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A way to deal with phone surveys?

Those phone surveys are a pest, aren't they?

Well, it occurs to me that they exist because companies buy their data...

...but, if they data they had turned out to be consistently wrong then their customers would not be able to rely on it and so their market would dry up.

So, how's about telling them a load of lies about things when they call - make stuff up, say you've got a new TV, and so-on.

They'll then pass on the info to their customers who will call you about your new telly's warranty or whatever and you say - no I don't have one of those.

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 178,365 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    or you could just hang up!
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • fozmcfc
    fozmcfc Posts: 3,098 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker PPI Party Pooper Debt-free and Proud!
    It's a nice idea and if you have time why not.

    But it will take a lot of people to do this and I would imagine most people who don't want to do it properly/at all, will just say no (or similar) and hang up.

    I think answering one, could lead to your phone being targeted by another then another and so on.

    These sort of companies can also be on a list tied in with PPI, accident claims and insurance selling, so you end up a target for more general spam calls.

    So perhaps it is best to just say no and then they will say no point in ringing them, they just say no and put the phone down.
  • Andy_L
    Andy_L Posts: 13,051 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    CHRISSYG wrote: »
    or you could just hang up!

    or, indeed, just register with the Telephone Preference Service http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html
    and that deasl with all the UK based ones
  • kermitfrog
    kermitfrog Posts: 1,089 Forumite
    Andy_L wrote: »
    or, indeed, just register with the Telephone Preference Service http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html
    and that deasl with all the UK based ones

    Though unfortunately not the foreign based ones which form the preponderance of unwanted calls nowadays.
  • stephen77
    stephen77 Posts: 10,342 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    prowla wrote: »
    Those phone surveys are a pest, aren't they?

    Well, it occurs to me that they exist because companies buy their data...

    ...but, if they data they had turned out to be consistently wrong then their customers would not be able to rely on it and so their market would dry up.

    So, how's about telling them a load of lies about things when they call - make stuff up, say you've got a new TV, and so-on.

    They'll then pass on the info to their customers who will call you about your new telly's warranty or whatever and you say - no I don't have one of those.

    only if they ring while I have time to spare ie waiting for dinner to cook.
    i more lie about my address, name and phone number.
    Not that it makes any difference. If busy I ignore it anyway.
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 14,093 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Andy_L wrote: »
    or, indeed, just register with the Telephone Preference Service http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html
    and that deasl with all the UK based ones
    I am registered - it didn't stop the foreign "survey" pests and it didn't stop the UK warranty call.

    TPS only works with reputable & sensible UK based companies, ie. those who realise that there is no point in ringing somebody to sell a product when they have expressedly said they don't want people to ring them...
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