I just had the most outrageously rude call from the DCCC demanding money.

[saracat]

The caller "refused" to accept the fact that I have no money to give and "demanded" $210 dollars( to match the biggest donation she had gotten from my area). I replied that we were unemployed, my husband was recovering from cancer, and we just didn't have it.I said the economy was too bad right now for me to consider any donations.She said I "owed" it to the President, and to the party! She said I should "find" it somewhere! I said all our races that mattered to me in Arizona were lost and any money that I had contributed would be spent elswehere, and I no longer cared. My local races were what mattered to me. I said as long as the president dithered on about bipartisanship and kissing the butt of the GOP, none of it mattered anyway. She proceeded to continue to yell at me, "WE" believe this will make a difference said surely I could give "something". I said what part of "I can't afford it, I have NO money and NO do you not understand? I hung up on her.

The DCCC really needs to get better folks on the phone. Usually even charities "get" it when you explain you have NO money!

[Joanie Baloney]

1. Awful!

That fund raiser needs to reconsider her choice of volunteer duties. Maybe she should work for the TSA or something?

-JB

[bluestateguy]

2. Probably some dumb kid they hired

or a not very educated low skill employee who is just doing it for the job and doesn't much care about the party.

[saracat]

5. She was mature and articulate, if one can go by voice and very

"focused" .She was not about to take "No" for an answer.And her "defense of the Democratic party" were some of the classic DLC talking points.

[StarsInHerHair]

84. that is god awful, & you don't ever have to tell anyone like

that anything personal about your family. I hope your husband is going to fully recover-that caller was really heartless, cancer has got to be 1 of the most horrifying things to go thru. That woman, words fail me........like hell you owe them. really awful, cruel woman to go on demanding, even after you told her your situation...just.....disgusting.

[A Simple Game]

90. Instead of wasting money on the wars of choice.

Cancer. Now that's the war we should be fighting. And heart disease, or insert your own pet disease here.
Just think what that kind of money could do in a war against disease, any disease.

[StarsInHerHair]

100. yes you make a very good point, I'd love it if a science org

would create an ad & run it, preferably wherever a military ad is run, as well as on the History channel, which seems to have jumped off the deep end, the Food Network, etc. just to let people know of what is possible, other options. A comment about the cost to repair our infrastructure vs. however many weeks in Iraq or Afghanistan would be eye-opening.

[Radical Activist]

99. Tomorrow she'll be raising money for polar bears

or whatever other cause her company has a contract to raise money for.

[Radical Activist]

98. Probably hired by a private company the DCCC has a contract with.

[eleny]

3. It sounds like her last job was with a collection agency

Sheesh.

[FBaggins]

4. Probably an outside fund raising company.

The caller isn't a Democrat who cares about such things... She's a phone bank employee who gets probably gets paid based on how much she brings in. Doesn't matter (to her) how rude she is. Even a promise to make a contribution later in the month wouldn't satisfy her because her prioritity isn't raising money for the DNC... it's getting the most dollars in today.

She probably just got shifted over from their debt-collections department and doesn't have the right skill set.

[saracat]

8. I would complain about her but since they call from a "private number". There isn't a way to call

the DCCC anyway, not that they will care.

[gkhouston]

19. If it was from a "private number", it could have been anyone claiming to be the

DCCC. I wouldn't put anything past the Rove and his ilk.

[saracat]

25. No, this was ours and a paraphrasing of the "recount plea"

[Exultant Democracy]

70. You are 100% correct. Never donate to anyone who calls you most of the money goes into overhead

to pay the outside company doing the fund-raising. Sometimes even more then 25% will go to the employee as commission while the company also takes a generous cut.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. I am so sorry you had to deal with that...

:hug:

[durkermaker]

7. i had kid (for Howard Dean) at my door tell me that people like me are what's wrong with our country

telling me that i was asking for special treatement when i said i wanted to stop being discriminated against in the workplace because of h-1b visas flooding the job market

couldnt believe the unbeleivable arrogance

[saracat]

13. Yeah, there was some of that floating around during 2008 as well!

I actually had someone on another Board say they hoped the "Boomers and old folks would die soon" becaude they cuased all the problems. Sheesh.

