Get Your Own Back on Marketers

Joe_Bloggs

That was so funny ! I can hardly see to type.
I have a telephone answering machine that kicks in after three rings. Most computer generated calls don't bother to leave a message at this point. Those with something to say will say something at the end of the tone.
J_B.

tempuscat

We have a tried and tested tactic in our household for those few calls that actually come through (despite TPS registration). Because the caller never identifies himself / herself, but asks for one of us, and we don't recognise the voice, we tend to say hey, is that John? (Or Jill?) There's always a brief pause at the end of the line because the caller still won't identify who they are. Then we say, well we're so glad you got in touch, the funeral's the day after tomorrow. On the three occasions -- only three -- in the past year that we've done this, the first caller hung up, the second caller stolidly insisted on speaking to Mr xxx or Mrs xx, was told about the funeral arrangements for Mr or Mrs xxxx and then said 'I'd better leave it, then' and rang off. . .

And the third apologised profusely on behalf of the double glazing company which was going to be in our area but would now desist from sending anyone around in view of our sad bereavement.

(Incidentally, if anyone does register with TPS, make sure it's the correct phone number. We inadvertently mistyped our number and although we received a letter from TPS subsequently confirming our registration, six months or more went by before we twigged that we'd actually registered someone else's phone number rather than ours.)

EagerLearner

FannyAdams - take care because lots of companies submit their 'deceased' applicant data to a central file which is shared by others etc as far as I know. When we had data updated/postcodes checked etc, our files for deceased clients were sent off - don't know but it could affect your credit score etc, if you're 'no longer with the living' on some file somewhere...!

EagerLearner

tempuscat

Interesting thought! Nobody's told us we're officially dead yet though. Would such demise wipe out any c.c. debts then? Surely, MasterCard wouldn't be so greedy as to go after The Recently Departed. :j

davelewis

I used to work for Olan Mills photo studio - you know the kind of thing - family portraits. I was in tele-marketing bit. Horrid job - lasted 2 weeks.

Anyway one of the tips the OP stated happened to me. I called a number on my 'list' and this guy answered. I gave him the full scripted spiel about £39 for a set of very 'special' family photos, framed ...blah...blah...blah. Anyway, he said he was not interested but his wife might be. He said she is currently next door and he would go and get her to speak to me. I was so excited - a sale!!! He had been gone some time and i could hear the credits to Coronation Street in the background. I was giving the thumbs up to my team members and had been waiting about 15 minutes, when......

He came back onto the phone and said, 'Look, I'm not interested in pictures, my wife is not interested, don't ever phone this number again!'.

And you know what - I didn't!!

Having worked for a very short time in telesales i could never be so rude and appreciate these poor guys are only doing a job. I am very firm but polite when i say No thanks - goodbye!!

kuohu

I agree with the above poster. The people on the other end of the line are only doing a job, and it is probably not a very pleasant one (and with poor pay). I don't see why you should gain any pleasure from giving them the runaround with these silly games. If telesales calls are a problem then register with TPS or just simply say 'I am not interested, thanks'.

Just my opinion anyway.

I'mcomingbackasaman

may as well stick it in the recycling bag provided by the Council save the bother of posting it back if it's not gonna make a jot of difference.

pthompson

JohnFB wrote:

I have also been sending junk mail back in pre-paid enveloppes for a few months now -being carefull to rip out anything with my name or address on.

Yes -- It's a good idea to delete anything with your details on it...

Years ago I returned some junk mail to my bank with "STOP SENDING SPAM YOU MORONS" scrawled all over it. Months later I had to apply for a loan, and during the interview with the bank manager (as was the norm in those days) he asked for my views on direct marketing -- before producing that very same piece of defaced junk from my file!

It was all very embarrassing.

Ordinary_Joe

The thing to remember about the MPS is that if you already have a product of theirs or have in the last two years they're not obliged to remove you from the mailing because you are a customer.

They are obliged however to remove your name from their list if you ask them to. I think there may even be a legal obligation to do so.

If a company calls you (who you've never bought anything from them) and you're on the TPS - point this out to them. If you want point out that there is a £1000 fine for every time they contact someone on the TPS - or at least there used to be. Usually stops them

rallymad

Registering with TPS or whatever won't stop you getting calls from people going through the phone book number by number.


... I lasted fifteen minutes in that job.