Dealing with Telesales

[Mark Halliday]

A friend has come up with this tactic for cold callers.

Ring ring
"Hello"
"Can I speak to Mr/Mrs X, please"
"Who is calling"
"Steve Bargain from Draft and Leak Windows"
"Hang on, I go and get him/her."

Put the phone down and put the kettle on. When it has boiled pick up the phone and say "He/she is just coming" and put the phone down again. Make a cup of tea, drink it and then put the phone back on the hook.

It clogs up the phone for a while, but if we all do it, they won't be able to afford to make cold calls, the phone bill will be bigger than their profits.

[ollyit]

I'll be doing that for sure
that'll learn them!

[Rupert Bear]

Don't need to. After getting plagued for a while with them I went online, registered with the TPS and they have stopped. Even if one calls a quick mention that I am registered would have them hanging up faster than I can mention it.
Cold calling is a plague and should be treated as such

[Scary Des]

With junk mail I use the pre-paid envelopes to send back the torn-up brochures etc.

The offending company doesn’t get charged for the prepaid envelope until you send it back and them they have to deal with the waste as well.
Makes me Laugh ever time

I wonder if they get an additional charge if the pre-paid is over weight In which case I could send the contents of dustbin as well


Des

[Squirrel]

TPS definitely works. I haven't had any calls since registering with them.

[MeMe]

....when the phone goes around seven in the evening. "Hi, yep - Mr Spencer speaking, I can't talk now, but give me your home telephone number so I can call you back tonight just as you've arrived home from a hard day at work and are in the middle of your evening meal". This request is often followed by a deafening silence or a roar of laughter.

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by Squirrel

TPS definitely works. I haven't had any calls since registering with them.

Unless they originate from a call centre in Bombay. TPS has no control over them.

[Biggles]

With regards the Pre paid envelopes. I swap the contents over and then send them back.

Just so as they know what a waste Junk Mail really is.....

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by Biggles

With regards the Pre paid envelopes. I swap the contents over and then send them back.

Just so as they know what a waste Junk Mail really is.....

I like your thinking

Des

[Bittentobuggery]

Originally Posted by Biggles

Just so as they know what a waste Junk Mail really is.....

Oi ! Some of us make a living from highly targetted direct marketing !

[Rupert Bear]

I like the idea of putting a lump of lead or a rock into the envelope, may try that instead of just putting them in the bin!

[ADS]

Originally Posted by Rupert Bear

I like the idea of putting a lump of lead or a rock into the envelope, may try that instead of just putting them in the bin!

What about putting some seaweed in there!

[Nasher]

My Mother used to save it all up for a couple of weeks, mix it all up, and stuff the envelopes with whatever was on the top of the pile. As mentioned the company does not get charged until the envelope is used.

As for the phone calls I love it when they call after a bad day at work. Gives me the chance to Vent off all that pent up anger without upsetting the wife or kids. I like to interupt their practiced speel constantly with "What are you trying to sell me".
I have also been known to sound off the personnal alarm into the receiver that one of the companies sent my wife in the post. They wear headsets remember, and I bet they can't get them off quick enough.

I'm not at all tolerant of this sort of thing. Strangely though, the Blonde jehovahs witless that turns up during Sunday dinner is always welcome.

Nasher.