Publish America spams cell phones now?

I didn't think you could receive solicitations via cell phone? I've had this particular cell phone number for almost two years and I have NEVER received a solicitation call. I didn't think they called cell phones, nor did I think it was even legal, considering I have to pay for the call either way.

But just now, I answered the phone to some unenthusiastic telemarketer monotonously telling me "Congratulations, Lauren, you have been selected to receive a thousand dollar online shopping spree--"

At which point I hung up. But then it bothered me, so I called back, planning to inform them that they'd called a cell phone and I want to be removed from whatever list they have me on.

The SAME monotonous woman answers, and she's like "is this Lauren?" And I asked who they were. She said "Publish America -- we're a publishing company." At which point I was severely confused. I had never heard of them, and I started to think that maybe of the 95 agents I queried, one of them was calling me for some reason... but why the hell would an agent offer me an online shopping spree? Moreover, why would a PUBLISHING COMPANY be contacting me when I certainly haven't contacted any publishers?

The woman told me that they "purchase a list of personal information from various stores."

What the hell? I honestly can't imagine where on earth they would have gotten my phone number. I go to a lot of sites like querytracker and, well, HERE, but I don't recall ever buying anything or giving them my phone number. Could it just be total coincidence that they're a publishing company and called someone who happens to be aspiring for publication? I can't imagine even a sleazy agent would sell my phone number, because that would mean lost business for them (not that any of the agents I contacted are sleazy).

In any case, I asked not to receive any further calls and that was the end of it. But something doesn't sit right with me.

What up, mates?

Whoa. Thanks for that. I apparently don't know how to operate a search engine. When I searched for them on AW all I found was a closed thread.

Mods, beam me over?

Toothpaste said:

Before you go on, you simply must visit this forum here on our very own AW: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=115

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Yeaaahhh... did you get the memo on the TPS Reports? Yeaaahhh... I'll go ahead and get you a copy of that memo.

Foinah said:

No worries. I've sent in the appropriate paperwork (TPS reports) and it should be funneled soon

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I didn't think they could call cell phones. Hm. How would I know if it was automated? An actual person was talking to me.

JulieB said:

Is your cell phone on the do not call list? If so, report 'em at donotcall.gov.

Also, if you have reason to think the call was automated, do report it. It's against FCC regulations for automated dialers to call cell phone numbers.

Yes, you CAN add your cell number to the Do Not Call list. If you've not done so, do it NOW.

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Thing is.. I don't give my phone number out all willy nilly. I can't imagine what business I could have given it to. When I buy things, stores don't get my phone number. I don't enter sweepstakes. And I don't really buy anything that would make a stranger think "she's a writer!"

Joanna_S said:

Do not call aside, what was their game? Some phony sweepstake, fine, but what was the end point of the call? Are they soliciting manuscripts? It can't be book sales, because that would imply they wanted strangers to buy books. If their only game is selling books to authors, why make random calls?

I suppose the place they bought the list could've been a business that's writing-related and therefore the odds are higher that the callee would have a manuscript, but it's still very odd. Are they hard up for business? (we could only hope) The whole thing is just weird.

-- Joanna

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Aside from friends, I have only really given my phone number to agents.. and I can't imagine an agent would give a potential client's name to a vanity publisher.

JulieB said:

My son is in the same boat. He's had solicitation calls to his pen name, and for the life of him he can't figure out how people get the number. He only gives it out to people knows. He wonders if a "friend" might have signed him up for something.

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I smell a query!

BarbJ said:

Reality check, Jersey - PA has no core. Inside is a vast and hollow cavern, a lonely wind blowing dust and litter and the inadvertant bits of b.s. left lying about, while muffled echoes whisper, It might have been a good read, if there'd been anyone to read it aside from Aunt Mabel."

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The girl sounded like she had as many live braincells as an inactive volcano, so there's a good chance she wasn't supposed to tell me they purchase a list.

If all these email/phone notices were true, I'd be on my free cruise to my summer home in barbados making millions off of ebay with a newly enhanced penis AND free laser-surgically improved vision. And by the way, I'd have forwarded the email that saved that child who's been dying of cancer since the start of AOL.

Captain Morgan said:

Any company who admits that, is basically admitting that they are engaging in very UNETHICAL business practices. A good sign to stay clear away.

One thing else bothers me. Many companies who purchase your private info like this (often ilegaly) often turn around and sell your confidential ID back to the next bidder in line, who also wishes to spam you. I have not looked over the PA contracts, but I am wondering, do they state anywhere that your private info really remains confidential with them? I very much doubt it, but even if they claim so, I'd be weary.

P.S. I win about 2 FREE cruizes a day. I don't know how, nor do the telemarketers know either, they just tell me that SOMEONE who knows me must have signed up my name & address to some rally or something at some UNKNOWN location. Now, how unprofessional/incompetent can you get?!

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I won the internet lottery once. I spent it on exclusive celebrity porn.

JulieB said:

Cruise, shmooze. I win the Internet lottery several times a day. ;-)

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I don't understand how the heck telemarketers stay in business. Even if they had something I wanted I wouldn't take it, simply because they're calling MY HOME. It's one thing to be flagged down at the mall by some guy breathlessly reciting a speech on how to improve my cell phone plan while I'm hiding behind the Orange Julius stand until he passes. But when I'm sitting around in my kitty cat bath robe watching my anime, the last thing I want to hear is a sales pitch.

Captain Morgan said:

BTW, if anyone wishes to know more about the spam/telemarketing side of things, I had the unpleasant experience in working at a corpmany years ago which went down that route. Happily I got FIRED after I refused to furthermore harass our own clients. Needless to say, I think we succeeded in pissing off about 99% of the hands that fed us.

I could tell you lots of stories you wouldn't believe, starting with the DNC-list fallacy.

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