Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Got a call from an unintelligible company this morning. Asked him to repeat it and still couldn't get it . He just wanted to ask me a couple of questions . OK, if only so I can work out who the heck they are. First question .... "how old are you?" . Needless to say, I declined his offer and hung up . Should've had a witty putdown ready, but I've never been asked my age over the phone before . I am already with the Telephone Preference Service before you suggest it! My usual line is "I'm with the TPS" but forgot about it on this occasion . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 overseas companies don't recognise the TPS unfortunately! We registered with them and sales calls have dramatically reduced but not disappeared altogether. I just ask them for their home number so I can call them later to discuss it, that usually does it On the subject of odd phonecalls, our number must be very similar to a local GP surgery as we came home one day to a message from a woman asking us to come and remove the dressing from her left breast! I wouldn't mind but at the time we'd recorded a personal greeting on the ansaphone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygal Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 That really annoys me when unsolicited people phone up, especially if you have no clue who/what they are... several times recently the phone has rung and it has been the sound of the sea, followed by a loud fog horn, then a voice saying "this is your captain speaking" followed by a spiel that we have won a holiday..I then put the phone down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 as we came home one day to a message from a woman asking us to come and remove the dressing from her left breast! Maybe you should check with Ian - perhaps he did such a good job on the right one, she insisted on getting him back again . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I keep getting calls from Sky asking if I'd like to move to a cheaper service tariff. When I say yes please they ask for my bank details over the phone. I patiently explain that I don't give out my details over the phone and that, as my existing contract is paid by Direct Debit, they should already have them. They then respond if I don't give them the bank details I can't have the cheaper tariff. Thought it was a scam at first but has happened several times now so think it is just their rubbish processes. It's also impossible to cancel this maintenance contract -I've tried several times both on the phone and in writing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I to am registered with TPS after one exasperating Sunday where I had 3 sales calls in 1/2 hour when I was waiting by the phone to hear how a relative was after a car accident (relative was fine, by the way ) On the couple of occasions I've been rung since, I have very politely asked them to spell their company name and their own, and informed them that I do not expect to hear from either again. They still sometimes get through on the mobile, but I usually don't answer it if I don't recognise the number, or hang up if they get through. I appreciate the sales people are just trying to make a living, but does anyone actually buy anything from a cold direct-sales call anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Funny thing, as this thread is developing, I got a call from Scottish Hydro- electric (who I am with) trying to sell me their boiler cover. I've been fed up with Scottish Gas for ages so the fact that Hydro are slightly cheaper, guarantee an engineer within 3 hours and are giving me £50 off my gas/elec bill is just a bonus . Let's just hope they don't hike their gas/elec prices . I'm off to check! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bokbokbok Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 In work I regularly receive 0800 incoming calls (could be 0870?) with a few seconds of silence before their system finds an operator to speak to me. I used to patiently hang around to listen to them but as they are never based in this country and rarely even know who they are ringing I now hang up before the silence stops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 My sister regulalry gets phonecalls for the Prison up the road from where she lives - often on the answerphone even though the message very clearly explains that they have the wrong number - the worst thing is that they phone up at unreasonable hours of the day and night. If I was there I would change my number - in fact I think she just did!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I feel a bit miffed that our mortgage provider has phoned twice with "special offers as I am a valued customer." I can't have been that valued as it was only available from that phonecall and she wasn't bothered that I wasn't interested and carried on anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spratly0 Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 We are also registered with TPS. When we get the occasional call we just leave the phone on the side and get on with whatever we are doing after 5 mins pick up and if they are still there, ( not very often), say 'oh are you still there i'm sorry i should save your phone bill' then hang up we don't get very many unsolicited calls maybe its worked and our number is blacklisted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Must try that one . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 We are also with TPS but keep getting calls from 2 sources, 1 asks for a Michael Stone who has to our knowledge never lived here, I have tried telling them, begging them, ignoring them, whistling down the phone, shouting at them, speaking to managers but nothing works. the second is a annoying electronic voice telling e I have won a holiday. Mmmm I don't think so some how! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 yeah ive tried the phone off the hook thing too. Usually i just ask them how old you have to be to buy the product and then tell them in not 18 lol even though im 21 (all because one asked me if i was 18 year ago and didnlt want to talk to me when i wasn't so now i use that one) One stupid call we got was asking if we wanted double glazing, and another about a kitchen in the space of 30 mins even though the house was only 4 months old. When told this they just said 'oh well you still NEED new kitchen/windows' dense or what?! xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Ask them if they are paying too much on their car insurance: eg Telemarketer: Hello this is blah company and we would like to offer you etc You: Are you paying too much on your car insurance? If so press 5 Now! (repeat until they get the message) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 They've just phoned again . Managed to hear what he said this time "Hello this is William something from BT Connected (sounded like). I'd like to ask you one or two questions". He sounded Chinese American. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Ask them if they are paying too much on their car insurance: eg Telemarketer: Hello this is blah company and we would like to offer you etc You: Are you paying too much on your car insurance? If so press 5 Now! (repeat until they get the message) Oohh Fred I haven;t tried that one! come on callers....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Aaarrgh . Just had manic American call ..... "pause .... CONGRATULATIONS!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiggerlady Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I have a feelin (could be wrong...) that those 'you have won a cruise' calls ask you to press 9 or whatever to listen to the rest of the message and when you do it goes on forever and charges your phone about 20 quid even if you hang up!! Seem to remember hearing about it a while ago.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flo Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I had an argument with a cold caller the other day. The called claiming to be from 3 (my phone provider) and would I confirm that I was the contract holder. I asked what they were calling about and they said they couldn't tell me until I confirmed who I was. I continued not to tell them anything until they told me while they were calling and eventually they hung up! I googled the number and it came up on a message board as being a very dodgy firm.... I always ask if I am being cold called, most people hang up at that point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I had a phone call this morning from a Utility company ..... actually the one I'm currently with for both gas and electricity - which is why I continued the conversation ..... giving me details of their new capped rate. When I asked how that would effect the current deal I have with them the woman was most surprised that I was already a customer and when I confirmed that I've been at this address for 12 years and with them for the whole time she was speechless Her records showed that I wasn't a customer so that ended the call pretty quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I try to be polite to people on the phone as they are only doing a job...BUT what makes me really cross is when the cold caller hangs up on me! I usually politely refuse what they are offering or get in quick before they finish their opening paragraph and tell them I will not buy things / sign up to things over the phone. A few times the caller has told me I'm a fool for turning down such a fantastic offer (or similar words) and then put the phone down on me! Oooh makes me mad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I normally do the same as Fred, I say "Yup I'd love to speak to you about your fantastic offer, can you just hold on a minute?" Then I leave the phone on the side and go out and clean the Eglus or lunge a horse The other day I did do a bit of a Victor Meldrew on a barely coherent young lady who wanted to know if I had had an accident that wasnt my fault. I told her she should be ashamed of herself working for Compensation leeches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 The other day I had a call from someone asking for "A Mr. er...er....Mango?" I assume he meant my OH who's surname is nothing like Mango, but does start with a letter M. I played innocent and told him there was "Ooops, word censored!"ody of that name at this address, which is very true! I hate cold calling! I also hate it when banks ring you up and then want you to confirm your details. Who called who???????? I tell them I don't give personal information over the phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 We're with TPS and when I tell cold callers that it really annoys me when they bang the phone down A lovely young lady knocked on the door yesterday to try to get us to sign up to a karate club. I had them round years ago and it was really, really expensive. I said no thank you we belong to a gym that does that sort of thing. Said goodbye, turned around and YS said 'oh what gym have we joined' all excited. Oops caught out lying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
