Cold callers

[ufkacbln]

Just had another one about an accident I had in the last two years, and a considerable sum of money owed to me for unpaid compensation


They were adamant, but could not give me details of a date or time.

So I asked them if it was the one in May last year... they said that would be it

They then proceeded to inform me that they would take a few personal details and contact me to follow up

So I asked if I could recover the £12,000 I had had to pay in damages to the other vehicles occupants....... and they were a little less enthusiastic, but couldn't see why not

So I asked if there was any possibility of the drink driving and dangerous driving prosecutions that had followed the accident affecting the amount I was owed

Quiet.. then... So you were prosecuted for drink driving, and dangerous driving?

Me- Yep I only got out of jail last month, that is why I was so surprised at your Company being able to gain me compensation for the accident.

We will need to look into this in more detail, and we'll ring you back


They haven't

 

[lee1980sim]

I just ignore the house phone, not answered it years, anybody who wants me and who I want to contact me has my mobile and only ever rings me on that

 

[snorri]

Any fun tips for dealing with these unwelcome callers?

It's easy to string along the ones who want to screw up your computer.
Pretend to be very attentive and to follow their instructions, ensure they hear the keyboard action and eventually they will ask what has appeared on your screen, tell them you see a pic of a furry dice or a jumbo jet or whatever. They will then say something has gone wrong and want to go right back to the start which you can do but this time you claim to see a picture of an elephant or the Eiffell Tower. At this point they will either clear down or pass you on to a superior in their office.
I'm convinced that many of the callers think they are in worthwhile employment and don't realise they are being used in a shady business, it's often possible to engage them in a little social chitchat.

 

[Levo-Lon]

My phone is a business line..ive stopped answering all calls unless there local,but ive had nusiance calls with MY number showing lol scamming bstards..if they want me they leave a msg..
Gave up complaining ..
if I do pick up its a 'thankyou for your call goodbye' or I just pick up say hello and walk away for 5 mins then put it down after I get my tea

 

[captain nemo1701]

The bloke who repaired my burglar alarm said that he happily keeps 'em hanging on, the ones that ring you up and claim that 'according to our records (?????) we noted that you had an accident recently' by droning on about how he was ok but his dog wasn't wearing a seatbelt and hit the windscreen causing it to bark in a foreign language. I just get blunt with them. Had one at 7pm last Saturday, from an accident claim line. When he asked how I was, I just replied that I'm fine, nothing happened and goodnight!. I now never answer my mobile if it says Unknown Call.

 

[captain nemo1701]

I am quite lucky being in Denmark as most the time I just ask if they speak English and that puts 50% off. If they can speak English I ask if they can enter my comments on a screen and they usually can. I asked to be removed from their list and ask for it to be noted. I then tell them to type on the screen that if anyone else calls they will be told to...............

I get very few calls.

How do they all know what time I sit down for my tea. As soon as the plate is on the table, the phone rings.

How about this, which has happened to me:
Just as you step in through the front door (and usually needing the loo!), the phone goes and while you answer it, some cold caller knocks on the door.... I think I suffer from some weird form of bad synchronicity.

 

[Cuchilo]

Try having your customers calling you every day for two weeks when you have already told them you are too busy to help them out . You cant be rude and you are totally fed up with it but they still call every feckin day ! Not had a call today actually and 730 in the evening was his latest time to call . Maybe he will do the night shift tonight

 

[mybike]

I had quite an entertaining time with one 'microsoft' caller. He got quite upset, I'd forgotten to tell him I use Linux.

 

[Dave the Smeghead]

Two very good ones I have used:
When they phone and ask to speak to Mr J******n (who used to live here about 16 years ago) I respond with "I am afraid you can't because he is dead". They usually get apologetic and clear the line quickly.
The other is to answer and as soon as you can drop into the conversation that you are a police officer (the rank is up to you) at the house of Mr ***** currently investigating his murder. Ask them their name, where they are calling from and start asking them how they knew the victim. If you can start asking for them to verify their whereabouts in last x hours, and if anyone can corroborate what they are saying. If you can get them to the point where you tell them their call has been traced and that colleagues from the local constabulary will be with them shortly as there are more questions you need to ask them down at the station.

