EDF cold caller said I was impolite

[goingmadinthecountry]

Just because I didn't want to talk to him. I'm appalled - he didn't know what my personal situation was. He called me up and I politely said I didn't want to talk to him. Him: "that's not very polite of you. Why not?"
Grrrr

[idlingabout]

Any cold caller for double glazing/home improvements get politely told this is a listed building therefore your call is pointless, goodbye.

[Anniegetyourgun]

Funnily enough, shortly after posting on this thread I had a call from a double glazing company. Very polite and cheery woman, sorry to bother me etc, and first she would like to thank me for expressing interest in their showroom last year. I said I thought that was unlikely since I tended not to discuss - and at that instant the call cut off. At least this time I did catch the name of the company so I reported it via the TPS complaints form.

Do they really think "telling me as a matter of courtesy" that they have opened a new showroom or that their salesmen will be providing quotes in my area doesn't count as marketing?

Do they really think I will ever do business with their pesky company even if I had every intention of doing so before?

Do they really think?

[mateysmum]

Another good response is to say "Hello, how are you, lovely to talk to you? I'd really like to chat but I'm a bit busy right now. What time do you get off work? what time to you get home? What time do you have your meal? OK. What's your home phone number? I'll phone you then."

When they act all surprised you can say well F off, why the hell do you think you can call me in my home, during my time.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

There are many ways around the TPS system for companies using outbound calling/ cold calling.

[SookyStackhouse]

Tell them they are calling a business number - my mobile is a work phone and when I tell them that they always hang up straight away

[NetworkGuy]

"I pointed out that following someone for 10 minutes harrassing them was also rude and quite aggressive!"

If you have a camera in your phone (or even if you don't) then "Would you stand there and smile for me, so I have a good clear photo of the man harrassing me in the street" might make the s*d go away.

[NetworkGuy]

Regarding swearing, shouting, or time wasting responses...

While I agree it can be a soul destroying job, the staff have no right to be anything but polite, and I can understand people wanting to "give as good as they get" but being impolite or time wasting is probably not in your best interests, as there have been instances of 'revenge' calls.

For example, it is easy enough with some free e-mail to fax services to trigger an e-mail that will call your number to 'send a fax'.

95% of households (a guess) probably have no fax machine, and a fax call is tried up to 3 times, before giving up. So be a pain to some salesperson and get a fax call at 3am after they've been out on Friday night a week later... hmmm not fun and no proof of who sent it... sender number will be e-mail to fax firm (thinking it is sending a legit fax). Even with a fax, the e-mail of the sender can be forged and the message could be a large size 'FUCK YOU" taking a few sheets of your A4 paper.

I have no desire for unsolicited calls (the only ones I have had in this house were for the previous user of the phone number I got in February, and those have stopped too) but don't think many people would want to be added on a "revenge" list either. Just put the phone down, if possible without swearing etc.

[NetworkGuy]

"I am amazed so many of you have landlines actually. I only have a mobile and have never received a cold call."

Believe it or not, but Virgin cable only serves about 50% of the UK. For the rest of us to have reasonably fast broadband needs a landline so that's why we have a phone line.

Now, whether someone needs to be listed in the phone book, is a completely different matter. Many people could happily not be listed but unfortunately a lot of people do not even ask about being made ex-directory.

[NetworkGuy]

(Actually I've had a few lately, has the TPS been abolished or what?)

No, not scrapped, but some firms seem oblivious of the penalties (I think up to 5K fine per 'bad' call), and some seem just not to care.

However, it is worth going back to the TPS service and registering the number again every 2 years. The worst you can get is a message from the site saying "that number is already registered" (at which point you have some peace of mind).

FWIW, it is free to be unlisted in the directory database. There are 3 (or 4 if you are some MoD or government top bod) where

1) is unlisted (but your details will be given if a person asks for you by name and gives correct address

2) unlisted where number is not released even with correct name and address

3) unlisted, and operator will intercept calls, ask caller for their name, call your number and ask if you want to talk to them (this one has a fee, last time I looked it was a 100+ a year, but I could have misremembered!)

4) unlisted, and not even on Openreach database (for top security people so number cannot be found by bribing staff).

The directory database is managed by BT (as they still have majority of customers) but distributed to any firm (eg those offering 118 services) but your privacy is kept to one of those 4 levels, and you would have to request a change to 1/2/3 either with BT or the company you use.

Level 1 still means any organisation (such as a school) could get your number via enquiries but it would not be listed online or in printed directories.

[Blatherskite]

On a similar vein, did you know the Charlity Chuggers aren't allowed to shake their collecting tins - never mind follow you down the road! - as it's then considered soliciting or begging and is illegal.

Always a good one to use when you're harassed by one :)

[Dancergirl]

Yes I know it's a bit mean and I did feel a bit guilty.....but sometimes desparate measures are called for to tell these companies that cold calls achieve nothing!

