I just got a new telephone landline and starting on DAY 1 I started getting unsolicited phone calls asking me to take the paper. I ignored them for a while, but since I work at home, the phone calls got really annoying. I finally started answering. The man informed me that they were going to send me the Sunday paper for 4 weeks for free. I said, ok fine. Thanks, bye. But of course that wasn't the end of the call. He continued. Then said they were going to charge me after the 4 weeks. I told him that I didn't want the paper even if it was free if I was going to have to remember to call back in 4 weeks to discontinue it. He kept at it. I told him he was taking up too much of my time and that I needed to get back to work and not to send me the paper. Later that day, a woman called with the same information. I told her I had already declined on the earlier phone call and to please stop calling and that I needed to get back to work. They keep calling!!! Additionally, I've already registered my phone number on the do not call registry, it doesn't seem to matter. I've searched the website for a way to contact the paper directly, I can't find anyone to call. I tried reverse calling them based on my caller ID, it gives me the tri tone that I've reached the number in error. THIS IS SO ANNOYING! I can't have my personal phone ringing during work hours and I also don't want all my ringers turned off. I feel sorry for the next person who calls me from the Times because I'm going to yell at them off the bat. Be prepared unsolicited caller!!

I am also having a problem with the Contra Costa Times. I suscribe to the Daily Review Newspaper and tried to renew my suscription via the website with no success (due to admitted problems with their website). The CC times called me on 10/11/08 and I paid via telephone. Not sure what they did with my Credit card info. Then on 10/18/08 some man with a personal cell phone called and left me a voice message, said he wants to come to my house to get the money for the newspaper suscription. I call him back and tell him I already paid, he says there is no indication of my payment. I tell him not to come to my home. On 10/25 I get another call from the CC Times wanting payment, this time, the gal says she is charging me late fees and will also issue a $10 gas card... whatever, I gave my credit card info again. On 10/28/08, I receive yet another call from the CC Times wanting payment. I tell the woman that I have paid already and ask her to confirm if there are notes regarding the last call, she hung up on me. I tried to call back but got a recording that this is the do not call list. 10/29/08, I call the Daily Review local phone number and talk to a representative, he tells me I am past due, he says my credit card declined because their system has a problem with my card expire date being the year 2013, but yet wants my credit card info AGAIN. I ask to talk with supervisor. The supervisor gets on the phone & I explain the situation, she tries to pin the harassing calls on a collection agency, I tell her that caller ID shows CC Times, she says she will talk with finance, and the CC Times, will make sure no more calls and payment will be processed, but needs my Credit card info again. I give her my credit card info. I tell her I want the harrasment to stop because they are in violation of Fair Debt & Collection practices act. On 11/01/08 I receive yet another call from the Contra Costa Times, This time it is an automated call, requesting me to press a digit on my touchtone phone to speak with a representative, I press the number and then get a recording to leave a message, then another message immediately after saying that the mail box is full. I have been trying to pay this for over a month now and have been giving my credit card information, but they refuse to process the payment and are harrassing me.