Ways to stop overseas sales calls discussion

John_Pierpoint

It is sometimes more effective to get a single mega thread going as that tends to prove that the poster is not just a disgruntled former client or employee and that the alleged "rip off" has been continuing for many months, if not years.
The most believable posting is the one that says "I wish I had read this thread X months ago"....................

Don't forget you can always do a Google like this to search a site:

AIMSREVIEW site: forums.moneysavingexpert.com

It gives something like this:

1. MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
   
   forums.moneysavingexpert.com/
   The MoneySaving Forum: chat & swap tips with other MoneySavers .... Go to full Income & Family section >> · Main site > MoneySavingExpert.com Forums ...
2. 
   
   Credit Cards - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
   
   forums.moneysavingexpert.com › ... › Pure Money
   The MoneySaving Forum: chat & swap tips with other MoneySavers ... MoneySaving & Site · Site Feedback | Martin's Blogs & Appearances Discussion ...
3. 
   
   Reclaim PPI & Other Insurance - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
   
   forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=169
   The MoneySaving Forum: chat & swap tips with other MoneySavers ... MoneySaving & Site · Site Feedback | Martin's Blogs & Appearances Discussion ..... Aims review preying on old people. ladymills. Today 9:12 AM by ladymills · Go to last ...
4. 
   
   Aims review preying on old people - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums - Money Saving Expert
   
   forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?s...p...
   3 days ago – The MoneySaving Forum: chat & swap tips with other MoneySavers .... MobileValuer.comFind which recycling site pays the most ...
5. 
   
   Aims review preying on old people - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums - Money Saving Expert
   
   forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t...goto...
   3 days ago – The MoneySaving Forum: chat & swap tips with other MoneySavers .... MobileValuer.comFind which recycling site pays the most ...
6. 
   
   Aims review preying on old people - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums - Money Saving Expert
   
   forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4334021
   3 days ago – The MoneySaving Forum: chat & swap tips with other MoneySavers .... MobileValuer.comFind which recycling site pays the most ...
7. 
   
   Insurance - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums - Money Saving Expert
   
   forums.moneysavingexpert.com › ... › Praise, Vent & Warnings
   3 days ago – The MoneySaving Forum: chat & swap tips with other MoneySavers .... MobileValuer.comFind which recycling site pays the most · UK Callchecker .... a call from a company called AIMSREVIEW who proceeded to sell him a ...
8. 
   
   Ways to stop overseas sales calls discussion - Page 21 ...
9. etc. etc. etc.

BigMummaF

If it is a person the other end & they ask for one of us, we just say 'they're not here'. One of The Offspring got involved in a battle of wills as the caller persisted in asking when X would be back & stuff, so said 'I don't live here. I'm visiting'.
It took a few goes but--touch wood-effect mdf--the calls are getting less often, & our next strategy is to tell the twassox 'dunno mate; I'm a burglar!' :rotfl:

RockRebel

Has anyone had the "Windows" call. The computer error message. Does anyone know where these calls come from. Most we just put down the phone or tell them we don't have a computer. The one today was beyond shocking. The abuse from the caller was absolutely disgusting. When my husband who is in IT full time, told her she was not who she claimed she was, she became threatening and abusive. She screeched at him """what the hell, well what are you going to do about it then call the police. I will call your house everyday""" Aswell as a few other choice words.

Paddy_Landau

RockRebel wrote: »

Has anyone had the "Windows" call…

These are scammers, with zero ethics. Just put the phone down on them. Don't bother to engage in conversation.

Unless you have a prepared honeypot machine, in which case you can waste a couple of hours of their time, during which time they cannot be scamming a more vulnerable person.

NonGeographicalMan

RockRebel wrote: »

The one today was beyond shocking. The abuse from the caller was absolutely disgusting. When my husband who is in IT full time, told her she was not who she claimed she was, she became threatening and abusive. She screeched at him """what the hell, well what are you going to do about it then call the police. I will call your house everyday""" Aswell as a few other choice words.

I had the "we are from Microsoft - please give us remote access to fix a bug on your PC" mob phone me several times. The caller was always male. I am surprised that you have any doubt where they were calling from given their accents and the attitude that they are beyond the reacj of the UK law. In other words where else could they be than India.

I strung them along two or three times when they called. Then when I had wasted over an hour of their time seeming interested in being helped but then getting confused (it would have seemed to them) following their instructions I finally asked them on the fourth call why they were trying to install a dangerous virus on my PC and if jobs were so short in India they couldn't find anything more worthwhile to do such as sweeping the streets. I then got a tirade of abuse and even when I hung up several more calls telling me I was fffiing this and ffing that. Only when I suggested I would call the Police if they called again did they stop.

