Man Jailed for Terrorist Threat Against Telemarketers
By now, you've probably thought about harming, or at least threatening, a telemarketer, the bane of the evening hours. Fortunately, we're here to warn you that it might be a bad idea.Just ask Charles Papenfus. Or rather, ask him if you could get a hold of him. Currently he is being held in a Fostoria, Ohio jail for making a "terrorist threat," reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The so-called threat was made over the phone to a
Of course, anyone who has dealt with these companies before knows what to expect when you ask questions. According to Papenfus's attorney, he was repeatedly hung up on, insulted, and cursed at, which may have pushed him over the edge. He then allegedly told the sales rep that he planned to burn down the company's building and kill all its employees and their families. A tad much, but likely not worth the terrorism charge he was slapped with.
Though the court documents filed do not name the company, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes it to be TXEN Partners, which does business as Service Protection Direct. According to the Dispatch, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has accused the firm of mailing fake car warranty notices before, and last year the Ohio Attorney General sued the company for misleading consumers. You get the picture -- not the most scrupulous bunch.
Christopher Thetford, a spokesman for the BBB in St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch that he wasn't surprised to hear about a consumer threatening one of these companies. "While it's not something we condone," he told the newspaper, "it is something we can understand."
We obviously don't endorse making threats against these telemarketers or their families, but that doesn't mean we let them off the hook. Instead, we prefer having our kids ask them how they sleep at night. [From: StlToday.com, via Consumerist]
Though the court documents filed do not name the company, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes it to be TXEN Partners, which does business as Service Protection Direct. According to the Dispatch, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has accused the firm of mailing fake car warranty notices before, and last year the Ohio Attorney General sued the company for misleading consumers. You get the picture -- not the most scrupulous bunch.
Christopher Thetford, a spokesman for the BBB in St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch that he wasn't surprised to hear about a consumer threatening one of these companies. "While it's not something we condone," he told the newspaper, "it is something we can understand."
We obviously don't endorse making threats against these telemarketers or their families, but that doesn't mean we let them off the hook. Instead, we prefer having our kids ask them how they sleep at night. [From: StlToday.com, via Consumerist]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rickjuarez said 8:29AM on 7-24-2009
These idiots harass and harass and harass and harass and will not take "No" for an answer. When you ask for a supervisor, they just hang up on you.
Then, you contact your phone service provider and are given the telephone number for the "Do Not Call" list. Even after threatening to disconnect your land line if they do not take action.
They are smart...they have a recording play when either yourself or your answering machine answers.
I have thought about blowing a whistle into the phone with them on the other end.
And I have thought about stating terrorist statements, as well.
They should be under the gun, not the disgusted man who is in jail.
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d2bornot2b said 9:06AM on 7-24-2009
I get at least three calls from telemarketers a day thinking about getting rid of land lines they drive me crazy !!!!!!!!!!
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Marcus said 11:34AM on 7-24-2009
I'd buy the guy a steak dinner. All these telephone centers are a royal pain in the asp. If they aren't trying to collect money they aren't owed they are trying to scam you out of money. One got my moms credit card number but I interrupted before he could get the expiration date. Later he tried to charge his phone bill, toys at Toys Are Us and something else I have forgotten by now.
The reason they are such jerks is that they aren't local and will never have to be confronted by you or anyone else. They use fake names, even the ones at mortgage agencies use fake names.
They know exactly what end of the food chain they are on.
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frankstroud said 12:17PM on 8-05-2009
It's another sign of the times...the government can't prevent these predatory criminals from invading your privacy, or ripping you off, but they will protect the crooks if you threaten them.
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