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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want to keep a whistle next to my phone?

24 replies

Backinthebox · 26/10/2011 23:21

I'm registered with the telephone preference service. But that doesn't seem to stop cold callers these days. Yesterday I had phone calls trying to sell me an anti-virus for Windows (I don't use Windows,) cavity wall insulation (I don't have cavity walls,) wooden windows, and advice on claiming a refund on payment protection programs.

The phone calls from India trying to tell me about the trojan virus that is attacking my computer via Windows are really bugging me. They ask for and address me as Mrs XXX (XXX being my husband's surname. My name is different.) And won't believe that I don't have a computer with Windows on it. They won't give up if I leave them on hold, threaten them with the TPS, give the phone to 4yo DD or ask for details about them so I can call them back if I am interested (Yeah, right!) I am getting about 7 or 8 calls a day from them and they won't give up. When I mention the TPS they put the phone down, but then call back 10 minutes later.

Today DD was playing with a whistle she got in a party bag, and I thought 'a quick blast of that down the phone should put them off calling again.'

Other than that, has anyone got any other good ways of dissuading really persistent and annoying cold callers?

OP posts:

ivykaty44 · 26/10/2011 23:23

I got rid of my landline, they now can't get through on that number

slapmeonthepatio · 26/10/2011 23:26

Other than demanding they give you their manager's name, getting them to confirm that they name of the company they're calling from and telling them it is an offence and they will be heavily fined if they keep ringing you while you are on TPS, no.

Incidentally, it might be worth re-registering with TPS - I have heard that after 6 months you can slip back onto call lists. I don't know why you should, or if it's true, but it could be worthwhile re-registering from time to time. Or perhaps speak to someone at TPS about it - they might have some up-to-date advice for you.

I've set my answering machine to come on after 2 rings, because they always manage to ring as I'm getting the kids' tea ready. Luckily, it's also dissuaded the ILs from ringing then, too.

tunnelmaniac · 26/10/2011 23:28

Erm, just put the phone down? i.e. hang up. After whistling of course haha.

skybluepearl · 26/10/2011 23:29

can you ban their number - not sure how. it's very annoying though isn't it. what ever you do don't say you are interested and say you will ring them back. they might take that as an invitation to keep calling. maybe just ask how they got you number and say you are with the telephone pref service and now logging their calls in order to complain. tell them to stop ringing you.

DutchGirly · 26/10/2011 23:32

The sort of callers you describe won't take any notice of tPS.

Apart from the whistle, you could say 'Hang on a minute', put the phone down without hanging up and just go on with your business letting them wait for a looooong time. They will soon get the message.

onagar · 26/10/2011 23:39

Keep using the whistle. There was a thread here the other day from someone who worked at one of these places and didn't like people blowing whistles/complaining.
So if everyone does it maybe they will give up and get real jobs.

slapmeonthepatio · 26/10/2011 23:43

I kept getting fax calls to my phone - at all times of the night (it was a new number, I'd just moved in). I spoke to BT and they gave me a code to key in after everyone of these calls which then barred that call (even though the number was withheld). It worked up to a point, but I got so many, I ended up changing my number. Not a problem as I'd only just moved in and not many people had it.

Are you with BT? They have a very good nuiscance call bureau - very helpful.

Bogeymanface · 26/10/2011 23:47

TPS doesnt scare them because most are calling from outside the UK, so that is perfectly legal. You can register as often as you like, but it wont stop them calling, thats why most telesales calls come from outside this country. UK based direct marketing companies dont call TPS registered numbers because the fines arent worth the sales they might get. I used to work for a company that supplies phone numbers/email/addresses to companies that do DM and companies wont buy data that hasnt been "cleaned" to removed TPS registrations.

Blowing a whistle would work for each company that calls you but the people calling you arent the bastards. The people calling are working because they need the money and all you will do is cause pain (and possibly injury) to someone trying to make a living.

The best thing you can do is invest in caller display and dont answer numbers that you dont recognise or are withheld/private/out of area/international. I do this, I informed school to leave a message and they do, and the scammers never leave a message and eventually give up. Btw, the "windows antivirus" thing is a scam.

ivykaty44 · 26/10/2011 23:50

put the phone down on the side and move away - whilst they are still on the phone you are saving soemone else form one of these calls. Go and put your phone back down later - whilst it is engaged they can't phone again either

Bogeymanface · 26/10/2011 23:51

maybe they will give up and get real jobs.

The majority of callers are in India or nearby. They work for these companies because the money is good and it puts food on the table. What do they care if they are disturbing a family in the UK while they are having their dinner, a meal that they are struggling to provide for their own family?

