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

(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.

"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.

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.

"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.

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

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

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.

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?

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