[StarsInHerHair]

86. W really lowered the bar, a father water boarding his daughter

because she didn't get her abc's right, a guy water boarding his girlfriend to find out if she was cheating on him, people wishing various celebrities would 'just die' on gossip sites-the country is in terrible shape, it always is after the Republicans get done with it. only this time torture has been normalized.....we are a bloodthirsty nation. I think if we had gladiators that fight to the death today some Americans would go & watch; tensions are at an all-time high, & with their divide & conquer tactics.......we really need Pres. Obama to firmly inform us of every good thing he's done EVERY DAY. The Right's media is lying to us every day. Maybe Obama can move up the date the health bill activates, slip it into some other legislation.

[Mimosa]

9. Saracat, my heart goes out to you.

I hope yours and your husband's situation gets better soon. *hug*

[polichick]

10. Yikes! I tell them that I only give money directly to liberal candidates...

That shuts 'em right up.

[gorekerrydreamticket]

77. good one.... n/t

[Kookaburra]

11. Too bad you didn't get her name

They need to put her on another job, and get her away from working with the public.

[ProudDad]

12. It's best not to get into any kind of dialogue...

Just say "I'm not a democrat!" - CLICK (my favorite)...

Or "Not now!" - CLICK

But if you engage in "dialogue" you'll just get worked over like this...

Most of them work in boiler room operations and get a percentage of what they take in...

[hedgehog]

18. I agree - they have a script which keeps them going as long as they have

you engaged - "well, if you can't give today, can I put you down for $20 next month?" etc. Just say "I can't give today, thank-you" and hang up.

[durkermaker]

23. my favorite 'can you hold please'?

what can they say?

then you <click>

[ProudDad]

74. Ooooooooh. I LIKE that one!

:rofl:

[durkermaker]

80. used it countless times for years, no joke

very effective

[sally cat]

28. Yes, that is the key. Just end it.

[Xicano]

57. My thoughts exactly ProudDad.

I would like to say: "Where's my public option?!" - CLICK!

[deutsey]

71. Yep. I sometimes I just "CLICK" without saying anything

depending on my mood.

[glinda]

14. Please report this with time, phone number and date and any

information you can to the DCCC. I had a fund raising call for a Dem before the elections and the person attempted to gradually get me to not vote or to despise the Dems. I have no doubt that there is a possibility of people getting these jobs who have another agenda and the DCCC needs to know about this.

[csziggy]

15. The Democratic Governor's Campaign Committee was just as rude

When I refused to donate. With the economy, medical co-pays, and with my disgust with the Democratic Party apparatus, I will not donate to any of their committees. I was polite about it but the guy on the phone tried seel me with telling me all the good stuff the Party has done such as the Health Care Bill. When I told him how disappointed I was in the final bill and how it would not have helped with my 20% co-pays, he tried to argue, yelling over my comments. I hung up on him, then sent an email to the committee, telling them that with that king of solicitation, they would alienate more people than covert to their cause.

I suspect far too many Democrats either cannot afford to donate or refuse to because they feel like us and no longer want to support a party apparatus that does not support our causes. And I suspect the people making the calls are getting frustrated and desperate to raise money.

This time I did not have the money to donate to anyone. Next election cycle I will donate ONLY to individual candidates running in my area who reflect my views. I will not donate to politicians outside my area or to organizations who do not pay attention to my beliefs.

[saracat]

20. They do not DARE call me. And I have friends working for them. They threw Terry Goddard to the

wolves in AZ. And absolutely no one in the entire country has worked harder for the Democratic Party than Terry Goddard. Funny, when Janet Napolitano ran, and she wasn't as poular as terry Goddard but was a DLC datrling, they poured money into her campaign and they wouldn't give Tterry a nickel.That tells me a lot about them and what they want.

[csziggy]

27. My email told DGCC to take me OFF their list and never contact me again

If I get another call from them, ever, I will tell them that a third call will result in charges filed for telephone harassment. The local sheriff is a Repug and would be happy to take that report, too.

The thing about it is, I have only ever donated to DNC one time and it was a very small donation. Other political donations were to individual candidates. DCCC and DSCC keep calling, though I have asked them not to call, and DNC keeps sending solicitations through the mail. They have spent more money in each organization than my total of ALL political contributions in the last twenty years. We'd all be happier if they would just give it the hell up and leave me alone.

[ProudDad]

75. Terry Goddard was a victim of SB1070 more than anything else...

Brewer was going down until she captured the jingoist tea-baggers by signing SB1070 -- her gift from Corrections Corporations of America (private prisons) and Russell Pearce (R-neo nazi)

[saracat]

82. I agree but the Dem Gov Assoc refused to help in any way.

And they stepped up the ante fot Janet Napolitano when she had even less chance of winning and she won with their help. Just saying.

