cracked it, how to get won a holiday !!!!!! off the phone

Ivory_Tinkler

fluffnutter wrote: »

I used to ask them out on a date - you'd be amazed how many people don't seem to like being hit on by a stranger...

Seriously though, I signed up with the Telephone Preference Service because I got so outraged about cold calls. I don't get any now. Check out the website www.tpsonline.org.uk

We signed up for the TPS service too but we still get calls. I take great pleasure in telling any cold caller that we are on this service and I am going to report them. Next time, I'm going to ask where they got our number and tell them they have got through to MI5/MI6 and to get off the line quickly as GCHQ are monitoring the call

Chyna-s

I used to get calls for mobile phone, this contract blah blah only £10.67 a month blah blah... I always say to them that I only spend £5 per month on calls, if that and them I ask them why would I change if I am paying less now, to which they reply, yes, but for only £10.67 you get blah blah, to which I ask again, if I am only spending £5 why should I change, and they would again reply but for only £10.67 blah blah...!! When they can explain why it is better for me to spend double the amount, I'll take it.

Freddie_Snowbits

I just say, that's wonderfull news, Freda has just walked out on me and would you like to accompany me on the journey?

hesitant silence and brrrr.

fluffnutter

Ivory_Tinkler wrote: »

We signed up for the TPS service too but we still get calls.

It does take a while before the calls totally stop; I still got calls for some months and perhaps even the odd one a year or so later. I genuinely get none now apart from those weird automated ones - anyone get those?

If you do still receive calls, the advice is to explain you've registered with TPS and ask them to remove you from their list. It worked for me, and everyone was really polite (and sometimes even apologetic).

What I still get, despite my local council-issued door sticker, is salespeople knocking the door to try to sell me that weird textured coating stuff that they paint houses with (a builder friend told me it's really bad for houses - upsets the ventilation and causes condensation problems apparently). They always start with 'A team of inspectors will shortly be in your area...' in that sing-song voice they use and then offer you a 'free survey' which will inevitably result in you being told that if you don't cover your house with this stuff immediately then your house will fall down and everyone will die.

When I was younger and less cynical (or perhaps just less rude), I made the mistake of saying 'Whatever, come when you want' to one of these salespeople in response to their repeated demands that I make an appointment with one of their 'inspectors'. This resulted in a visit the following Saturday morning. I didn't answer the door - I guessed (correctly) that it was them.

Thought no more about it, and carried on having my cup of tea sat in bed staring vacantly at nothing (my typical saturday morning ritual - no kids yet you see). After about quarter of an hour I got up and opened the curtains. This obviously alerted the still-waiting 'inspector' to the fact that I was actually in.

Next followed an absolute onslaught of doorbell rings, door knocks, and phone calls (they'd got my number somehow but I wasn't ex-directory then so I guess they managed with just the address). For the next half an hour or so, the 'inspector' outside was banging, shouting and ringing on the doorbell. Someone from head office phoned a dozen or so times, leaving increasingly suspect messages advising that 'We know you're in there, we've seen you at the window. We won't go away, stop wasting our time and answer the door. You've made a contract with us to inspect your property and you can be held responsible for breach of contract if you don't answer the door'.

Crazy hey? I was held hostage upstairs for ages, sliding around on my tummy like some weird SAS recruit under a scrambling net just to make sure that I couldn't be viewed from the windows at the front!

Nowadays I close the door in their faces - like I said, older and ruder.

TheRock

I try to get them to do stupid things on the phone to see how desperate they are like "say that again......in a deeper voice" or just ask them random questions "would you rate a Greggs Sausage roll better than a tesco one in terms of meat to water ratio?"
normally annoys them a bit....

BFG_2

Your title [part of]......'!!!!!! off'.........is that a request??

vikingaero

I go straight for the kill and ask them what they are wearing or their favourite sexual positions. Works even faster on the male callers.

Caroline73_2

I say 'I'm not the home owner/bill payer etc, I'll just get them for you' then I give the phone to my four year old and tell him to play the funny word game.

The funny word game is one he invented, where you have to say 'funny phrases' like banana monkey bum' or similar.

melspur

it always gets me when they call and spend about ten mins rambling on about why double glazing etc would be great for me, and only then do they if i'm a home owner, when i say no sorry i rent they apologise and hang up.
why do they not ask if i'm a home owner first, save repeating themselves and boring me?

dampdaveski

I've alternately 'meowed' and 'wuffed' every time they try to speak. to be fair though these people are bloody annoying but remember they are out trying to earn a living and arn't sat at home claiming benefits with no intention of trying to get a job.
I also appreciate that a lot of people on benefits would love to get a job, my remark was aimed solely at professional 'claimants'
DD