The Ohio Democratic Party just called me, hung up on me.

WTF?

The person that called wanted donations, and I told her to send me some material and I would give later (can't do it right now). Then, I asked her what the party was going to do in Ohio to help get W out of office. She said she wasn't in Ohio, didn't know, and didn't appreciate me sitting there in my "boardroom" with my "feet on the desk" ridiculing her. Then she hung up on me.

I hope they are nicer than this to the other people they call. I'm going to call them in Columbus and register my dissatisfaction at this. First of all, why did they outsource their fundraising efforts (out of state, anyway)? Second, are all operators the company they contracted to do this as rude as this woman? Are they Republicans or something? Weird.

:shrug:

She was going to send me a pledge card for whatever amount I wanted to give so I could send the money later. But she wanted to know an amount, and I didn't know what to tell her. I think it was a legitimate fundraising call, but I don't know that for sure.

BTW, there isn't anyone at their federal campaign office, who I would assume would know something about this. I didn't feel like leaving a voicemail. I'll call back later and report whatever I learn.

Maybe. It sounds like a repug trick...

they need to know they have a shitty operator out there. You are wise not to pin the blame on the party and to recognize its an individual. Demand results. Let us know what you find out.

...biggest political fight the nation has ever faced.

If you register your complaint with the regional fundraising chair, you'll get results.

Could be a Repug scam.

They stop at nothing. Please let us know the outcome?

did she want you to donate right then, via credit card?

Reminder folks, never EVER give your credit card number to somebody who calls YOU. You don't know where they're REALLY calling from. Either ask for a number where you can call them back, or (better) say you'd rather donate by check, and do so.

To donate by check.

there has NEVER been a request for a credit card ... always a request for a commitment/pledge... sending a letter for the request, and sometimes a follow up phonecall. I think I would grow suspicious if the conversation moved to requesting credit card information. Just deviates from the script.

I'm sorry if I've mislead people about that. She was willing (before she hung up on me) to send me a pledge card, and I was supposed to send a check. I don't know that she wasn't going to ask for a card number, the conversation just didn't get that far.

There usually isn't a number they can be called at. Hell, they don't even get a phone - just a computer that auto-dials everything. If you don't feel safe giving your credit card, by all means, don't. But don't automatically assume it's a scam if you can't call them. Also, the number of people who never follow through with writing checks is very high, so that's why they prefer credit cards.

You learn a lot working some shitty college jobs. ;-)

but the recent telemarketing bill included a provision that telemarketers MUST provide a functioning call-back number to verify.......whatever.

The only question is does this legislation apply to political fundraising calls. I dunno.
:shrug:

They pay close to nothing for these people to make phone calls. You're getting college kids, if that. You probably got a kid who got flustered by your questions because she didn't have any answers for you. Usually, it's not that big a deal because they only call people who are supposed to be friendly. Not to mention, they probably get harassed all the time by mistakenly calling repugs. You should call, but just understand that it's probably an honest mistake.

But they should know they have someone who is doing what appears to me to be a shitty job.

And an update: There doesn't seem to be anybody home at the party headquarters.

in which they said, "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain if you knew he was a father to a black child out of wedlock"? Which he is, by adoption. Do call and check this out with the DNC and then everyone who can, if you get one of these, record the phone call and make a note of the phone number on your caller ID. Send it to the media and the DNC. If this is a GOP trick, let's make it backfire on them! Last time, we just sat back and let them get away with this type of shit Not this time!

Okay, since I couldn't reach any people at their phone number, only voicemail, I sent an email. Here is the reply:

"This is about the fourth or fifth negative experience. We've talked to them before and we need to again."

Dan

So it looks like it wasn't a scam, at least.

Dems that actually live in your area and will do it for free and pay the Dems that need a job. We did it here because we don't have any extra money to spend and we were told that having a person from the local county call is much more effective.

As close as Ohio is going to be and as important Ohio is to the big picture the Dems need to get on the ball here. Really. We win Ohio and its over...WAKE UP DEMS!!

site and e-mail them.

I got no response either time I answered. Now I have a good idea who is calling.

nt

The Ohio Democratic Party uses a Democratic firm called Gordon Schwenkmeyer, Inc. out of El Segundo, California to raise money from its donors over the phone. This was the case last time I checked anyway and I doubt they have changed since then.

If you have a complaint with a caller, then you do, in fact, need to contact the Ohio Democratic Party at (614) 221-6563. I would try David Duffey there. I would cut them slack if they are not at the office when you call because they just had the primary last week and they are probably recovering. They do have an annoying automated attendant that you have to go through to get someone, so it may seem like no one is there even though they really are.

As for outsourcing, I can tell you that it is absolutely necessary. ODP calls literally thousands of donors every time they make their fundraising calls. Doing this is in-house would be a logistical nightmare for one thing and for another it is absolutely impossible to get callers who are worth a damn - even the paid ones. Making phone calls has got to be the crappiest political job in existence... 19 out of every 20 people on the other end of the phone are saying F-U and "Don't bother me during dinner" - even the Democratic ones.

Just because you got a bad phone call doesn't mean it is a nefarious Bush/Republican plot to piss you off... It most likely means that the person making $9 an hour on the other end of the phone is tired of getting hung up on or is just having a bad day. In any case, don't brand the Party because you got some bad experiences. Call them up, let them know they have a bad caller, and then move on.

I didn't like being hung up on, but I don't blame the party. Pissed me off, in fact. And yes, I agree with you that the ODP needs to know that the firm they are using may have at least one operator who is (and I'm trying to be fair) not conducive to their greater goal of helping to defeat Bush.

As for nefarious GOP doings, you're barking up the wrong tree. I know that other posters have mentioned this, and it crossed my mind too, but I received an email from the ODP saying mine isn't the only complaint, so I believe it was a legitimate fund-raising call on behalf of the ODP.

The bottom line, though, is that if this operator pisses other potential donors off, too, then something needs to be done.

Welcome to DU, by the way. :hi: