Great 'Best Cold Caller Rebukes' Hunt

Lube

Also if it was easy case of getting your details removed why then do some companies like Barclays and Car Phone warehouse get fined for abusing the telephone network

Most of these calls are silent calls where a machine rings up hundreds of calls a minute and the employer only allows a few people to speak at any one time so you often hear a pause before anyone speaks

If your not in you cant always ring back to tell them to begger off

Toliver

I say remove my name and number immediately from your list and put the phone down.
How do you stop these automated voices starting "Congratuialtions,...?

Aspal

I'm registered with the TPS, but had a string of calls last month where they refused to be fobbed off and wanted me to sit down in front of my computer while they "showed me how to get rid of malicious viruses that had infected my computer"; they refused to tell me where they had got my details other than "through a survey" and despite asking him to not call back and remove my details from their records told me that he would just "keep ringing back" until I did what he asked. After about the 10th time I told him he'd have to wait for my computer to load up, and left the phone laying on the desk.... fortunately he did get the message that time!

I had a very persistent chap who was desperate to sell me a mobile phone. After politely telling him that I had a new one that I was very happy with, and that my husband had also just renewed his contract, he asked if there was anyone else in the househole who would benefit from such an amazing deal..... my son who was 2 at the time had a great chat with him LOL!!

oh, and my husband loves the ones where they start asking personal questions - he usually says he's a sex therapist or similar and starts asking them if they'd like some free advice etc....usually worth a laugh!!

Tony5101

Toliver wrote: »

I say remove my name and number immediately from your list and put the phone down.

Not really much point in doing this to be honest, as the moment you put down the phone - the dialler software will detect that the line has been cleared, and will present another call to the call centre operator.

Believe it or not - the telemarketing industry is actually very heavily regulated - and there are some massive fines handed out to large companies who flout these regulations.
Unfortunately, a lot (not all mind you) of people inadvertantly sign themselves up for 'contact' when they complete sometimes very innocent looking competitions/free offers etc.
You should ALWAYS look out for the check box that says "I don't wish to be contacted", and you should ALWAYS make sure you put a tick in the right box (as some companies say tick here to not be contacted, and some say tick here TO BE contacted etc.)

I work for a major credit card company, and can hand on heart say that 99% of all outbound calls made by us, are either to our own customers that have specifically indicated that they don't mind being contacted - or to prospective customers that have participated in some sort of marketing invite - and again identified themselves as being amenable to receiving a phone call.
I'm not one of the poor sods that has to make the calls - as even though people say that they'd like to be contacted, are often very hostile when they get called.
Our Ops. are instructed to either arrange an alternative time to call, or remove the called number from the dialler database immediately. We also ensure that they ALWAYS apologise to the call recipient. (We use specific voice recognition software that can always verify that they always do this, and if for whatever reason they don't - this is immediately flagged to their Team Leader)
I guess the reason for my post is to say - not all marketing calls are unsolicited, and not everyone making the calls are demons! It's the companies that go out of their way to be awkward that give everyone a bad name.

I've really enjoyed reading through this thread though, and I have to admit to asking people to hold on while I grab a pen etc...

I just have a couple of words of advice...try not to lose your temper...it's your blood pressure that's going through the roof - not theirs.
Don't slam the phone down - there's a chance you'll break it!

Take care all

Tony

Imtwentybagsdownthepanman

when they start their script, put the phone on the table and wolf-whistle as loud as you can down the receiver, I did have to do it twice on one occassion.:D

jamespir

ive worked in sales jobs and it doesent hurt to be polite to people

if you tell a policeman,ambulance worker ,nurse or doctor to f off you can be arrested
and get fined and possibly a prison sentence
it should be the same for those who are rude to sales people

UglyBetty

I find the best way for me is to say "I understand that you are doing your job, and don't want to waste your time but I never buy/give information over the phone." Any callers have always been appreciative as they have targets on the number of calls they have to make. These people are working for a living, often during unsocial hours for low pay - a little common courtesy goes a long way - they don't know if the person they are calling is in the bath, having dinner (or anything else! or all of the above!).

savemoney

I don't dispute they may be on low pay who isnt?

So they have targets you claim, so they then create nuisance to people because they have targets to achieve

Many others work unsociable long hours, dont they deserve a break without being disturbed at home especially when they have neither heard from this company, or given permission for them to call

I very much welcome stiffer fines to companies who nuisance call/cold call when they requested, or using silent call, many of these companies ignore your request, and why should we opt out

I tell you no word of a lie, I have had calls from British Gas (6 times it took to stop pestering me). British Telecom two complaints to them. Talk Talk not even a customer but am of sister company they use which I believe they obtained my details from them as I am ex directory and dont give my number out willy nilly

I resent having to telling companies to leave me alone. I resent having to be pick up phone and receive silent treatment, then line goes dead (Talk Talk)

Why should I keep getting disturbed at home by some person trying to flog me something firstly under pretence that they are my best mate, or good afternoon Mr xxx, how are we today?

Do they care, no. They want one thing your custom

UglyBetty wrote: »

I find the best way for me is to say "I understand that you are doing your job, and don't want to waste your time but I never buy/give information over the phone." Any callers have always been appreciative as they have targets on the number of calls they have to make. These people are working for a living, often during unsocial hours for low pay - a little common courtesy goes a long way - they don't know if the person they are calling is in the bath, having dinner (or anything else! or all of the above!).

BargainGalore

Many of us also work on rubbish wages dont you think they deserve a break from a hard days graft rather than be disturbed at home.

If they dont know what person is doing, then my advice is dont ring then

UglyBetty wrote: »

. These people are working for a living, often during unsocial hours for low pay - a little common courtesy goes a long way - they don't know if the person they are calling is in the bath, having dinner (or anything else! or all of the above!).

derekpotter

I got a cold call offering to save me money on my mobile. I said I didn't think they could save me much. Who was I with and what sort of account? I told them (why not?). "Pay as you go? I'm sure we can save you a whole lot. How much do you spend a month?" "Most of my income!" "I mean on mobile calls, sir!" "Oh about fifty, I suppose." "We can definitely save you at least a third of that. " "How?" This went on for about five minutes and then the caller started telling me about the lovely free phone that came with the account. Another ten minutes and I was eager to sign up, wasn't I? "I'll hand you over to my colleague to get your details, sir!" Blah blah blah. "I still don't know how this deal works" I say. "Well, you're paying 20p per minute", the guy explains, as if to a particularly slow child, "but we charge only 10p..." "Per minute?" I ask, getting the idea at last. "Yes, sir. And that's a saving of 10p per minute. You use about 250 minutes a month so you save £25. OK?" "Do I? I didn't think it was anything like that. How do you reckon 250 minutes?" "Well, 20p a minute into the £50 you pay is 250 minutes." "£50?" I say, confused again. "That's what you said. We have it on record." he replies, an icy tone creeping into his voice. "Oh no, I'm quite sure you haven't. I just said fifty, not fifty pounds. I spend fifty pence a month maximum. Do I still get the nice free phone your colleague was telling me about?" <click>