[ProudDad]

108. You're partially correct...

It was <Crickets> around here when it came to M$M and advertising presence of Goddard...

So that could have been a tactical factor...

But the most important factor was SB1070. Before 1070 Brewer was toast 'cause the tea-baggers hated her for the 1 cent sales tax she pushed for (hell, so was I) and a couple other pieces of bat-crap crazy right-wing crap she "opposed".

Her handlers at the private prison industry worked on her and convinced her she was toast unless she did something dramatic to appease the worst of the worst in this outlier state...

So neo-Nazi russell pearce, ALEC, CCA et. al. produced SB1070 for her to sign with a flourish...

And Goddard was done...

[Warpy]

16. Do you have caller ID?

That's the kind of call that bears checking out. I can't imagine anyone in any political party dunning people for money they don't have---unless they're working for the other side.

In any case, the only thing you need to say to any dun if they won't take no for an answer is "piss off." Then hang up.

[saracat]

24. Yup. It says "Private Number". If it had said DCCC, I wouldn't pick up.

But I have some friends in DC who also call from "private number" this time of day so I picked it up.

[Warpy]

31. It doesn't sound like DCCC to me

It sounds like a prank call from a Republican.

DCCC is persistent enough, but their calls are identified. I never pick up, preferring to donate to candidates who will work for me, not for corporations.

[saracat]

37. The majority of their current fundraising calls are now from unlisted numbers.

And this was a boiler room. I could hear it in the background.I also only donate to candidates but I can't even do that now.

[Warpy]

42. I'm sorry you got caught in this mess. I'm sure poverty will move back in

with me at some point, like that unwelcome house guest who moves in for months, squatting and making a mess and you can't get rid of him.

In the case of a boiler room call, I revert to my original advice, and "piss off" is the only logical response.

[Retrograde]

76. The ones I get show up as "Telefund"

They call at least 5 times a day and don't take F* Off as an answer. Once you make any sort of donation they will call incessantly. We have donated money to specific candidates, and will likely do so again, but the constant harassment makes me loathe to give anything to the party.

[OHdem10]

17. I had a similar experience last election. I got so ticked because

they assumed that because I live in a certain area I must
be rolling in dough. They opened the conversation that
they wanted at least 100 dollars. Sounded so intimidating.
Trying to intimidate me just makes me rebellious. I told
them at that time when they stopped acting like Republicans
with their votes and legislation to forget me and hung up.

I just wish they at DCCC Congress Critters were half as
agressive as the phone banks.

[durkermaker]

21. do not engage rude phone solicitors

you dont owe them an explanation or money, period

they are trained to argue with you, they're not trained to accept legitimate reasons

you never owe a rude stranger a polite ending to a conversation, if your first attempt fails

[The Second Stone]

22. Sounds like a republican misusing the party name

Get as much information from these people as possible, including phone number, address, etc. Take notes. Write it all down. Turn it over to the real DNC.

[Demoiselle]

81. Sounds like Republican sabotage to me, too. nt

[gmoney]

104. That's the first thing I thought of, too... Very Karl Rove.

"Yeah, let's impersonate Democrat (sic) fundraisers, and make rude calls demanding contributions, and even if they agree to contribute, continue to be rude and pushy and intrusive. Ask as many personal and inappropriate questions as you can. Demand ridiculously large donations, say that they owe it Obama."

Now, I would presume they'd direct those calls to high profile donors, not unemployed couples struggling to pay their bills, since the fundraising information is public record.

Hell, maybe it's time we started doing that to Republican donors. "John Boehner needs to renew his country club memberships in four cities! You must contribute or be a traitor to this country!"

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saracat]

29. The solicitor continued after I told her I couldn't afford it. I got angry

, responded, and hung up. It took maybe 60 sec. What is the problem? I posted this as an example of the "tin ear" our party still seems to display.And I think the attitude is worth posting about because it is what drives voters and contributors both away. Ignoring the problem doesn't make it better.That is why I also will notify the DCCC.

[The Uncola]

43. I don't think ...

.. some folks realize how much can get said in 60 secs. I've learned the hard way, not just with political solicitors, but any solicitor at all, when the first thing that comes out of their mouth, I demand to know exactly who they are, who they represent, and what business they have with me. If they won't answer any of those questions, or I don't like the answers I get, I hang up. Works every time.

