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

[alegre]

I don't think you were at all rude and I wouldn't worry about it.

We get lots of cold calls from Indian call centres (at least once a day) for the previous house owners who sold up over 2 years ago. I'm so fed up now that when I realise I don't let them carry on, just say 'take us off your list' and hang up on them. Sometimes I don't even bother to pick up the phone.

We're on TPS and I'm constantly asking companies to stop calling us. Don't think it works when they're not UK based though.

I do feel sorry for people doing these jobs and realise it must be awful for them when they get me but I'm fed up of having my personal time disrupted. I don't want to change energy suppliers, have double glazing or any of the other things and I don't see why I should have to justify myself.

[JamieLeeCurtis]

He didn't really think you were rude. He actually know you are a polite person because a rude person would swear at him. So it was just a way for him to ask a question and try and keep you talking (because you are polite). Don't fall for their tricks.

Admittedly a crappy job, and no one should be abusive to them, but IMO they are intruding and should be told "I don't talk to cold-callers"

[Ponders]

Agree that OP's caller was trying desperately to extend the conversation - cheeky sod

TPS doesn't lapse as far as I know but some companies seem to think they can ignore it.

When you get a cold call, if you can be bothered, instead of hanging up ask for the company's name & phone number; sometimes they will hang up on you at that point (I wonder why?) but if you do get their details you can report them to the TPS \link{http://complaints.tpsonline.org.uk/Consumer/\complaints page}

TPS will probably just send them a toothless letter or something but at least you know you've tried!

[Ponders]

oh but as alegre says, you can't do anything about overseas companies

[KurriKurri]

I've had two pushy phone calls from EDF this week - totally unable yo take no for an answer - and they claimed they had phoned at a particular time and we hadn't answered - a total lie since DH and I were both in at the time. They are seriously getting on my wick.

[JamieLeeCurtis]

I don't answer the phone at certain times of the day because I know it will be cold-callers.

[westerngirl]

These people drove me crazy when my son was a baby. He'd no sooner gone for a (very hard won) nap and the blasted 'phone would ring and wake him. Really intrusive as well.

Just kept asking them questions. Reversed any questions they asked me? What is your name? Where are you based? What is your 'phone no? What are your bank details? Then asked their supervisor's details.

Sometimes the line would go dead. Seemed to stop problem of them ringing back at a more convenient time as well.

I used to try to very politely extricate myself from door and 'phone callers. Then, on reflection, it dawned on me how rude they were not going away when it was obvious their unsolicited approaches were unwanted.

[Kayzr]

EON have rung me everyday this week. Despite me telling all of them that I am moving in with DP in a couple of weeks and he is already with EON anyway. I think I might swear at the next one.

[flamingtoaster]

It is a horrible job but it does infuriate me at times. We registered with TPS and it is very much better now. Before we did so i was considering running through the following:

If double glazing - give details of all windows before asking (a) do your windows keep vampires out? Followed by (b) How long will it take the council to approve the cost?

Answer brightly "Oh I am so glad you phoned today - I really need to speak to someone about (insert crazy idea of the day here").

Ask them what they are wearing ...

Luckily the TPS worked!

[JaneS]

You were rude?!

Crikey, I hope he never rings me then. When we were on the TPS, I'd say 'I'm sorry, we're on the TPS, so you should not be cold-calling us.'

Any further response other than 'bye' or an apology received a:

'Fuck off' and the phone down.

And you can think IABU if you like.

[HettiesMum]

Someone from a call centre asked to speak to my husband. I told them I had just shot him and he was lying dead sprawled across the kitchen table. They put the phone down pretty quickly !

[Dakiara]

Had one from my broadband suppliers (just got sold on to another company) the other day. Asked to be put on a do not call list and ended up with another call a few days later. Apparently it's not a sales call if they're trying to sell you line rental... I am now changing broadband. :o

Best that has worked for me so far on these though is "Oh, is it free?". :)

(and we still get a few "not knowing" about the TPS every so often)

[SeaTrek]

I had a cold caller once trying to sell me insurance for my new mobile phone. I didn't want to buy it. He told me that he hoped someone stole my fucking phone then. I must admit I found that quite amusing!

[Dancergirl]

I think you were far too polite! I'm really horrible to cold-callers - only way to put them off I find.

[SmethwickBelle]

If I see someone with a clip board obviously selling, knocking on the door I just don't open the door. I don't hide behind the sofa or anything and smile if I catch their eye but don't open the door.

For one thing it is too intrusive, my home is my home and I decide what happens in it, and there is invariably a heavy baby to jiggle whilst they go through the script pointlessly, or a toddler trying to escape as they show me their ID and the key is never in the right place to open the damn door anyway.

[narkypuffin]

Cold calling is incredibly rude. I don't buy over the phone or at the door. Full stop.

[narkypuffin]

I do have a black list though. Companies that have been so rude/pushy I'll never use them.

[Catspersonalbanker]

I had a cold caller at the door who wouldn't leave when I had said politely that I was happy with my current provider. I think it was Sky. So when they persisted I just calmly shut the door, with no further arguement.

I'd never done this before but I am 8 1/2 pg and I thought FFS I have been polite, I don't want your service and I am not going to stand here debating what I already know. Go away.
I felt bad for a bit and thought, no I am the customer and No means no!

[PurpleKate]

We keep getting calls from companies running a well known event log scam.

They follow a well known script that involves them asking us to open up the PC's event log and then making 'oooh you have a virus we can fix it' comments. They the either try and get money out of you or remote access to your PC or both.

The last time this happened I just laughed at the guy and put the phone down. He rang back!

DH has been dying to pick up one of these calls, any way he did yesterday. He managed to keep th guy on the phone for 18 minutes. Which finally ended when the guy said to my DH 'you are wasting my time' and DH responded with 'well you rang me and tried to defraud me!"

I have no truck with cold callers at all they get one of the following actions from me:

1. Put phone down immediately,
   
2. Laugh and then put phone down
   
3. Swear and put phone down

[Dartsonwednesdays]

We've had a couple of calls trying to persuade us to change utility companies. First one I managed to get rid of really easily. 2nd one, the caller asked for my OH. He wasn't there so I asked what the call was about. When told it was about changing to another supplier I caught the caller on the hop when I accused him of sexism

You see, I'm the one who pays the gas/electric bills as a result of the way we've divvied up the household bills (separate bank accounts, it's just the way it's always been with us).

The spluttering on the other end of the line was rather wonderful, especially when I was asked if I'd consider changing, and said no because I was very offended by the attitude....

[walesblackbird]

I think you were very polite - I would have either just put the phone down or handed it to my young daughter and allowed her to talk at him down the phone! Works every time!