A new one on me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[grannyjanny]

The phone rang this morning, number withheld. They wanted to speak to Mr or Mrs as they hadn't filled in the claims form for an industrial injury after using heavy industrial machinery or was it a previous tenant? OH worked in HR & has been retired fully for 8 years & was semi retired for 5 years prior to that. I think in future withheld numbers will get short shrift ::). Why do they try it on?

[grannyjanny]

[grawrc]

I got an "unavailable" this morning from Jake at Microsoft. Just as he was about to launch into full flight, I said: "I'm a Mac user". End of call.

The trouble is calls from abroad (my son, my brother etc) tend to show as unavailable so I still answer them and "withheld number" calls are often from official organisations/ medical centres etc. There has to be a better system!

[elvis2003]

I got an "unavailable" this morning from Jake at Microsoft. Just as he was about to launch into full flight, I said: "I'm a Mac user". End of call.

The trouble is calls from abroad (my son, my brother etc) tend to show as unavailable so I still answer them and "withheld number" calls are often from official organisations/ medical centres etc. There has to be a better system!

Wish I'd thought of that when blokey from'microsoft' called me. he wouldn't hang up for 40 mnutes,and got quite threatening when I said I'd call the police

[Jayb]

If I don't know someone when I answer, I find it easiest to have a set response once they have said who they are. Goes along the lines of, Do I know you? And when they say no I ask,  Have I asked you to call? When they say no I just say I don't accept unsolicited calls. It is then much easier to then just say goodbye and hang up.

[elvis2003]

I did say words to that effect,but he wouldnt hang up! I did,but he was still on the line when I went to make a call later on,very odd

[grannyjanny]

I shall try that one next time Jayb ;D.

[hippydave]

my Aunty was called on Friday supposedly by her bank, they knew her card number, even the one  on the back and told her she was due a refund of bank chargers and they  had to confirm these detail were correct she said yes they were and found out today they had cleared her bank account and the bank wont do anything because they say she gave them her details, even tho they already had her details.

[Jeannine]

I love getting the ones about the virus on my computer..in my very best shaky old lady voice I compliment  them on being so clever and kind to let me know then tell  them I will get it straight over to my son who manages The Future Shop to get it fixed, they sort of stammer and hang up!!

XX Jeannine

[Poppy Mole]

Just tell them that you know it has a virus but tell them you don't know where to put the antibiotics in to make it better, that should be good for a laugh!!

[sunloving]

If you register with the telephone preference service and tell them that you want to opt out of marketing calls then most of the calls should stop. Anyone found calling you can be charged.
http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html

I rarely have these calls now and when i tell them that im on the TPS and ask for thier name and company address they usually hang up!

I also find though that theres usually a 3 second silence on these automatic dialed calls and this give enough time to just hang up on them before they speak.

You can also opt out of junk mail to.

XSunloving

[grannyjanny]

Thanks for the link sunloving but TPS obviously doesn't work. I went to register & we are already registered ::).

[BarriedaleNick]

The TPS does work but unfortunately its remit doesnt extend overseas which is where most of these sort of calls originate.
Of course there will be ways round it as well but it is a legal requrement for any organisation (except those with which you have an established relationship) to not make calls to numbers registered with the TPS.

If I ever get a call I say I am interested but need a company name.  I then tell them that I am registered with the TPS and that they are breaking the law and that the company will be reported to the TPS.  They never call back and the only calls I get now are overseas ones and not many of those...

[grannyjanny]

We have been getting calls re new windows, facias & lots of charities but OH gives through gift aid so numbers possibly sold on ::).

[goodlife]

We registered couple of years ago and it made a BIG difference to the amount of calls..but now we've started get calls and they ask Mr or Mrs 'so and so' with one letter difference to the name.. ::)  >:( I usually just tell them there is nobody with such a name living in this address!!! But as weeks go by..we get this more and more..British Gas has been very persistant one.
I'm about to register us again..but with this false name.. ::)..we even get mail and council sent last year letter to ask if 'we' have moved residence within last year and could we update our records.. >:(
Only explanation for it is that some sales person's busy typing fingers have made error in past and this error has slowly 'filtered' through sold details from company to company..but it is bugger to try to get rid of. Any ideas?

[goodlife]

Code Select Expand

I'm about to register us again..but with this false name..
Just tried..can't do it..its about telephone number, not name... ::)

[Duke Ellington]

If you get a call from someone saying you have a virus on your computer tell them that you don't have a computer ....they will hang up.

Duke

[Bubbles26]

I don't get to many sales calls - but when I do I have to play with them (it's a bit like an addiction)

First I ask for their name, then it goes a little something like this - quite quickly so they have no time to respond in any pauses

"Well hello John, I'm so very glad you called. I have to tell you about this amazing offer I have. A friend of mine has just dropped off 1000 cartons of Ribena and they are going cheap and I mean cheap! I will ship them to you where ever you are in the country, at only 50p per carton and £1.99 delivery charge. Now if you could just give me your full name, date of birth, address, email address, telephone number, and your complete bank details. An extra 10% discount can be added if you provide your Mother's maiden name, the school you went to and what you had for dinner last night. So how many would you like??   ;D

I usually don't get to the end as they hang up but sometimes I do! So funny to hear their baffled responses.

If I'm short of time - I ask them if they realise that they have called a direct line within Murder Investigation at North Herts police station  :o. They ALWAYS hang up straight away.

Tee hee

[antipodes]

Here the calls often come from abroad, so you can't mess with them, poor things. If it's for frozen food, i say i don't h ave a freezer :-) if it's for windows I say I am renting. But I like the idea of saying "did I ask you to call me? well I don't take unsolicited calls"
I do try to be kind though because it's a bloody horrible job and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

[taurus]

I'm with tps and get mainly oversea's calls.   Who ever they ask for I say I'll just go and find them, put the phone down and get on with what ever I was doing.  I have no idea how long they hang on for.   We don't use the house phone much so its no problem to do this and hopefully it runs their bills up  ;D

[Chrispy]

If I get a unavalable/international number, I just answer the phone, but don't say anything.
In most cases their automatic systems hang up after a few seconds and they don't call back.