"Windows PC" - 4th call today

SevenOfNine

:mad: 4 calls so far today about my "windows computer" - all seemingly from India/Pakistan/wherever!

I've had these before & resorted to saying I don't have a computer, given that simply hanging up or saying "not interested" had no effect in the past.

Sadly, neither does my denial that I have a PC. No caller number to complain about (already with the telephone preference but don't think they can help anyway if the caller is abroad).

Any other practical suggestions? Anything worked for anyone? I'm on the brink of telling the next one to !!!! off!

PS It has occurred to me perhaps I should 'play along' with whatever they want me to do.......whilst not doing it of course (or just feed them rubbish answers to questions) - extend the call for them to pay for!

MrsAtobe

Tell them you have several computers, so you need to know which one has the problem. It worked for me, I kept them on the line for ages with that one! Funnily enough, calls stopped after that.

duchy

Anonymous caller reject works well for offshore as if the phone can't "see" a number you never even know they called.

Castle

I just tell them the hard disk is faulty and I'm waiting for one of their engineers to come round and put a new one in, since I have a 5 year free warranty with them (that bit is not true!). Then demand to speak to one of their managers to find out why their engineer has not arrived yet!

bod1467

You could always say "I use Linux Mint. Your information systems must be be faulty. Go to the https://secure.logmein.com/ website and install the software, let me know your IP address and I'll take a look and analyse the problem".

kwikbreaks

I have caller id and don't pick up any unrecognised numbers. If it is a genuine caller they can leave a message and I'll either call back or break in over the answerphone.

forgotmyname

I have the BT 6510 phones with blocking and also bought a call blocker off ebay.

Not one annoying call since.

LilElvis

MrsDanvers wrote: »

I find an answering machine works wonders. Failing that if I am in and do answer the phone, a simple "No thanks" as they start their chat; and hang up. Don't engage, don't explain, don't give them the time of day. I must be one of the few people in the country not to receive these calls any more.

No, not working here. Still getting them at least 3 or 4 times a week. Tried putting phone down, telling them there isn't a problem, not answering,playing along for 10 minutes, letting toddler tell them about her day at school ... even blowing a whistle. Ex-directory and signed up for TPS. They are persistent beyond belief. I swear that if there was a nuclear Armageddon then only cockroaches and these parasites would survive. I wonder how many cockroaches are having problems with their Windows OS ......... ?

hamsterholly

I play the "how long can I keep them on the phone" game. Start by saying my computer is really old and takes ages to turn on..... Go off and wash up...... Go back and tell them you are turning your other three laptops on...... Go off and make a cuppa..... The longest I kept one on phone was 22 mins !

If short on time just say your IT manager husband will fix it when he gets back from work

force_ten

I had one the other day and

our system says you have a problem with your windows computer

what is a windows computer

you know windows operating system

my computer is an apple mac

you have an apple computer

yes do apples have any windows, line goes dead

on another occasion I said i haven't got a problem with my windows i cleaned them today and they are all fine, but i have got a problem one of the doors sticking can you have a look at that for me

no your windows computer

sorry i don't have a computer

my missus tells them the only time i go on line when i go to Mcdonalds so i can use the free wi-fi, so can you phone me back on this number on thursday when i will be at Mcdonalds and you can have a look then, that has generated some interesting replies

she wound one guy up so much he swore at her and hung up

Elsewhere

I tell them that everyone in Britain has heard of this scam, and they'd be better of getting a new job - I talk over whatever they are trying to say to me and then put the phone down. My husband is blunter. He educates them in 4 letter anglo-saxon...

Everything goes quiet for a month or two, until the tatty old phone book they are using is sold on, then we get pestered once more.