...!!
Jenny
DoodlebearsBIG (((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))) for you Jenny. Kick butt!
Jane
Oh ...and I really, really hope TBT aren't involved with this because I'd be very disappointed that a magazine that's supposed to support the industry in a professional manner could give out information to such people. It beggars belief.
After all we support them ...by buying the magazines in the first place...
It's just not cricket.....!!!
Jenny
DoodlebearsJenny what makes you think TBT maybe involved in this? I don't see any connection. If you advertise with your phone number as I do especially in the Hugglet's guide then anyone can phone you. I could probably get your number right now. Just wondered.
Jane.
Oh ...it was just Pennys earlier post said there may have been a connection...but I do know that often magazines share info about customers...when you advertise in one often you get other people canvassing for further business...because they tout for the same customers.
This used to happen when we first advertised our hairdressing business...the flood gates-opened for advertising sales people..don't tell me they read Hair magazines...or Bear magazines. It was never like this though...this is scary.
Jenny
It beggars belief.
It's just not cricket.....!!!
I am adding these two expressions to my new British-only vernacular. Thanks, Jenny!
Toodles! 
Sorry Shelli....
Tally ho, old bean...what, what, what!!!
Terries BearsBoy, do they ever sound like an unprofessional bunch! I would think that kind of harassment would turn off more potential customers, than it would bring in.
PS...I am also enjoying all the new phrases in the English language!:)
Past Time BearsSome businesses SELL their mailing lists to other people, not caring how the other people may use them. That may be how TBT is connected . . . not actually being involved, but not checking out to whom they sell their lists.
Oh Sue-Ann..I know this is true....here in the UK..and more than likely most other places in the world, private householders can ask to be removed from these lists ..and stop unsolicited calls...but the problem when you are a business and you want collectors to call you is that by barring calls you may inadvertantly barr potential sales.
I think it is highly irresponsible of companies to give out their clients information...but unfortunately they do. ...they make money out of I, I guess.
Jenny
