Good movie but hugely unrealistic

Lunch!?!? Lunch is for wimps!

That means these guys in sales are working a 15hr shift (assuming a 1hr lunch break over a long day)

I worked in telemarketing. It's called an autodialer. I can hit the guys numbers... in an HOUR.

Most calls are 4 seconds... before it hangs up. Some as little as 1.5 seconds. 4 seconds for a call (that does not connect). When it is busy, they calls connect immediately to the next one, MAYBE a half a second of connect time. Realistically, it is 13 calls per minute, for 60 minutes straight (sometimes 12 hours straight). That's 780, in an hour, with not ONE call taken. If people don't pick up in the first 3 rings, it drops it as non productive--- they pay for lead if it connects, not if it doesn't. If it hears a sound, ANY sound (a lot of times it is a pulse), a hello, an answering machine, it immediately cuts to that call, or goes back to the non-productive dials. You just sit and watch, like a clock ticking down, to the end of your life. I had 3700 calls one day--- a 12 hour day, because it is illegal to call before 7am or after 8pm (unless you called us), and yes, time zones matter. I took an hour lunch. I don't remember how many people I spoke to, but it wasn't many-- and not for long... maybe 7 minutes? The ones where we began to introduce ourselves and they hang up (realizing it is a sales call), probably about 6 seconds. I typically hit 1000 calls a day, with 7 sales, 35-50 who talk at all. 5% conversion with a 1% close, is alright (but not good). Some will, some won't, so what, NEXT!

If you don't qualify, I am off the phone ASAP. If I hear you beginning to say "ta--" or the "put", you won't even get the letter "k" out before I have hung up (My mouse is already on click to hang up, take next call, the second a call connects)... before you can say: "Ta...ke me off your list" or "Put... me on your do not call list". If I never heard it, you can't really make them comply. Calls are recorded, but you will never get the recording, and we never could make out what you said. You will get another call. Your number will be recycled. We do it to entertain ourselves, and because you were not polite, so that is our f you--- to you too buddy. What can I say, the leads always suck, and we got paid by the hour, we don't really care if they close, but it makes it REAL boring if you don't politely decline, and stealth the DNC thing in.

3700 calls buddy. I was not even close to the record holder.

Funny thing was, what we actually sold really did help people. A very select few (debt consolidation). Saved a lady $37,000 in debt she didn't have to pay. Another lady (not mine) saved $68k. Most people tried to take advantage of us, as if we could save them from themselves and their bad decisions. Canceling debt is easy if you know how, but you will usually have to ante up for a lawyer unless you are smart, and patient.

I personally weaseled out of $16k debt: here's your mini education. Statute of limitations in my state was only 2 years for revolving credit (credit cards), 6 years for contracts--- it is different in EVERY state, but it is based on what state YOU signed the original in. All I had to give in exchange, was little to no credit for 7 years--- and don't accept certified mail or give your name to anyone on the phone before they give you theirs, and guess what, they have to--- but I don't. Pretend you never heard of them, then complain you get all kinds of calls about this guy you have never met. Tell them this is not their number, it has been yours for a year. They transfer you to someone else, they ask you the same questions. Your answer is: "I don't know who that is--- I am Harvey the Rabbit, you got the wrong guy I tells ya, myaaaa coppa! (a bit of sarcasm, but you get the idea)". If they do catch you with a notice to appear: take it seriously, and appear-- or YOU lose, hands down, every time--- they can garnish you and worse if they find out where you work or if you have any assets. Show up, demand they produce the ORIGINAL contract.... WITH your signature on it, or tell the judge to throw out your case as they have not presented any evidence that the debt is yours or anything that ties it to you. Sometimes the judge will allow a copy, but not one without your signature. The collections lawyer will try and con you into giving them a dime. Don't give them a penny, EVER! If you do, the statute of limitations clock RESTARTS and you have to wait 7 more years before it comes off. Just stop paying them, and never look back.

WHEN the lawyer threatens you (that is their job, so don't take it personally), and signs an "indemnity affadavit", it is invalid, and tell the judge to toss it. It is a BS piece of paper they try to use, that the judge listens to that says "we have that document, and we CAN produce it, we just don't have it today". If you do not object, then you are agreeing that they have it. Tell the judge that if they have a complaint, THIS is their day in court, and they have produced no EVIDENCE against you--- they have no complaint (no case). Object, and tell them the law REQUIRES them to produce the original or it is not a contract. They will send you an unsigned (usually contemporary) contract--- without your signature. DEMAND the original, dated the DAY _THEY_ say you signed it, with your signature on it. Never take a deal. The only thing you should ever say: I will settle the account ONLY as PAID IN FULL or SETTLED IN FULL for the total amount... for $1 (or $20 if you feel generous)." They will complain about how little that is, say they can't, have their manager talk to you. You tell them: better than nothing, and you KNOW you can't collect. The law is on your side. They WILL try to send you a contract that takes the $1 you offered, but it won't say "settled in full", they are trying to trick you into partial compliance with a NEW contract. Don't fall for it. NEVER do bankruptcy, it puts you in the hook, it doesn't help your credit (ruins it), and you still have to pay it back. Credit card companies wrote the new bankruptcy laws, and screwed the consumers. Thanks Republicans!

You won't miss the credit cards. If you don't have the money, don't buy it. Makes decisions real easy. Teaches you what is truly valuable cannot be bought with plastic.