Cold caller etiquette

[Wallywobbles]

What's you etiquette for dealing with them. My dad (v politically incorrect) would ask them if they'd had sex last night. I don't think his calls lasted long.

I let them start (and occasionally do one of the bloody questionnaires) but mostly hang up after the first question.

Not UK here.

I talk over them with 'Sorry I haven't got time for this now' and hang up. If i answer at all.

I am always polite but as soon as they start I tell them that I am not at all interested and put the phone down.

I tell them that i want my details removed from their database and remind them that under GDPR regulations they are legally bound to only contact me with my consent and that I do not consent.

Cold caller: "We have information that you've been in a car accident recently?"
Me: "Yes! I'm still looking for the other half of my head.... have you found it?!"

I start asking for their details so I can report them for the GDPR breach.

Today's questionnaire was a really odd one about tobacco products. Anyone know what white tobacco is?

I ask them if they have found Jesus.

I just say no thanks and hang up

Car accident.. Yes I did I've been waiting for you to call the bifybis in my boot it stinks now.

Most recent. We hear you're interested in selling your business.
Me:Oh yes I am...
Them: Ohh? Really.? What is the line of business.
Me: I'm a prostitute
Them... Dead line!

'Body is' not bifybis??

Asking them who they are calling for. They usually don't have a name, just a number. Bastards. I used to feel sorry for them, doing such a scummy job, but not any more.

My in laws get them and its always about a prob with their computer.
Now they don't have a computer. Or much tech at all.
But fil is brilliant as they say oh were ringing as we can see you have computer issues.
Fil. Yes
Them. Well we can talk you through it.
Fil OK ill switch it on it takes a while it's quite old noem
Them yes well hold no worries sir.
Fil. Puts phone down carry on about his business popping back to the phone to apologise for the delay for a bit and making the right noises about oh its nearly on etc keeps them on hold for a good 20 min
Them. That's OK. Can you give us a brief description about what's wrong with it.
Fil. Yes well It doesn't switch on because I don't actually have a computer.

@getyourfreakon

Cold caller: "We have information that you've been in a car accident recently?" Me: "Yes! I'm still looking for the other half of my head.... have you found it?!"

😂 I once told one that I'd sadly died in the accident

@getyourfreakon

Cold caller: "We have information that you've been in a car accident recently?" Me: "Yes! I'm still looking for the other half of my head.... have you found it?!"

@getyourfreakon this cracked me up 😂😂😂😂 why have I never thought of this 😅

Tell them you are registered with the Telephone preference service & ask how they got your number, they will be gone in seconds.

I don't see the point in engaging with them at all. What a waste of time.

Depends on my mood. I’ll either tell them to get lost and put the phone down or I’ll mess with them a little. Had one going for ten minutes once before admitting I don’t have sky broadband

I don't think you owe them anything and I'll gladly waste their time if I feel like it.

I don't answer any call where l don't recognise the number. They get the answer machine and amazingly no one ever leaves a message

If the call was important then they'd leave a message.

@SnuggyBuggy

I don't think you owe them anything and I'll gladly waste their time if I feel like it.

Well if you want to let them waste your time as well as their own fine- if it makes you feel better.

Depends on the situation I guess. Same with chuggers, I just tell them I don't care about blind kids or whatever they've been paid to crap on about.

I want to just put the phone down but politeness in me dictates I have to say something like 'no thanks, not interested' before hanging up.
My dad has strung them along a few times - he is retired and it's probably the most exciting thing in his morning - gives him something to do

When they ask my name I always say Martha Fokker.
They soon click and hang up.

We got a new phone with Call Guardian on it a few months ago. Haven't had a cold call since. We know it works because it tells us when people have tried. Best one was at the weekend when someone tried to call at 6.45am - meant we got our lie-in uninterrupted!!

I used to tell them that the person they were looking for was dead, hoping it would cross the name off their list.

It didn’t and one phoned me back repeatedly to question me about why I’d lied to them

I progressed to just instantly hanging up. Now I don’t even answer the phone to unknown numbers.

No need to be polite though IMO, cold calling is so annoying.