This one is great fun to do, and the longest I have had one on the line was 45 minutes, and I had them panicking that I was going to have them arrested as an accessory after the fact.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

[QUOTE 3602539, member: 9609"]Most of the cold calls I am now getting are just recorded messages.

But the law is changing on the 6th April, lets hope it makes a difference.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31616523[/QUOTE]

Most of the spam and recorded calls I get come from outside the country so it wont make any difference with them.

 

[slowmotion]

You have to get the phone down in the first five to ten seconds. Otherwise you tend to be coming off the back foot. "Sorry, I'm busy" is all it takes.

 

[classic33]

Two very good ones I have used:
When they phone and ask to speak to Mr J******n (who used to live here about 16 years ago) I respond with "I am afraid you can't because he is dead". They usually get apologetic and clear the line quickly.
The other is to answer and as soon as you can drop into the conversation that you are a police officer (the rank is up to you) at the house of Mr ***** currently investigating his murder. Ask them their name, where they are calling from and start asking them how they knew the victim. If you can start asking for them to verify their whereabouts in last x hours, and if anyone can corroborate what they are saying. If you can get them to the point where you tell them their call has been traced and that colleagues from the local constabulary will be with them shortly as there are more questions you need to ask them down at the station.

This one is great fun to do, and the longest I have had one on the line was 45 minutes, and I had them panicking that I was going to have them arrested as an accessory after the fact.

Just make certain that they know the three minutes required to trace a call is incorrect. Pointing out that there's another digit of their number now showing. Making it easier to trace the call back.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

[QUOTE 3602554, member: 9609"]Apparently the change in law will allow ofcom or TPS (or whoever it is) to pursue any UK company who would benefit from the overseas direct marketing call - obviously it won't stop the con merchants - but I am hoping it will make a difference, from april the 6th I will be keeping a full record of when and who calls, and will report every single one.

I am sick of these cold calls, I would switch our phone off it were not for the fact we have 3 very elderly parents and we need to be here for them.[/QUOTE]

I report loads of calls but the most persistent ones are scammers operating from outside the UK. It is about time the phone companies stop people/companies withholding numbers and let you setup your account so you can ban calls from certain prefixes/numbers and ban international calls from an online control panel.

If I didnt work from home I would ban all international calls and callers that withhold their numbers but as it is I cant.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

[QUOTE 3602539, member: 9609"]Most of the cold calls I am now getting are just recorded messages.
But the law is changing on the 6th April, lets hope it makes a difference.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31616523[/QUOTE]
Sounds good but there's nothing in that story that states whether it applies to us in Scotland.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Try using a whistle ... And blow it down the phone ..

I thought that was illegal now anyway as you could perforate someone's eardrum or sommat.

I just ignore the house phone, not answered it years, anybody who wants me and who I want to contact me has my mobile and only ever rings me on that

What's the point in having it then, and what about the random few people who genuinely want/need to contact you, but can't?

My phone is a business line..ive stopped answering all calls unless there local,but ive had nusiance calls with MY number showing lol scamming bstards..if they want me they leave a msg..
Gave up complaining ..
if I do pick up its a 'thankyou for your call goodbye' or I just pick up say hello and walk away for 5 mins then put it down after I get my tea

Yeah, I tried to call you on the offchance whilst I was travelling but you were rude and didn't clear the line for 5 zarking minutes. I am now going to tell EVERYONE how crap your business is!!

Yet again, what about the genuine callers who aren't quite local?


There was someone on here before who said something to the effect of

'If I don't recognise the number then I don't pick up'

Which is ok, until.....