I have worked in direct marketing for years and I can tell you that no one sits on a phone for 8 hours a day, including in the UK, if they could get a "real job".

proudfoot · 27/10/2011 01:12

YABU and a bit nasty. Just hang up or leave the phone on the side or dont answer calls from unknown numbers. No need to have a go at or blow whistle at someone just doing their job.

exexpat · 27/10/2011 01:17

The ones telling you you have a virus are a criminal scam so I wouldn't have any hesitation in blowing a whistle down the phone at them.

The others are just people doing a legitimate but reasonable job, so just saying no thanks and putting the phone down is enough.

HauntedHengshanRoad · 27/10/2011 06:56

Cold calling is an insidious trade and should be eradicated. It's bad enough being bombarded with adverts for things we don't want or need, but to be disturbed in our own homes is just appalling. I have no sympathy for anyone at any echelon of the business, from the people manning the phones to the organizations that use cold calling.

startwig1982 · 27/10/2011 08:27

I end up having brilliant, nonsensical conversations with them, which end up with me feeling very cheerful and them very confused. My latest was when they phoned during lunch and I took great pleasure in telling them I couldn't turn on my computer as I was eating an apple . They thought I said I had an apple.. I told them my apple was far too yummy to stop eating. Passed onto a supervisor, who got frustrated and said "well I can't help you then!" and hung up. The call lasted almost 15 minutes

poorbuthappy · 27/10/2011 08:32

Currently we are getting calls from 01274 663293. They ring and if you answer you go straight onto hold with a recorded message saying they will be with you shortly. You put the phone call and of course you can't cut them off because they rang you. It's bloody annoying it was 20 mins the 1day before I could use the phone!

And if you ring the number back it Tells you it doesn't exist.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 27/10/2011 08:34

poorbuthappy
01274 663293

poorbuthappy · 27/10/2011 08:46

Cheers. I already knew they were shysters, I was just ranting at how annoying it us!

JarethTheGoblinKing · 27/10/2011 08:47

LoveBeingAWitch · 27/10/2011 08:50

I virus ones I told if they called again I would be contacting the police, yet hung up and haven't called back!

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 27/10/2011 08:54

I put the phone down on the bed/sofa etc . I dont turn it off, I just put it down.

This avoids me being rude to anyone because my nightmare job is working in a call centre. Never mind people who bang on about 'I would scrub toilets if I had to' on benefit bashing threads - toilet scrubbing would be a dream compared to working in one of those hell holes.

I have to be careful, sometimes perfectly legitmate callers have the 'cold call' about them and I am almost horrible. The nice man who phones me to remind me of my blood dontation appointments nearly got an earful the other day

One of those debt agencies called me once about my 'debts' (I dont have any) and how they could help me pay them off. I feign total paranoia 'How do you know? Who told you? Whats going on???? OMG have you been outside the house'

They put the phone down on me that time

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 27/10/2011 08:55

Why do you een engage wit them? The moment someone asks or me by the wrong name or introduces some "offer" I just put the phone down.

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 27/10/2011 09:06

Well I got a perfectly legitimate call from the tax people yesterday who said there was a prob with my address not matching my 'partner's' address (he's my husband, get your facts right). So I merrily spewed off my address, but got paranoid when they asked my DoB and spent five minutes quizzing them to prove they were legit before i would answer any more questions. They must think I'm a crazy lady, but I don't want to end up on Watchdog boo-hooing about how I got caught out by a telephone scammer pretending to be the tax office.

I had a friend who used to answer cold calls with wonderful reasons why he didn;t need their services. The double glazing salesman got told he lived in a tent and the car insurance people that he didn;t have a car because he didn;t have any legs...

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 27/10/2011 10:23

Maker, if they call me, I ask for their name and phone them back...anyone could say they were the tax people.

SageBatMist · 27/10/2011 11:16

My DH and I have had wonderfully amusing conversations with the guys who ring up about the viruses on windows machines. We both work in IT and can run rings around these people and string them on for quite a long time. Once I just laughed and hung up. The guy rang me straight back and asked my why I laughed! Once DH had a caller who was so exasperated with him that he asked why DH wasn't co-operating with him, DH's reply "well you rang me!".

Anyway, we've got so fed up with them and the double glazing/cavity wall insulation/survey calls that we've stopped answering the phone if we don't recognise the number and let pretty much every call through to the answer machine. Its amazing how quickly people hang up now.

Anyone who is remotely important has our mobile numbers. If we could give up our landline, we would, but can't because of broadband, sob.

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