Misleading BT Cold-Callers

ahillsy

Depending on my mood at the time, especially if I've had a string of cold calls despite being on TPS, I sometimes play games with the salesperson to waste their time.

Favourites are (some are just ideas waiting for opportunity to try):
1) the classic "break up your speech up as if you are going through a tunnel" so they can't understand what you're saying, only catching the odd word.
2) extension to 1) - depending on how long the call goes on for, see what completely random words you can get in to your broken speech ("...orry but.....hear v......breaking up........badger custard.....")
3) say you're sorry but can they phone back later when the home owners are back as you're just the burglar
4) speak in a real (or made up) foreign language
5) everytime they ask you a question, repeat the question to yourself as if you are relaying it to someone else with you and then pretend to relay their response back to the caller. Better for really basic questions like "are you the homeowner?".
6) try to sell them something back (as ComplexP said!)
7) show complete interest, ask lots of questions (even same question rephrased in different ways), drag it out as long as you can without obviously committing a "yes". Then just completely switch to being in no way interested. Bonus points if you make them get so fed up of going round in circles that they just give up.
8) Introduce long silences into the conversation before answering questions - see how long a silence you can maintain WITHOUT them ending the call.

Most of the time, I am just annoyed and hang up pretty quick. But occassionally, I feel in the mood to have a bit of fun

olly300

HoofeHearted wrote: »

The thing is, BT and other companies say "TPS does not apply to us, as you are already one of our customers". Do not know if this a valid reason or not. All I know is it is still annoying when they call and try to sell you additional serviced.:mad:

It is valid.

You need to write to BT and the other companies directly and specifically tell them that they cannot use any of your personal information for marketing or sales calls by them or any group company belonging to them. And if they do you will report them to their regulator.

Some companies have an email opt out policy but make sure the email link doesn't work or the emails are not "received" so you have to do it by snail mail and get at least proof of posting.

savemoney

I had lots of cold calling from British gas recently, they have some many departments who dont take with each other even though when they check they find out I am not suppose to get thse calls. In end there promises meant nothing so ended up writing to them to stop. TPS are useless in cases like this

rmg1

I'm with Tiscali (I know, but I've had no problems with them).
I get cold calls from BT as well trying to get to move to them. They give up pretty quickly when I tell them:-
a) I don't pay line rental
b) I get free calls to 01/02/03 numbers 24/7 for up to an hour at a time.

They can't even match that.

espresso

rmg1 wrote: »

I'm with Tiscali (I know, but I've had no problems with them).................

You've not had your letter yet then?

:rotfl:

rmg1

I did notice that I'm now with TalkTalk (apparently) as my home screen has changed.
If I get any problems, my contract (although expired) is still with Tiscali for services, etc.

What letter?

Taffybiker

I pick up the phone and say hello, if there is a 2 second silence before someone speaks then I know the caller is using an automated dialler and simply hang up. Genuine callers don't use those machines.

rmg1

True - and I hate those things. Apparently, you're only allowed a 5% abandonment rate when using those things, so 95 out of 100 dials have to be transferred to an agent. Wonder how BT does?