BT cold callers at the door - assumed it was a criminal gang

[Deleted User]

Again on the allegation that they are "just trying to earn an honest living" - funny how they were unable to tell me which of my "neighbours" had been complaining about slow broadband.  They soon got cheeky when I challenged them on that. 

And call me old-fashioned but I don't think it's appropriate for a man to attend houses in a supposedly professional capacity whilst unshaven and sporting a scruffy ponytail. <hoiks bosom>

molerat

KirstenNeilson said:

I dispute that they are trying to make an honest living btw.  They are dressing up in high vis as if they are technical folk, working on equipment. They're not, they are salespeople.  They should be wearing a !!!!!! suit from Next and carrying a clipboard. The whole premise of the thing is dishonest.  Shame on you, BT.  Apparently the police will be contacting them to give them some "friendly advice".  I will be giving them more than friendly advice if they ever turn up in our cul de sac again upsetting my neighbours. 

Agreed, they are trying to make a living by telling whatever lies will get you to sign up, nothing honest about them.

oldernonethewiser

[Deleted User] said:

It MASSIVELY sounds like a scam "hello, here I am, unannounced, slightly scruffy and rude, wanting to come into your home and check your equipment".  They had English accents (we're in Scotland) so I assume they were from these "Nottingham Knockers" type gangs. 

I answered the door because I could see the high-vis vests through the peephole and I am robust enough to deal with scammers and cold callers.  

Yes, several of us have "no cold callers" signs on our doors but to no avail. It's a right pain in the !!!!!! to get yourself declared a "no cold callers zone" these days.  

What riles me is that BT flog their "call guardian" system which is supposed to protect older people from scam and sales calls.  AND YET they purposefully use cold calling themselves.  So encouraging vulnerable people to sign up to stuff at the door.  I mean talk about hypocrisy! BT should support the police's message of "never sign up to anything at the door". 

I thought everyone in Edinburgh had English accents?

Sorry - old joke.

You shouldn't assume an accent means anything, however in this case they were simply lying sales people and should be treated accordingly.

MalMonroe

I'm with BT (not really any more expensive than anyone else tbh) but I'd not have opened the door. If I'm not expecting anyone, they can knock until the cows come home. But I hope they don't because that's just plain annoying. There's a 'no cold callers' notice right under everyone's nose on my door. But some folk don't think it applies to them.  

With BT you can check your own speeds. Online. Like you can do with most other things these days.

I'd write to BT and complain - I guess you can't be bothered though and that's okay.

I don't want any 'cold callers'. If I want to buy anything I'll use the internet. And if they want to earn a living maybe they could do retraining, or an apprenticeship or anything else instead of going round annoying folk.  

BT did it wrong - and it's annoying since as I say, I'm with them!

[Deleted User]

Sorry Mal, why do you assume I "can't be bothered"?  I said upthread that I contacted BT to query what the heck was going on. They are well aware of my displeasure, let me assure you!

Seeing people with hi-vis outside my door, yes I would answer in case it's an actual problem - eg with the nearby building work which might affect us. And also to give them a piece of my mind if it's not legitimate!

born_again

Did they not have any ID?

Ectophile

born_again said:

Did they not have any ID?

With a computer and a printer, you can have any ID you like.

[Deleted User]

I assumed the phone number on their "ID" would only connect me to their scummy pal hiding in the bushes who would confirm that "oh yes, Kevin and Darren are totally definitely from BT honest luv!"

Amoux

I'm really annoyed at myself. It's no-one fault but my own, but I really need to learn how to say NO. 

I just had BT come to the door, usually I would have politely shooed them away, but they came knocking with their vis jackets on claiming they were doing engineering work in the area and had some questions for me. Thinking there was a geniune issue, I let them ask their questions thinking it was related to the work they were doing. This then led to more general questions about my broadband which then led to their real purpose, which was to sale me something. By this point they have already wasted a lot of my time. 

They give the sales line that they can offer me a better deal, and will pay all the costs to get me out of contract if needed. I gave them my name and number, thinking that was the only quick way of getting rid of them, making it clear to them that I do not buy on the doorstep but they can have my details if they want to offer me a better deal. It's not even that I think BT is a bad company, but I'm confident I'm already on the best deal and I told them as much. If they were going to offer something considerably better, I'd of course consider it. 

The problem is that they didn't go away. They make me wait with them in the freezing cold, doing small chat, until customer support ring me on my phone. After CS tell me the package on offer, which was signficantly worse than my current deal, I just told customer support I wasn't interested. But f**k me, 30minutes of my life was wasted on something I could have just as easily done online and I'm angry with myself with how I dealt with it. 

Pollycat

I think you are right to be angry at yourself.
If anyone knocks on my door, my response is 'if I want to change suppliers, I'll do the research myself. Not with some random person who happens to knock at my door'.