[beatrixkitto]

I always sound interested, then say hang on a minute, let me just turn my bath water off.... then i leave the phone on the table lol that'll teach the buggers!!

[onceamai]

I think they do a horrid job and must be desperate to have to do it. However, it's the "good evening ma'am and how are you today?" that really gets my goat. I always reply now: "I'm sorry, do I know you" and repeat it until they admit they are a cold caller. At which point I say thank you for calling me but I don't take calls from people I don't know and whose services I haven't solicited and then put the phone down.

[HippyHippopotamus]

BT keep phoning (about once a week at the moment) to ask if I want to upgrade our broadband. We do and I tell them so. They then check and its not available in our area yet. Seriously! I've had the same conversation about 10 times now. I've asked the last one to put a note on the file that they are only to ring me once its available... watch this space!

oh and chuggers aren't actually allowed to follow you. so the best way to get rid of them, without being rude, is to invite them to walk with you and talk.

[Anniegetyourgun]

I foolishly answered one of those telephone "surveys" recently. I was quite alert to identity theft possibilities, I hope, and didn't tell them anything they didn't already know about me. To every question that started "would you consider changing..." or "are you interested..." I said a firm "no". Then I got this call from the electricity co - pretty sure it was EON - and told them I was with the TPS, so she said "I'm calling because you answered a survey" and it was in the middle of my pointing out that I had said I was not going to change my supplier that she put the phone down. Note to self, stick to guns with all cold callers and do not attempt to be selective.

Did have one of those fake-virus calls once. DS2 answered it and wasn't nearly suspicious enough, so I took charge and ran rings round them for the next 20 minutes. (Anyone for example who claims to be working on behalf of "the Windows company" might reasonably be expected to know the Windows Company's real name, don't you think?) The same guy called a couple of days later and started on the same script, so I greeted him warmly and reminded him of our previous discussion. Never heard a phone go down so quickly.

Found out later that XH wasn't so bright and got scammed out of 50 quid by the same people. Amused me rather because he always used to say I'm too gullible (which is true, see first paragraph above) and never, never to tell anybody anything over the phone (even if it's my bank who I called first). But if it's got IT in it his eyes glaze over.

Oh, another favourite recently is the payment protection insurance one. They are working on behalf of the government (won't say which Department/Agency) to help people recover overpayment of mis-sold insurance. The one I had this week put the phone down when I asked "for what?" It's quite insulting when they don't even try to be convincing.

[PigValentine]

MadamH my god, I love the mormons. Last time they stopped and talked to me, I ended up giving them my mobile number, they were delighted and talking about coming round to talk to me more...until I advised them that I had a sexual fetish for Mormons, and they probably wouldn't be safe coming to my home. They laughed, but also looked a little scared, and I never did get a phone call from them.

I always give cold callers to one of the DS's.

[whatdoiknowanyway]

Almost 20 years ago I had a 2 week old baby and was catching up with some sleep mid afternoon whenthe doorbell went.
It was one of those guys selling door to door household items. Do you remember the 'I'm from(names random northern town), and am trying to make a living for myself' then offering a tray of crappy dusters etc for at least twice what they would cost in the shops?

Anyway I tried to say no but in a nice way.

He said 'why don't you just say you don't want to help me you lying bitch'

I was too dazed and sleep deprived to do anything much other than close the door on him.

Now I just tell anyone who calls without appointment that I don't buy, sell or discuss anything at the door.and close the door without further comment.

[tyler80]

With the chuggers I normally ask what charity they work for and then explain I'll add them to my blacklist as i don't support charities who harass people in the street.

[newmum001]

Karaishere i once told one of the clipboard brigade to fuck off after 10 minutes of him following me and me politely saying "no thank you", "i'm on my lunch break", "i'm not interested" etc to be told that i was very rude and aggressive. I pointed out that following someone for 10 minutes harrassing them was also rude and quite aggressive!

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

I just hand the phone to 3yo DS.

[newmum001]

You were more polite than i ever am. I usually just hang up straight away without saying a word. I understand that they are just doing their job but tbh if i was in that kind of job i'd expect that to happen a lot. People don't want to be bothered!

[madamh]

TondelayoSchwarzkopf: I think it's the contrast between them and most of the scruffy, trousers-round-their-knees chaps around at the moment. The Mormons just look so shiny and eager to please :o

[Blatherskite]

Our house was previously owned by DH's Gran. British Gas phone a couple of times a year and ask to speak to her. Telling them that she is dead (has been for at least 6 years now) usually shuts them up - but they keep ringing back!!

[freshmint]

If you put the phone down without even saying hello they get the message I find

And can't accuse you of being rude because you are already off the phone

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

Why are those Mormon guys so hot MadamH? I've often wondered the same thing.