Cold Callers

frank

frank

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Getting more a a bloomin pest now, I did enrol on the place that was supposed to stop all this a while back (can't quite remember the name) but still they phone.
Phone call yesterday, wife answered the phone, Sky here (yes I'm a Sky customer) Guy ask wife for her name, she refuses to give it to him saying she is not the billpayer. Ask for name and company but he wouldn't say.
Guy proceeds to ask if she has debt problem, she followed up by to words. F & O.
Today another one, Hello Easytalk here, you phone provider is being changed, really thats news to me I said, then they ask who my current provider was. I asked since he thought he knew I being changed he tell me...Click.


Next one to call is going to get dogs abuse, its beginning to pee me off.
 
Had my lunch interrupted by one today that didn't connect. Next one that does, I'm gonna string along for as long as possible.
 
Telephone Preference Service. Sign up, Then tell anyone who calls that they are breaking privacy regs.

This does not apply to those calls if you have already got a service with them ie sky calling to see if you want items added to your package.

HTH
 
Arh yes the cold caller

Phone rings I pick up "Hello Starship Enterprise"
Caller "We are in your area blah blah about double glazing"
Me: "Here I am at warp 6 about 8 light years from earth on a starship how can double glazing help me?"
Caller click
Me "hello hello"

Works most of the time using a variety of different things you can think of at the time.
 
smoothedit said:
Telephone Preference Service. Sign up, Then tell anyone who calls that they are breaking privacy regs.

This does not apply to those calls if you have already got a service with them ie sky calling to see if you want items added to your package.

HTH
Click to expand...

^^^

TPS here as well, hardly ever get cold calls, but if any do get thru I just mention I'm a member and they get all apologetic(sp?) and say they'll update their records.

Although, IIRC It doesn't work if the call originates from overseas- no jurisdiction.


Linky
 
I've taken to asking the caller for their home number and when they eat their meals. When they ask why I want to know, I tell them it's so I can call them between mouthfulls to ask them ******** questions.

BTW, the TPS only covers companies selling goods or services and not things like market research or (as pointed out above) companies with whom you already have dealings.
 
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One of my friends always answered his phone with..


"Chinese take away, your numbers please ?"

he then repeated it louder & louder in a bad chinese accent until they hung up
 
I have 2 calls a day. One at 1pm and another at 5. Always people asking if you have a debt problem or want to consolidate debt.

strange this only ever happens since we've switched to Sky Talk.

:nono:
 
Twentyten said:
^^^

TPS here as well, hardly ever get cold calls, but if any do get thru I just mention I'm a member and they get all apologetic(sp?) and say they'll update their records.

Although, IIRC It doesn't work if the call originates from overseas- no jurisdiction.


Linky
Click to expand...

IF the call originates from overseas the UK based company they are calling on behalf of is liable to prosecution.

I have caller ID (free from BT) and don't pick up unavailable or witheld numbers.
 
onomatopoeia said:
I have caller ID (free from BT) and don't pick up unavailable or witheld numbers.
Click to expand...

I have the same and have had frequent cold calls, now registered with the "don't call me" service via BT so far it HAS made a difference, although not stopped them all, although it has only been 2 weeks, they reckon it could take up to 6 weeks to get the full benefit.

But I asked BT to block ALL international numbers from calling me, I was informed that if I had a UK number I wanted blocked that's not a problem but that it is illegal for any UK provider to block international calls to a UK land line.

:shrug:

this would surely be a better solution as opposed to me having to cancel the call each time? the end result is the same.
 
BT can block all calls from "Number Withheld" sources.
Between that and TPS I have almost eliminated sales calls.
 
The WhoCallsMe site is also useful for those numbers you don't recognise and when they won't tell you who they represent.

http://whocallsme.com/
 
Steep said:
The WhoCallsMe site is also useful for those numbers you don't recognise and when they won't tell you who they represent.

http://whocallsme.com/
Click to expand...

That looks a handy site - got it bookmarked now.

Other little trick - get one of these personal attack alarms that gives a 125 db high pitched whistle and give them an earfull.:lol:
 
i always answer my house phone with good evening dominos pizza can i take your order please

if it is some one i know they just laugh any one else puts the phone down

i only do this now as im sick of them calling

the best one is

caller -could i speak to mr hird please
me - yes no problems oh wait your 7 years to late he has moved
caller - click
me - goodbye

if it is on my mobile and i dont know the compant i always ask how the ****** did you get this number i dont ever give it out except people i know or the bank
 
I usually answer with

"Battersea dogs home, Jack Russell speaking"
:D

My mum was getting hounded by window companies (after she had her double glazing done), asking her if they could do anything else.
Eventually she said she has always wanted a conservatory. Well the guy thought his christmas had come early and he was a dog with two ****s in a street full of lampposts.
She let him ramble on for ages and ages then said "There's only one problem, I don't think the Metrolink would give me permisson to build over their lines, I live right next to them".

