Ways to stop overseas sales calls discussion

ddrysdale99

pjaj wrote: »

Sorry folks, but we've been registered with both TPS and MPS for years. Last year we complained to BT and all they could suggest is that we went ex-directory. But nothing stops 2,3,4 calls a day. We have caller ID on our phone and there are four possibilities:-
1) A number is displayed - this can be reported to TPS - rare
2) "Number withheld" - from an ex-directory number - we let it ring.
3) "Out of area" - a special business line often used by companies that don't want to be identified - we let it ring.
4) "International" - we let it ring.
.

There's no connection between "Number withheld" and ex-directory. Ex-directory just means your number isn't listed in the phone book. To withold your number you either have to subscribe to a service or dial a prefix on a call by call basis.

I've never heard of "Out of area" on Caller Display.

RobbieJ

savemoney wrote: »

I dont get any cold calls I have a device called truecall that blocks calls haven't had one single call in 2 years. Although I still get many calls the device blocks them

I've got TrueCall as well - an absolute fantastic device! I often work shifts and sleep during the day and used to be continually woken up by recorded sales calls etc. Not any more, TrueCall allows you to fine tune who will and who will not get through to you on the phone.

amberheart

No, sorry, I will have no sympathy for the cold callers, I understand they're human beings but so are those of us being disturbed at home for no good reason. We are xd and registered with TPS, but still get about 3 calls every day, this is not acceptable, when I'm at home, I have far better things to do with my time than to waste it on these calls. I have elderly friends who struggle to get to the phone - when they answer and it's some unknown person trying at best to sell them something, and at worst to con them, this is most upsetting. I reserve the right to deal how I wish with anyone who calls me when I have made every effort not to have unsolicited calls, after all I'm at home, answering my own telephone, in my own, precious time.

Racheya

One of my favourite times is when TalkTalk rung us, it was clearly an asian call centre and the guy introduced himself as 'Shadrack'. I want to find this Asian guy called Shadrack :P

At the moment, though, we're getting spammed with calls from Admiral after getting their car insurance. They call every day wanting to know how we found their customer service. To be honest - pretty terrible at this rate!

Pentris

I am ex-directory but BT and Ofcom refuse to allow blocking of international calls. I was plagued by international, out of area and withheld number calls and they were driving me mad. I purchased a Truecall unit and have had no calls get through, they all get blocked, and the caller gets the 'unavailable tone' to indicate a non existent line. Brilliant.

Also ex-directory does not stop your number being found out. I discovered a company called Zonesleep have a telephone system which stills reads your withheld number. They proved it by calling me back.
Retired telephone communications engineer.

aliphil

I volunteer in the coffee shop at my church, and every so often when I answer the phone it's someone trying to sell something. They usually ask to speak to the person in charge, so I say something like: "Well, this is a church, so that would be God. You could try praying. Do you need any help or advice on that?" Perfectly polite, and it almost always gets rid of them.

System

Having worked in a call centre (but not in selling), just to point out that whoever is asking the questions is in charge of the conversation. If they ask you a question, ask one back. The conversation will go round in circles!

Or ask for an interpreter when they call you! Done that myself before.

Gotta say, it's unbelievably stupid to blow a whistle down the phone. Do that if you've got a sex pest on the line, not someone trying to sell you a kitchen.

thriftyemma

golddustmedia wrote: »

About 15 mins later the phone rang and a call centre op asked to speak to "Miss Fanny Ache", I immediately realised the amusing oversight and the childish nature in me came out and I started laughing. The call centre Op then apologised saying there had obviously been a mistake!

:rotfl: I laughed so hard when I read this I actually scared my 7mo daughted and made her cry! I obviously have a very childish nature too. Made my day, thank you!

Snow_Lover

My husband has developed an ingenious way of stoping these cold callers, answer their questions in the most ridiculous and sarcastic way possible, with out being rude so no one ends up upset.
We were quite often getting called 5 times a day from some Indian based debt consolidation company, usually with names of Galaxy, Jupiter, Saturn debt management and the like and as I work nights I was getting mightily annoyed with the constant interruptions of my sleep.
As they were based abroad the TPS does nothing so we answered the questions these people had. You may need to do it a couple of times just for the word to spread in their call centre that you're a time waster.
It's usually some very heavily accented Indian on the phone with the name of Steve!!! Ask him/her what their real name is, put them at ease, they might not be forthcoming, but give them a little push, eg you know my name it's only fair I know yours. Eventually Sangit says Hi (apologies to all the Sangit's out there).
The next questions usually are about how much debt you're in, say something like £20 million, they'll be shocked but it's a giggle! They'll think they're on to a winning commission that'll cure poverty. You might be on the phone for 20 minutes but keep the story going along the lines of you earn £2million a day/week so you don't think you're struggling financially, say you co-own a premiership football club, half of London or an airline. You can fill in the rest, these stories could all be true they don't know that.
This usually means you're transferred to a supervisor (I guess they take the big commissions). Eventually they figure out you're winding them up and say they can't help you but thanks for your time.
There seem to be a lot of companies based in the same call centre with the same call list so as I said it may take a couple of attempts for the word to spread but we've not had a call since the second time we went along with their questions.
This way no one gets angry and risks high blood pressure and the experts do say laughing is good for you so it's win win.

The same can be done for double glazing, garages etc. say you live in a top floor flat and want a conservatory added, or an attached garage.

The fun you can have with these nuisance callers is endless.

lincroft1710

Shantiji wrote: »

then you can be happy in the knowledge that you have done your best to treat a person humanely.

Why should I treat a person "humanely" who is trying to scam money out of me or infect my computer with a virus.

This is a much happier feeling than the one you get when you feel you have succeeding in hurting their ear with a whistle or just making them feel sad and desperate -

No, it's not, although I personally have never used the whistle technique

We live in a very challenging world but it is up to us how we react to it. These phone calls are a small irritation in the scheme of things really.

You clearly aren't plagued with such calls, as are the rest of us.

Let us put into it perspective. Your daughter was contributing to the problem, knowing that what she was doing was trying to persuade people to part with their money for something that was probably overpriced and they also probably didn't really need or want.