[saracat]

48. She did identify herself and her purpose. I had no doubts and still don't as to

who she was representing. It was "how" she represented them I questioned and I hung up on her.Then I reported the call to the DCCC.

[The Uncola]

78. I didn't mean to ..

.. sound like I was lecturing you, not in the least. I think you handled it about as well a person could. Perhaps I could have worded my reply differently. No offense intended.

[Little Star]

30. Pffftttt

[Dr.Phool]

45. Some people try to be polite and respect the callers situation.

However, if you called I'd hang up in a second.

[Bobbie Jo]

85. Neither have I.

Strange. :shrug:

[notesdev]

32. sounds like

a telemarketer being paid on commission. Was this call from the DCCC itself or was it outsourced?

[cottonseed]

33. I find this hard to believe.

[NNN0LHI]

36. That make at least two of us

[saracat]

44. As I said, the DCCC "outsourced" these calls. You get what you get.

Ironically, any money one donates then goes to pay those folks to make more calls ! Hopefully, some of those folks will be more courteous!

[saracat]

40. I am sorry you think that. The DCCC believes me.This is what happens when

the call centers are "outsourced".

[BlueCheese]

69. It's not hard to believe.

Any big enough organization is going to have some bad apples.

[Name removed]

88. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AtomicKitten]

96. I do too.

nt

[supernova]

34. DCCC has given me the hard sell before also

They've called me asking for $500 before. :eyes: :rofl:

And yes, it was a hard sell, just like that person in the OP. It was DREADFUL. I've had a couple others that were very nice when I explained that I was unemployed and just couldn't donate right now. Then there were the creeps who acted like it was a collection agency. Bad PR for the Dems and they need to clean that shit up before 2012.

I told the bad caller to fuck off.

[superduperfarleft]

35. Did you ask her what her DU username is? n/t

[pipi_k]

38. There's no reason...

a call asking for money has to even go that far.


Caller: "Please donate blah blah blah"

Callee: "I'm sorry, but not at this time". Click. Hang up politely.


Nobody has to explain their circumstances to an anonymous person on the other end of a telephone.

[closeupready]

39. Oh, yeah, they've done this shit with me, too.

So now I give to local candidates, or national ones directly, and restrict use of that money to them only, i.e., they can NOT give it to any umbrella organization.

[durkermaker]

41. my favorite retort to a rude demand 'WRONG!'

and i say it just like arnold

[H2O Man]

46. I have had

similar experiences. Of course, it is easy enough to hang up the phone. I prefer to talk to them about why I only invest money in the specific candidates I favor -- and them request that they send me a large donation. I promise to invest most of their donation with candidates I like, keeping only a modest fraction for shipping & handling. I urge you to try this option, rather than just hanging up (or worse yet, having an unpleasant experience while attempting to be polite).

[saracat]

49. I really like this response.Thank you !I will use this in the future.

At least it will tickle my funnybone , if nothing else!

[H2O Man]

56. I've done it

several times. It works well.

[EFerrari]

50. LOL! I love this idea.

:)

[H2O Man]

101. The second time

I did this, the fellow on the other end thought that I was joking. He was laughing. I made it clear that I was not joking. His laughter stopped. He became hostile. I began laughing at him. He hung up on me.

People are strange.

[TuxedoKat]

106. I do something similar

tell them that I prefer to donate to individual candidates or I will think about donating at their website. That last one drives them crazy.

[supernova]

58. Like!

:thumbsup:

:D

[Kajsa]

47. Hell No!

If that should ever happen again,

IMMEDIATELY ask for;

her name
her supervisor's name
the supervisor's telephone number
the location of the office she is calling from

Do not give her one more bit of info regarding you,
your family or your situation.
You have NOTHING to explain.
She sure does!

Tell her that you will report her for harassment.

End of story!

I'm starting to doubt that call was really from the DCCC.

[saracat]

52. Like I said, the DCCC thinks it likely was. They outsource.

I just lost my temper. And she would have only given me a phony name anyway and how would I even verify her supervisor? I just call the DCC and reported call and time.It is all I could do.These calls are, unfortunately, not uncommon for the DCCC or other Democratic fundraising arms.I am sure others have this problem too.

