Cold Callers
Posted by: Dungassin on 12 October 2010
SWMBO went through the rigmarole of stopping these a few months ago, and it seemed to work for a while, but they're gradually creeping back in, and are now up to about 4 a day. The latest ploy seems to be to call and say they are "doing a survey" for some group or other. Some say for government agencies, others for medical research. All eventually (if you put up with them long enough) try to sell you something. Suppose I'll have to redo the "blocking" procedure. (sigh)
Posted on: 16 October 2010 by Dungassin
quote:
Originally posted by TomK:
Why on earth bother? Does anybody here seriously think any of this so called smart stuff is going to have the slightest effect on the people calling you apart from reminding them of the appalling depths to which their lives have sunk? They've heard all the smart arse replies before and have been trained to counter the arguments. If they don't persist, and most don't, they'll be disciplined, and quickly lose their job. A polite "No thank you" is all that's required.
God forbid any of the folk on this board should have to do something like this to support their families.
Agreed.
Posted on: 16 October 2010 by nap-ster
Get SWMBO to ask them to come in and help her with the PC.
Posted on: 16 October 2010 by Derry
quote:
Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
They trespass on me and my time and they get short shrift.
If you have a listed phone number you invite people to phone you.
Suggest you chill out and take yourself less seriously - do you insult people who dare to knock on your door in the same way?
Posted on: 16 October 2010 by winkyincanada
quote:
Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
Any cold calling scumbag that phones me gets both barrels as profane as I can be. I don't care about them or their crappy job. They trespass on me and my time and they get short shrift.
Wow. Do you assume that the employee is also the business owner, then?
Posted on: 16 October 2010 by Dungassin
quote:
Originally posted by nap-ster:
Get SWMBO to ask them to come in and help her with the PC.
Alas, she's still trying to persuade me to show her how to do it, even though she's never listened to me before when I explained it all (sigh). The only thing I'm asking her to learn properly is what all the little icons round the edge of windows mean.
Posted on: 16 October 2010 by TomK
quote:
Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
Totally disagree with the bleeding heart liberals on here. Any cold calling scumbag that phones me gets both barrels as profane as I can be. I don't care about them or their crappy job. They trespass on me and my time and they get short shrift.
Good grief is this for real? I hope you forgot the smilies. Otherwise I'd suggest that you're a very very unpleasant person indeed.
Posted on: 17 October 2010 by ray davis
i despise cold calling, especailly the ones who knock on your door. And the company i work for do it all the time.
Posted on: 17 October 2010 by Dungassin
quote:
Originally posted by ray davis:
i despise cold calling, especailly the ones who knock on your door. And the company i work for do it all the time.
We have a Police issued sticker behind the glass side panel on our front door saying "nobody seen without an appointment" etc etc. I just point at the notice and close the door. The ones who bug me are the house insulation people, who always say they are from the "council" (they're not).
Incidentally, we are fully cavity wall insulated etc etc. Couldn't have more insulation in the loft unless I dispensed with the flooring! (which one comedian actually suggested!)
Posted on: 17 October 2010 by Stuart M
While it may be a horrible job to be a telemarketer you don't know the circumstances why they are doing it and is it fair to make there vile job worse that they may have taken just to have a job.
That said I perfectly understand if you want to vent venom, but better to the company who instigated the call. get them where it hurts
First I assume everyone is registered with the TPS.
Try to find out what company and where they are calling from. If from the UK report to the TPS.
If you get a silent call - do 1471 if your lucky and get a UK number report it - if that fails note date/time and report to your telephone provider they can now get fined for doing this.
If they are calling from outside the UK then try to get the company name and then say something like "That's interesting but can you hang on for a moment" put the phone down ignore and run up there phone bill. The phone will start to wail once they've given up then spread the dirt on company that cold called you.
If a financial institution calls you ALWAYS say you will call them back and use the numbers you have not any they give you (If they give you a ref no fine). If they ask for any personal info then kick up a major fuss as a financial institution should not do this, while they may call/txt/email and ask you to contact them they should never ask for personal info in a call they originate.
Posted on: 17 October 2010 by Don Hooper
We don't get many calls and I always politely point out that we are exdirectory and on the phone preference service. If they don't get the hint I end the call.
I only answer the door if I know who is there. Invest in a spy hole that way if a markting person knocks the door I don't answer it. Easy job done no need to be rude.
Never be rude as there is no need. If you are rude and unpleasant it indicates to me that may be you need to look at yourself. Treat all people the way you wish to be treated.
Don
Posted on: 19 October 2010 by GrahamFinch
Posted on: 20 October 2010 by Guinnless
quote:
Originally posted by TomK:
quote:
Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
Totally disagree with the bleeding heart liberals on here. Any cold calling scumbag that phones me gets both barrels as profane as I can be. I don't care about them or their crappy job. They trespass on me and my time and they get short shrift.
Good grief is this for real? I hope you forgot the smilies. Otherwise I'd suggest that you're a very very unpleasant person indeed.
Might be. Maybe he'd had a bad day of repeated cold callers, or just a bad day anyway? I've certainly told them where to go after the umpteenth call that day.
Cold Callers are using
your your phone to solicit whatever they are selling, if they don't like then answers at the other end then don't ring!
I certainly got fed up with being dragged out from under the car or other task I was trying to do only to be greeted with some arsehole selling something.
In the end I bought a
device (not sure if I can mention the name) that plugs into your phone system. I no longer get silent calls, withheld numbers,
international numbers or recorded messages etc Unknown (to the system) numbers are put on hold and required to give their name first and /or leave a message.
Once you've added on all your friends/family then their calls just come straight through so when the phone does ring it's always a genuine call.
It's blocked hundreds of phone calls this last 12 months. Bliss!
Cheers
Steve
Posted on: 20 October 2010 by BigH47
Steve more info required I think.
If it can give a service I'm sure some way of giving the products ID can be found.
Posted on: 20 October 2010 by Guinnless
Posted on: 20 October 2010 by Bob McC
quote:
Originally posted by Stuart M:
While it may be a horrible job to be a telemarketer you don't know the circumstances why they are doing it and is it fair to make there vile job worse that they may have taken just to have a job.
That said I perfectly understand if you want to vent venom, but better to the company who instigated the call. get them where it hurts
First I assume everyone is registered with the TPS.
Try to find out what company and where they are calling from. If from the UK report to the TPS.
If you get a silent call - do 1471 if your lucky and get a UK number report it - if that fails note date/time and report to your telephone provider they can now get fined for doing this.
If they are calling from outside the UK then try to get the company name and then say something like "That's interesting but can you hang on for a moment" put the phone down ignore and run up there phone bill. The phone will start to wail once they've given up then spread the dirt on company that cold called you.
If a financial institution calls you ALWAYS say you will call them back and use the numbers you have not any they give you (If they give you a ref no fine). If they ask for any personal info then kick up a major fuss as a financial institution should not do this, while they may call/txt/email and ask you to contact them they should never ask for personal info in a call they originate.
what a load of garbage!
Why on earth should anyone have to go through that malarky to get abit of privacy.
I am with the TPS.
Anyone coldcalls me, interrupts me at home, trespasses on my time they get it.
Posted on: 20 October 2010 by BigH47
You want privacy get rid of the phone then .
Oh and the doorbell just in case someone should invade your state of grace.
