To want the college to stop phoning me

[Alreadytoldyou]

Last year I started a college course but I got very ill halfway through and just couldn't cope so I dropped out.

I am still ill right now and am going back and forwards for hospital appointments and I just feel really shit and vulnurable right now.

Anyway every single day for the last two weeks now I have received at least one phone call a day (usually more) from the college wanting to do a survey of some sort about what their students end up doing afterwards. Every time I explain that it's really not a good time and ask them nicely to not phone me again and I explain nicely why.

Yet every day they continue to phone me. It's always someone different and they always call from a private number.

I know it meant not seem like a big deal but I'm not coping very well anyways.

I have tried e-mailing the college twice but they didn't reply and tried phoning them using the various numbers I found on their website but they said they couldn't help me!

How do I get them to stop because no one is listening to me.

"Every time I explain that it's really not a good time and ask them nicely to not phone me again and I explain nicely why."

Just say you are not interested and they have to stop phoning you. Ask them to remove your details from their systems too, or say that you are changing your number from next week and give them a made up one

OP it may well not be the college - depending on what kind it is, there is a survey call the DLHE (destination of leavers of higher ed) which is administered by an external organisation nationally, I think IPSOS MORI but don't quote me on that.

So I think you need to ask to be removed from their database AND ask for the organisation they are calling from. Then ring that organisation separately and say in no uncertain terms that you do not want to be contacted again. Maybe don't be so nice, use terms like 'harassment', 'repeated intrusive calls'.

National surveys like that are on autopilot to get the highest response rate so that's why they will keep calling. Esp if you say 'it's not a good time' they may hear 'call back later'.

The trouble is the college funding is affected by students who drop out. And that's probably the reason they keep phoning. If they phone again say you have been very unwell and if they phone you again you will be contacting your MP to report them for harrassment.

Hi op

Sorry to hear this, I would put all of your concerns to the principle of the college In a letter of complaint, also phone the student services office and complain there, something's gone wrong somewhere and your request has not been actioned.

Hope you feel better soon lovely

Be forthright (? rude) and demand to be taken off their database.

How about saying "I left because of the bullying behaviour of the college, which you are proving by continuing to harass me now." Then put the phone down. Might not stop them, but it should cheer you up a bit. Hope you feel better soon.

this may sound like a joke but its not I swear...

my grandfather bought a whistle and if he got an unwanted caller he used to blow it down the phone.

both hilarious and effective.

RevoltingPeasant when they ring me they always say "this is such and such from x college". That's why I assumed it's them. Would the DLHE tell me they were the college?

I don't think they are phoning me because I left. I actually kind of get the impression they think I completed it for some reason. Your suggestion has cheered me up though dawn thank you .

God, don't do that.
Ask who they are, where they are phoning from and say what viviennemary said. Follow up with a call to the organisation phoning you and all the college too.
I know you fel awful but if you can make a couple of calls to complain they might get the message.
I hope you feel better.

Can you ask them to confirm where they are calling from, get the person's name and take a phone number for them before telling them to jog on. That way, at least the person you're talking to will know that they will be personally on the line if you get another call and might be more inclined to actually do as you've asked and get your details removed.

Ah no, doesn't sound like the DLHE then.

Probably best to send a formal email or letter to the college as a PP suggested asking to be removed from their contact database.

I work in a university and the careers department are responsible for telephoning all ex-students as part of the DHLE. I know this as I have done it.

I don't think it will be the DHLE survey though as this is usually done after Christmas

There are 2 DLHE's a year, depending on when you left. But they should identify themselves as IpsosMORI. Unfortunately your information will get passed to them unless you were identified as being too ill to be safely contactable.

Next time they phone, calmly find out who they are and request that you are no longer contacted. Once you know who they are, you can post on here for more advice if necessary, as there are lots of HE/FE workers here

Almost certainly an external call centre doing it. Can you say that you have already asked X times that you are not called again, and you are taking action with the college to have your details removed from their data.

Have I read it right that all they are calling for is a survey?

So if you answered the survey, they would stop calling you?

So do that.

You don't have to tell the truth! make up a load of bullcrap. Have fun tell them you are leaving next summer to become a professional flamenco dance teacher in tasmania.

I just can't help thinking that going to such lengths - calling, writing, demanding... is going to take far longer and stress you out far much more than telling them you have been accepted into NASA and will be setting off on their first manned mars mission.

Answer their stupid questions, say the first thing that comes into your head, they tick you off their list, the calls stop and you don't have to bother any more.

You have probably already spent more time on the phone than the survey takes, go with vitals suggestion. If they try to call you out re: the bizarre answers point out they have never listened to you asking the calls be stopped so you figured it didnt matter what you said.