Negative perceptions and criticism
Negative perceptions and criticism
Telemarketing has been negatively associated with various scams and frauds, such as pyramid schemes, and with deceptively overpriced products and services. Fraudulent telemarketing companies are frequently referred to as "telemarketing boiler rooms" or simply "boiler rooms." Telemarketing is often criticized as an unethical business practice due to the perception of high-pressure sales techniques during unsolicited calls.
Telemarketing calls are often considered an annoyance, especially when they occur during the dinner hour, early in the morning, or late in the evening.
A recent trend in telemarketing is to use automated messages in a sales pitch. These often include intentionally deceptive tactics, with computer recorded messages saying things like "Don't panic but this is your final notice" or "We have already attempted to contact you trough the mail." These messages are often outright lies, intended to incite concern or fear in the potential customer.
Robo-Calls are known for failing to add numbers to their do not call list and repeatedly interrupting individuals at all hours of the day.