CAMPAIGN TO STOP COLD CALLS

quote:

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Originally posted by Andrew L. Weekes:
The more irritating problem I come across is the methods used to initiate the calls, they use software that autodials and then, if answered, forwards it to an operator.

If there's no operator available they hang up and since they dont activate caller ID you can't tell who it is.

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Yeah - that's really nice of them isn't it - just imagine all these single female pensioners being made SERIOUSLY paranoid by this, thinking it's some deviant perve or lowlife scum trying to find out when they're out, so they can burgle the place, or in, so they can do something much worse...

It's really nice for people like my parents, one who has a heart condition and diabetes, and the other with a bad back - all that hassle to get to the phone to find - nothing.

On my Panasonic landline phone (with caller ID), you get "Withheld" for some calls, "Private caller" for MOST of these annoying company callers, or "Out of area" - which I'm still not sure applies to international or not.

I usually have about 4 "Private caller"s backed up on my phone when I get home from work - there's never any messages on 1571, so it's obviously scummy cold callers (since people I give a toss about have a name/number entry on my phone).

"UNEMPLOYED" might work, but so does "WE RENT". He he he...

You have to feel sorry for the poor sods in the call centres though - it can't be much of a job and although it winds you up, being rude to them won't help either you or them. Woah - can't believe I'm being this tolerant here!

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

Getting my 4 year old son to answer sorts them out. Usually they hang up the moment they hear his voice.

Mike

Who could not find these calls irritating? It is probably something we all have to learn to live with, although we shouldn't have to.

I usually say "I don't take business calls", politely, and most times this works: they go away, and I don't end up angry.

I had a funny experience with a company last year.

I got a hand-delivered mailshot through my door from a conservatory company. I decided to call them - even though I had no intention to buy one..........you'll see !

The telephone rang and the young girl on the phone told me all about the conservatories that they offered including the "all-in-one" service including all planning. I decided to sound very interested at this time and made an appointment for a salesman to visit

He duly arrived in his slick car and I met him on the path. After nearly a full 20 minutes sitting in the back garden discussing his products (needless to say I had a couple of cold beers knowing he was driving !) I asked him to go inside to finalise everything as I didn't want to discuss anything in the garden.

What a smile he had on his face !!

From the giddy heights of ecstacy at the thought of a big commission to the depth of despair when I opened my door and he saw the staircase - joys of living upstairs in a cottage flat !

Turns out his company put flyers through every door - 50% useless before they started !!

A wise old farmer once told me how he deals with cold calls on the phone.

He says (very politely) "Just hold on a moment would you please" and walks away from the phone to go about his business.

This takes much less time than engaging in 'conversation' with the cold caller AND bungs up their phone line.

Simple! (and you stay calm)

But the wise old farmer also bungs up his own phone line. And the callers will simply try again another time.

You have to tell the bastards you don't accept cold calls, and that you want to be removed from their list. Take names, speak to supervisors, follow through. There's no point making threats if you don't mean them - and they know it.

A little aggressive effort here (as in everything else) pays dividends. Trust me on this.

Alan

A few years ago we used to have double glazing tele sales mainly just as I started my
evening meal, so in the end I invited one of them round.He arrived as arranged, after dark and having keptng him inside explaining his product/cost etc. for about 3 hours then, when he finaly asked what style I prefered, I just opened the curtains and said this style, his face was a picture of confusion. He went on about wasting his time etc. so I just reminded him that my time was just as valuable to me as his was to him, and if he had taken the trouble to look at the house as he arrived he would have noticed that it was fully double glazed.I explained to him that anymore repeats of these offers would be met with the same invitation
since that day there has been no more phone calls.

oldie.

Quote from Monkfish
When you do get one of these unwelcome calls, just utter the magic word and they bugger off immediately. "UNEMPLOYED"

I find the word "journalist" works quite well also.

And if you ask them if they've ever experienced "the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ', they disappear quite quickly (and if you are troubled by God-botherers, asking them if they've read the Koran makes them scarper).

If someone rings you up offering insurance or pensions I find a statement to the effect that you are richer than Croesus and that you aim to fritter away your fortune on whores, drugs and booze and then commit suicide is most effective.

Kevin

quote:

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Originally posted by Steven Toy:
Jeremy,

1471 - the caller withheld their namber - witheld number.

1471 - we do not have the namber to return the call - international call.



Regards,

Steve.

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If my memory hasn't completely deserted me, 1475 returns domestic calls even if the number is withheld. Tried it once after recieving a number of phantom calls (probably an auto dialling machine).. do it enough times and they give up...

"Murphy was an optimist"

I got one of these tonight (& I am registered with TPS) ..... "You have won £300 holiday coupons"

"I have not entered any competition - oh, and I'm registered with TPS"

"We gain info from Tour Operators"

"I have never been on a package holiday"

"Have you ever flown"

"Yes - but only on business and to Oz a few times to see family - flight only and how would this win me a holiday voucher?"

"Bye" <slam>

How Rude!

In the last 15 years I've never received a cold call. Simple really, I'm ex-directory and never give out my 'phone number to people I don't know. If asked in shops etc I claim to have no 'phone or state that I'm ex-d. If they really need the number I check to see how the number is used.

Beyond that in the unlikely even that soemone will ring I ask where they got my number, if that doesn't satisfy I point out that they are in breach of the data protection act and I will prosecute.

The one thing to remember is that the poor muggins who's ringing you isn't the real perpetrator of the call. Be polite to them, but get the name & number of the firm they work for and then bombard them with complaints etc. Get the officers but don't abuse the footsoldiers.

Tom

Actively enjoying it all

What about those text messages:

You have won £3000. To claim your prize ring this [premium rate number] This is the second notifiction that you have won your prize. The first was on 2/9/03.

I've only had this phone and this number since 30/9/03...



Regards,

Steve.

I'd ring it.

Tom

Actively enjoying it all

Why?

You don't actually expect to win any money do you?



Regards,

Steve.

You never know

Tom

Actively enjoying it all