This tells you just one thing, Namely that even the call centre workers calling you on the Microsoft PC scam are fully aware it is a completely criminal endeavour and this is why they feel that being rude to their victims is completely approved of by their bosses. In other unwanted calls I get from India the caller obviously frequently apepars to believesthey are doing a normal call centre job even though they are often calling you to carry out sales activities that should be illegal under the UK PrivacY & Electronic Communucations Rules.

Ponkle22

We are being bombarded about 3-4 times a week with a recorded messages trying to sell insurance claims and other such stuff. Anyone else experiencing these recorded messages at present?

Just had one from a UK car warranty company called Car Protect and their number is 0114 256 5286.

It seems they are based in Sheffield and their main number is 0844 8541470 and it seem their REAL name is Motorway Direct PLC should anyone else be pestered by them. Sneaky!

This man claimed back time the companies wasted through small claims court - brilliant: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20068927

NonGeographicalMan

Ponkle22 wrote: »

We are being bombarded about 3-4 times a week with a recorded messages trying to sell insurance claims and other such stuff. Anyone else experiencing these recorded messages at present?

If the initial call is automated then strictly speaking you can't report them to the TPS (who for some perverse reason don't take reports of calls that are initially recorded even if they contain an option to be passed to a live sales adviser by pressing 9 or whatever).

You can however report these calls to the Information Commissioner (who are also the body with the power to prosecute multiple repeat offenders) via www.ico.org.uk/complaints/marketing/20 and the "Report Your Concerns" button there (take no notice of the ICO's suggestion on this web page that you should not make a report if the company has not already rung you at least once before when you asked them not to call again as there is nothing in the law that says there is such a requirement) and if you believe the matter you were called about involved an attempt to defraud you then you can also report it via www.actionfraud.police.uk

For Silent Calls report them to Ofcom via https://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/webflow/silent-calls/ and for conventional manned sales calls to https://complaints.tpsonline.org.uk/Consumer/

madonnamustache

NonGeographicalMan wrote: »

...

You can however report these calls to the Information Commissioner (who are also the body with the power to prosecute multiple repeat offenders) via www.ico.org.uk/complaints/marketing/20 and the "Report Your Concerns" button there (take no notice of the ICO's suggestion on this web page that you should not make a report if the company has not already rung you at least once before when you asked them not to call again as there is nothing in the law that says there is such a requirement) and if you believe the matter you were called about involved an attempt to defraud you then you can also report it via www.actionfraud.police.uk

The ICO does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING with these reports. They do not even punish companies when presented with clear evidence that they have breached the TPS list.

NonGeographicalMan

madonnamustache wrote: »

The ICO does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING with these reports. They do not even punish companies when presented with clear evidence that they have breached the TPS list.

Then how do you explain the ICO's very recent issuing of a fine for £90,000 to DM Design following "nearly 2,000 complaints to the ICO and the Telephone Preference Service (TPS)"

or that

"The ICO has informed two more companies that it is intending to impose significant penalties over breaches of the law, with a final decision likely in the coming weeks. A further ten companies are subject to ongoing investigation for cold-calling and sending spam text messages."

And that

Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, said:

“Today’s action sends out a clear message to the marketing industry that this menace will not be tolerated. This company showed a clear disregard for the law and a lamentable attitude toward the people whose day they were disturbing. This is not good enough.

“This fine will not be an isolated penalty. We know other companies are showing a similar disregard for the law and we’ve every intention of taking further enforcement action against companies that continue to bombard people with unlawful marketing texts and calls.

“All of this work has been made possible thanks to the information we are receiving from the public, which has assisted our investigation team in identifying the companies making these calls.”

See http://ico.org.uk/news/latest_news/2013/glasgow-company-fined-90000-as-ico-tackles-nuisance-calls-20032013

Something tells me that you probably work for or are part of the TPS breaching cold calling industry given that you are so very keen to assure us that making reports about TPS breaching calls to the TPS and the ICO achieve nothing.

dannny_2

NonGeographicalMan wrote: »

Something tells me that you probably work for or are part of the TPS breaching cold calling industry given that you are so very keen to assure us that making reports about TPS breaching calls to the TPS and the ICO achieve nothing.

You can't make that assumption on the information you have. Its the lowest of the low counter arguement to a post - "you must work for them", as the poster can't disprove it.

You could assume the poster is annoyed that the calls are still occuring even though numerous people have complained to the ICO, and the ICO, understaffed and underfunded as they are, seem to take ages to do anything.

ICO funding should come, in part, from the fines they impose. Maybe then they would be more proactive in pursueing UK companies.