[Dr.Phool]

55. I tell them I'm NEVER giving to them again.

They'll probably just waste it on some Blue Dog or New Dem, which I'll never support, and that I will give ONLY to candidates of my choosing.

[Kajsa]

61. That really sucks, Saracat.

Those rude callers are doing DCCC ( and others) a
big disservice.

[Matariki]

51. WOW. Are you entirely sure it was really the DCCC?

I can't imagine them behaving *that* badly. Perhaps you should contact them and complain. If it was really them, then perhaps the caller over-exceeded her script (putting it mildly). Do they hire outside agencies to fund raise? If so, are the callers paid a commission? That call sure makes it seem that way.

Or it's a Republican pysop tactic to make the Democratic base hate the DCCC?

[EFerrari]

53. Probably not a commission but maybe a daily quota. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

59. Fundraisers typically get 'bonus pay' based on dollars raised

So yeah, they get money for it.

[supernova]

62. This is true

I'm wondering if it's just a particularly awful agency the DCCC contracts with or perhaps just a few overzealous individuals.

I'd like the think that anyway.

[Exultant Democracy]

105. good chnce that it is a group called "Telefund" They had a contrct with the DCCC last time I checked

but that was 2 years ago. They also makes calls for the DNC, Serra Club and a few other groups. If you ever donated to a PIRG then you are on telefund's list since they are more or less the same company. The PIRG's are non-profits, but the people in charge of the PIRG figured out how to make a shit ton of money so they started telefund and another group Grassroots Campaigns to soak up all the extra liberal money out there. Just remember if you want to get the most from your donation give it directly. If a person calls you or even shows up at your door chances are they are just putting money into some other companies pocket.

[EFerrari]

63. I wonder if that's still possible in this economy.

Donations seem to be down all over the place.

[TexasObserver]

54. She's working for a percentage, and that's all that matters to her.

She's a bill collector working on a commission, not a Democrat working on a real campaign effort.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saracat]

67. Odd how many others have had similar experiences.

This was not perception.It was reality and something not uncommon for outsourced boiler room calls. But you know that.Or you might if you were familiar with how the DCCC functions or any of the fundraising arms.

[damntexdem]

64. Unless the Dems stop caving, they'll get NO MORE money from me.

Nor support either.

[xchrom]

65. I wish the very, very best recovery for your husband. Nt

[saracat]

66. Thank you.

[BlueIris]

68. Holy shit. That's about as rude as it gets. I would never give money again

if that happened.

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Raine]

73. Get a cheap answering machine and monitor

all your phone calls, don't pick the phone up unless it's someone you know and want to talk to.

[saracat]

83. I have caller ID and an answering service. The thing is, I have lots of friend who work in

government officeds that come up at "private number".If it had said DCCC, I wouldn't have picked it up.

[cyr330]

79. That is when I

HANG UP on those assholes. If they can't get it, I don't have time to waste trying to talk to these people, as I don't owe them an explanation, although they often THINK I do! :)

[Name removed]

87. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

89. this will make you feel better;

[Liberal_in_LA]

91. callers never accept "I have no money".

[dionysus]

92. tried that line on em, never works, have to hang up on the bastards

the worst:
me: i'm at work right now, i can't talk (true)
them: sure you can! (me hanging up)

[Liberal_in_LA]

93. yeah, they reply back with, let me send a you donor envelope, you don't have to mail it untill xxx

I agreed once. They told me I would need to send the donation for a few weeks (next pay date). The followup calls started BEFORE I even got the envelope and they didn't let up.

[dionysus]

97. i did that too. never again.

[WillyT]

94. AFTER The Election ???

:wow:

:mad:

:nuke:

[RavensChick]

95. They should be real thankful they haven't called me!

Who in the world has 210.00 for a donation these days? Giving here on DU is way better than a no-name group that hires a bunch of rude fucks to force a Dem to donate!!!!

Trust me, I know how to handle them: when they ask for the lady of the house, I simply say she's not home, and then click!!!

Works every time.

I'm so sorry you had to take that abuse. :hug:

I hope the word gets out all over the Internet to expose these assholes!

[HEyHEY]

102. Did you give them the money, you cheap son of bitch!?

;-)

[laughingliberal]

103. Appalling. nt

[Name removed]

107. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[earth mom]

109. Sounds like a collection agency!

:wow:

[avaistheone1]

110. Watch your attitude

They might sent a mobile nudey body scanner to your home to check you out - see if you a terrorist or something.

:sarcasm: