To be a bit rude to cold-callers?

[Vagabond]

I loathe being cold-called at home. You get up from your comfy position to be propositioned by a foreigner (who can barely speak English) who wants to offer you cash-back on PPI insurance. Drives me mad. I used to be polite. I'm now a demon. I demand to know where they got my number, I tell them they've woken my baby up with the call and I tell them to never, ever phone me again.

Hmmm, I suppose that's quite tame! What do you say?

BTW, even if you register with that hotline number to never get cold calls, it's entirely legal if they call you from foreign call centres. That must be why I get so many foreigners (or computerised messages) calling me at home. Drives me crazy!

My phone is in my name, not that of my DP. They ring and ask for Mrs (my DPs surname). I tell them she does not exist.

Wherever they're based, the person calling is jsut trying to earn a living....but it is SO annoying!!!
I say "I'm in the telephone preference service, please don't call again" and hang up. The caller will invariably try and interrupt, but it's a perfectly polite thing to say and I don't really care if the TPS applies or not: I don't want to be sold stuff over the phone.

I think you can have unidentifiable calls blocked from calling you - but not certain.

I try not to be rude, as we all need a job, but I do ask them to take me off their lists - usually works

I think I'll put a whistle by the phone and just blow it really loudly the next time it happens. I do feel sorry for them but still....it's so bloody intrusive!

YANBU. Last time I politely told a cold caller I didn't appreciate the call what with being TPS-registered and all, he let out a string of profanities, including telling me to "fuck off and die, you stupid bitch".

I ask them for 'the password' which confuses them no end. When they ask me what I mean I say "sorry I can't talk to you if you don't know the password". They usually say something like "ok I'll leave it then" .

disclaimer - I know it's someone's job but the call is uninvited and unwanted so at least I'm polite.

You can damage someone's hearing by blowing a whistle down the phone at them.

Don't be a wanker, they're only working because they need the money like everyone else.

I sing I'm never rude, but I am tone deaf, and it doesn't take long for them to hang up

I love the password one!!! Would that work to cold callers at your house?

imagines self opening door slightly with it on the chain and saying 'what's the password?'

I love the password thing . I'm gonna try that next time.

I just say 'No, thankyou very much', and hang up. Love the idea of singing though. I try not to be rude, because they are just doing a really shite, badly paid job.

If they wake my baby up though, then I'm rude.

Noblegiraffe - you're probably right. I would never be organised enough to have a whistle by the phone anyway. The password tip is a GEM!

I also love saying "no, I can't take your call right now but if you leave me your number, I'll call you back this evening".

If you started singing, they'd probably think you're bonkers and just hang up. Also genius!

I just hang up, all the cold callers used to hang up on me when I told them I'm not interested so now I don't bother being nice.

Yaddnbu.

I'm sure we're being targeted atm by the 'Computer Maintenance Dept' - - whoever they may be (I tell them I don't have a computer but it makes no difference) and the solar panel people who seem incapable of understanding that I'm not interested.

So I have a plan. Next call I get I will say I am interested. Yes yes yes! Rush through that further appointment and send someone round at the double! Sooner if you can! ( I'm that keen!)

Then I will explain face to face just how un-f*ing-interested I am and I hope it wastes someone elses time because I'm at my wits end trying to explain it over the phone 99 times a week We're TPS registered too not that it helps

blowing a whistle down the phone is very harsh - you could damage their eardrum - a simple hang up is enough

we have to 'cold call' people in my job as we have to track all 16-19 year olds in our borough - I am always polite and most people are very happy to talk but there is no need to be abusive

I never answer the phone anymore.. I have a 4yo to do that for me.

Shove a blanket over your head and wrap it round you. Open the door on the chain...peep round with a goony face and say..in a monti python voice "WHAT is your name?!" Wait for answer then..."WHAT is your quest?!".... after this just hiss loudly and close the door

I am not polite to the ones that are clearly scammers.
My dad, who is usually brusque but polite to telesales people, was woken again by a repeat cold caller earlier (he is on nights) he had had enough and told the man if he called back again he would "come down there and bum you to death" :o

I'm starting to wonder if I can make this work to those than get you in the street...

'can I have 2 minutes of your time?'
'what's the password?'

Although today was odd, an eon man came up to me and said 'what colour is your meter key?' I said 'i don't have one' do he said 'how do you pay your bills then?' I said 'urrm direct debit....' he said 'oh right who are you with'

Me....'eon....are we done now?'

Him 'yup have a nice day!'

I think I, in my slightly sleep deprived state, expected him to know I was with eon by just looking at me and wondered what he wanted :-/

Please don't blow a whistle down the line. You could really damage someone's hearing.

TPS only covers uk based companies.

I use caller display. I ignore 'number unknowns' and the mil who is more annoying

I am only snappy with the computer error ones who must know they are involved in a scam.

With door to door It's usually telecoms, windows or charity. Telecoms I work for one so tell them they can't beat my price as I don't pay. Windows I say that they dont need replacing, because they dont, charities I say i will look into the charity online And make a donation of what I can afford at a time to suit me!

My mum used to say in a sad voice "Oh I thought this might be the news from the hospital I'm waiting for...will she make it do you think?" They apologise and hang up quickly.

Lou!!!!! You have just made me laugh while trying to make DS sleep.

He said 'smile mummy??? Why smile???'

As I'm usually very grumpy at bed time