Cold Calls

[Caribeing]

Have been receiving cold calls regularly especially at lunchtimes so decided to give them a" taste of their own medicine" today had a call from a lady with an Indian accent addressing me my by name wanting to do a survey. I asked her to hold on while I turned down the telly and turned up my hearing aid after 3mins or so returned to the phone and she had hung up. What method do you use to get rid of them.

[tenrec]

Just hang up.

[cathfromsaron]

they are only doing their poorly paid jobs, and don't actually intend to offend! no do they actually know who they are calling, as it's all automated!

you would be better off joining the telephone preference service AND asking people to ensure their company does not call you again when they call!

also, a phone which reveals the callers number (or that the number is withheld or foreign) is handy!

cath x

[lozzer50]

if i dont recognise the number i dont answer it

[AliceTickband]

we are in tps and still get cold calls. I just tell them to take me off their database.

someone I know turns the tables on them and pretends it was they who made the call and are trying to see 'Peter' in India some novelty from the anne summers catalogue!

[excelsior-1]

i get them all the time.

i now have my answer-machine on permanently, and listen to calls. if genuine, i pick up but, the cold callers hang up when they hear my message.

but .. every day when i get home there are some automated speeches offering all sorts of financial junk and ppi refunds

[mike11111]

This where a foreign language comes in useful. I just keep saying, "I'm sorry, I can't understand you", in either French, Russian or Welsh as the fancy takes me. It doesn't take long for them to give up. I wouldn't recommend using one of the Indian languages, though.

[excelsior-1]

excellent idea.

i could respond in french and klingon

[Tuvok]

Google or You Tube the telemarketing call/murder scene - hopefully you'll find it - brilliant!

[emmie]

just tell them not interested, had one earlier about having had an accident, er no i haven't..

[lankeela]

Had one today about PPI - have I taken out a credit card in last six years? No. Have I had a loan? No. Have I got a mortgage? No. I only buy stuff when I can afford it. Ok thank you for your time. Ended call.

[mike11111]

http://www.metacafe.c...urder_scene_hilarius/

[Bambiagain]

That link was hilarious!

Like Mike11111 I use the foreign language one, especially easy since I live in Germany and I simply say I can't speak much German. When the Indian purporting to be from Microsoft asks if I speak English - I can't speak that either.

[firewatch]

If its the one from 'microsoft' i advise them i know its a scam and the call is being recorded they soon hang up

[sir.prize]

I've got a vuvuzela next to the phone!

[welshlibranr]

I just say 'please don't call again, I do not wish to speak to you', In a very loud voice!........seems to do the trick, I get very few cold calls these days!............

[Bambiagain]

What causes me concern is that there must be a lot of people who do respond to these calls, or there wouldn't be such a lot of them. As for scams like the "Microsoft" one, if they set up call centres in India specifically for this, just how many people are there who get taken in? Because it wouldn't be worth their while if they got no response.

[seadogg]

We have a ring tone for people we know/do business with and save the baddies as the Monty Python tune. The only problem is "withheld" as NHS callers use this. If I do get caught by one, a little hindi or urdu is used to politely refuse.

[Dee Sa]

I am afraid I am not so polite as you people are but it works !

[alb0679]

I had a guy on the phone last week, he asked if I'd had an accident in the last 3 years. I told him that I had got my wife's sister pregnant and for some reason he hung up.