Another one (with convervatories) is string them along then when they offer to send someone round, tell them to use the stairs because the lifts are broken...and to set off early because youre on the 19th floor.
 
PaulyD said:
Used that myself when i was trying to work out who kept calling me for no reason, good site
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Problem is that a lot of them are now spoofing numbers. They use IP telephony (like skype) and they can put fake or non-existent numbers in as the caller id. (Bar Stewards)
 
TPS is very useful although handy to re-regsiter your details every twelve months even if they haven't changed!

If your getting cold calls they will slowly slow down, for the persistent buggers I've found the best option is to sound really interested asking their name and extension "just in case you get disconnected", get them to repeat the company name so you can find it on the web (company location is even better) and once you've got all the information just respond with...

"Thanks very much [name], the number you have rung is registered with the TPS service and you are in breach of OFCOM's regulations and will be reported, thanks for your call"

They suprisingly get very apologetic at that point...
 
Had a car prang (very light one) in May last year, a couple of weeks ago a phone call.
Hello Mr #######" Yes speaking" Mr ### ########
" Yes, who's this please" It's first direct , and we are calling about the accident you had this year. " didn't have an accident this year"
Oh err well we can claim back you're access and for injuries up to £4000

" oh aye, well I didn't claim anything because it was only a tinny scratch and didn't have any injuries" Are you sure Mr #### we have a good success rate.
" just where did you get my name and number love" I'm afraid we cannot disclose that Sir.........."OK , Can I have you're company name again and the name of you're manager and company director "
Buzzzzzzzzzzz...... Hello hello.

But to be serious , just where do these people get these facts from.
 
Thats why I always act friendly until I have the info, once you have the info enter it on the TPS website and if they do it enough they do get fined.

Even if I don't get a penny of those fines it's nice to know the buggers are getting pay back :)
 
photon said:
Had my lunch interrupted by one today that didn't connect. Next one that does, I'm gonna string along for as long as possible.
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When we get them I usually get them excited by saying 'ahh yes, we have 300 phone lines coming into the office here and we're thinking of changing providers', and then I completely flummox them by saying 'but only if you can supply an Argon Accumulator'. This tradition's been going since well before I joined the company. There's also the 'yes, yes yes' game you can play, by simply answering yes to everything they say. I think the record I've had was 2 minutes before they hung up.
 
New game for Pollsters.

Hello, is that Mr *******?

Yes.

OK, I'm calling from the Malaka Poll service and I winder, can I ask you a couple of questions?

You've just asked the second one and I'm not going to answer it. **Click***
 
TPS is your best option but you might like to try this one,

"Okay, yes, just a mo whilst I turn the television down", place the handset on the table and leave it there.

Or if you're feeling really calm just talk to the caller for as long as you can manage; they'll be on commission and will want to move to the next call as quickly as possible. This way you cost him/her money. Which is nice.
 
we are on TPS but it doesnt stop already subscribed services from contacting us, therefore sky ring up once a week asking if we want an offer on sports and movies (NO THANKS) and BT ring constantly trying to sell me broadband, dispite telling them that im tied in to a contract with another supplier, the last chap tried to be helpful though, he said sign up to the TPS as it will stop calls, but not from BT, so i mentioned that it was only BT and sky that ever try to call me!, apparently hes now put a note on my account to say not to call regarding broadband!


not had cold calls for years , used to have fun with them though!
 
I just don't answer any "Number Withheld" or 0800 calls anymore.

If it's a genuine or important call, they'll leave a message.

Had too many calls in the past from companies offering me a better phone deal or help me claim my bank charges etc...
 
Answer the phone, tell them to hold on a minute while you switch the oven off, lay phone down and leave it there...

I keep getting asked if i'm Mrs Hutton, who's Mrs Hutton???
 
Just ask politely for them to stop ringing and take your number off the database.

I used to work in a call centre a few years back, its common sense if your rude to the person on the phone they ain't really gonna do you any favours in helping you to not recieve a future phone call.

After all they're only trying to work so they can live life just like everyone else :)
 
orangio said:
After all they're only trying to work so they can live life just like everyone else :)
Click to expand...

They are but the company they are working for has a duty of care to ensure the numbers being called are checked against the TPS service.

Slightly different of course if they're already a customer of the cmopany whose calling them.
 
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