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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

received a cold caller and left the phone off the hook

116 replies

crystalglasses · 03/03/2012 16:50

We have registered not to have cold calls but one company just keeps calling - from India by the sound of the accents and I've receved a about half a dozen calls this week - wanting to know if I've had a road accident and need their assistance. I usually just say no sorry I'm busy and hang up. Last time I asked for his phone number so I could call back and he hung up. Today I decided enough is enough and I just walked away from the phone, leaving the caller to talk into empty space. I think this is going to be my tactic in future . I wonder how many more calls I get from this company? What do others think and how tdo you deal with these callers?

OP posts:

AKissIsNotAContract · 03/03/2012 16:52

We have caller ID and I don't answer if I don't recognise the number.

BigGirlInASmallWorld · 03/03/2012 16:56

I receive lots of thses calls everyday. I need to register too. They are infuriating.

LilacWaltz · 03/03/2012 16:58

Watch out though, annoy them too much and due to the time difference they may start calling you during the day where they are.... Which is 2,3,4 am here!

AKissIsNotAContract · 03/03/2012 16:59

If you register with TPS I think it only stops the UK calls so the international ones can still get through.

Bunbaker · 03/03/2012 17:00

I do that. Unfortunately the TPS is only available for telephone calls generated in the UK so you can't prevent these unsolicited phone calls if they are from abroad.

troisgarcons · 03/03/2012 17:01

Take all their details - report them and hope they get a 5K fine

BigGirlInASmallWorld · 03/03/2012 17:01

I get automated messaged calls 0843 etc

MaureenMLove · 03/03/2012 17:01

Bloody annoying, aren't they? I had a cold caller just now. I said hello twice and still no reply, so thinking it may be DD having a conversation with her mates and not realising I'd answered I shouted, 'HELLO!' The woman on the other end said, 'Maam, don't shout at me.' Needless to say, I put the phone down again!

CogitoErgoSometimes · 03/03/2012 17:02

Another one that uses caller ID here. If the display says 'Unknown International' I don't bother picking it up. The few friends I know from overseas would leave a message... the scammers never do. TPS definitely doesn't stop overseas calls.

LilacWaltz · 03/03/2012 17:04

Think I read on a thread here that of you tell them you are a business address then they take you off their list

Piffle · 03/03/2012 17:05

blow a whistle
or say "please hold and I'll put you through and leave them there..."
Or if they ask for a name, say sorry they are dead...

ivykaty44 · 03/03/2012 17:09

I got rid of my land line, I don't miss the stupid calls that's for sure. I did start getting a few on my mobile but they asked for the name I use on facebook - so I knew facebook had sold my telephone number on, I asked the last cold caller where he got my number and he told me the company name and email -

I emailed them and explained it was a made up name and they needed to get the name of the list otherwise people would be unhappy paying for a made up name and number.

Since then all the calls have stopped. I changed my name on facebook again and so would know if they started up again as they don't ask for me but my fb name This is one reason I don't give out my telephone number and don't use my real name on the interent as so much information is sold on again

Eclairwaldorf · 03/03/2012 17:10

What can you do for the recorded messages calls? I say hello, there's a long pause and then this automated voice kicks in, usually about PPI. Number withheld. Any idea how to stop those calls?!

Astronaut79 · 03/03/2012 17:12

PUt a toddler on.

toddler: Hello?
Caller: Good afternoon, may I speak to the man of the house (!)?
toddler: hello?
Caller: Hello? Please may I talk to the mortgage payer?
toddler:....
Caller: Hello?
toddler: has lost interest and is hunting for his fire engine.

LikeAnAdventCandleButNotQuite · 03/03/2012 17:13

Just keep saying "what?" everytime they say something. Hopefully that would annoy them enough to hang up

ivykaty44 · 03/03/2012 17:16

Just tell the caller they have a wrong number and you know this as the person they are talking to is dead

that should confuse them enough to hang up

Bunbaker · 03/03/2012 17:18

"but they asked for the name I use on facebook - so I knew facebook had sold my telephone number on"

Why did you put your number on Facebook? I never give my mobile number out to anyone other than family, friends or DD's school.

We have a landline as OH works from home and older family members don't have mobile phones with contracts so it would be very expensive for them to ring us.

ivykaty44 · 03/03/2012 17:20

Why did you put your number on Facebook?

I didn't put my number on facebook - they took it so that I could upload photographs, it wasn't visable to others.

ivykaty44 · 03/03/2012 17:21

Older relative use skype as they like to see us when they chat - so we use skype instead of a landline

MrGin · 03/03/2012 17:24

Phone Jacker did a bit with cold callers once.

Pretended to be fairly old and doddery, at some point went away from phone, and on return acted like he'd forgotten everything and could they start again . repeat.

I simply don't answer calls from any unrecognised number. If it's important they'll leave a message.

inmysparetime · 03/03/2012 17:29

I find these calls amusing, and enjoy weirding them out:
Hello, is that IMST?
Yes, I'm on a trampoline!
Err, do you have a minute for a few questions?
I like CHEESE !
Do you own your own property?
I can touch my toes, can you?
Err, madam, I didn't get that, do you own your own property?
I bet you can't even eat 5 cream crackers without water can you?
...

I can keep up the insanity for ages if necessary but oddly, they rarely call back, can't think why...

Bunbaker · 03/03/2012 17:29

"Older relative use skype as they like to see us when they chat - so we use skype instead of a landline"

MIL is 83, losing her memory, thinks a mouse is a small rodent and has no idea how to work a computer. She struggles to remember how to use her mobile phone. My old auntie doesn't own a computer and doesn't want to. As we live hundres of miles away it is the telephone or letter writing or nothing.

I don't personally know anyone who doesn't have a landline.

ILoveDinosaurs · 03/03/2012 17:32

All the ones I get seem to be fraud ones. You know, "i'm ringing about your windows pc/skybox/British Gas account". We have none of these.

To which I reply. "This is a fraudulent call. You are trying to commit a crime". And repeat. They usually hang up straight away.

My DH on the other hand is less polite. Starts faking a row and then puts the phone on its side, stands away from it. More shouting. Then screams as if he is being murdered, and begs for help. It was funny the first time. 5 times on, its getting less so. However, they hang up pretty quick!

I must say, keeping your maiden name is a great way for spotting cold callers when they address you by the wrong name...

TalkinPeace2 · 03/03/2012 17:47

Yup
when they ask for Mr Maiden name its game on !!!

Hullo is that the homeowner?
"no, I'm the bailiff"
"the who"
"wha?"

Hullo is that Mrs Talk?
Who's calling
We are calling about your Sky account
Really
Yes, about your upgrade
is it free
click

WorraLiberty · 03/03/2012 17:58

OP, what is the point in registering with TPS if you're just going to say "No, sorry I'm busy"?

The whole idea of it is that you tell them you're registered, ask them to take your details off their data base.

And if they ring back after that, warn them their company can be fined £1000's

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