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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be EXTREMELY pissed off about cold callers?

16 replies

parmalilac · 27/06/2016 11:46

I am so completely pissed off with these calls, usually telling me I've had an accident blah blah, and am registered with the TPS who seem to be useless. I have tried hanging up, blocking numbers, reporting to TPS but they keep coming. Often show up on my mobile as a local number, but I'm certain there are no ambulance chaser call centres in my tiny town, so this seems like a deliberate ruse to use local numbers as it's more likely that folks will answer. Any fiendish ideas on how to deal with these?

OP posts:
CancelTheCheque · 27/06/2016 13:46

Politely ask where they got your number from and then explain that they must be mistaken / have the wrong person and you'd like it corrected (we found out this way that our number was being circulated via marketing list as a business used to own our number years ago, the marketing company were very apologetic and helpful when I called them about it). Then report every call to TPS via their website. We've gone from several calls a day to practically none. Takes a bit of effort but well worth it. Also do a google check to make sure your number isn't anywhere public online and get it removed if so. Good luck!

Original poster
parmalilac · 27/06/2016 14:03

I've tried being polite, asking to have my number removed etc. One guy this morning, when I asked this, told me I shouldn't have a phone if I didn't want to receive calls. That one got reported. I have been registered for years, but I wonder if every time you give your details out when taking out insurance, shopping etc, you go onto the 'list' again, and so start getting new calls??

OP posts:
Wyldfyre · 27/06/2016 14:05

Not cold calling but I worked in a call centre as a student.
Don't get mad, don't just hang up - ask them to remove the number from their database. Under the data protection laws they MUST do this unless they have a legitimate reason for holding the data.

Original poster
parmalilac · 27/06/2016 14:11

Yes, I told the rude guy this morning that it was my legal right to ask to be removed, but he disagreed and said his company was allowed to call by TPS as it was not an 'inconvenient' call (despite my protesting very strongly that it was).

OP posts:
LittleCandle · 27/06/2016 14:14

I confess - i flipped this morning at CR Smith, told them to stop calling us and finally to bugger off. In my defense, it has been a shit couple of weeks and we are still dealing with a very recent bereavement. However, they have been told several times in the last few months not to call us. In fact, I also threatened to report them (I didn't specify to whom) when they called this morning. The ones that really get my goat are the prerecorded drivel about solar panels/insulation etc. On one occasion, I just put the phone on the sofa while I continued to watch TV and the guy was still trying to persuade me to buy or do something 5 minutes later. I know the people at the other end are just doing their jobs, but frankly, I have no patience with them right now.

mrsfuzzy · 27/06/2016 14:19

put the phone down without speaking, no need to blow a gasket and get wound up, it makes no difference to the caller but can leave you in a foul mood or upset. life's too short for this rubbish.

Scaredycat3000 · 27/06/2016 14:21

The last cold call I got happened to fall, mic first, landing by my screaming childs mouth. My 7 yr old, who can talk the hind legs off a donkey, loves to have a long chat. But my favorite is the ambulance chasers, 'You've had an accident?' 'Who's had an accident?, It must be OH, what's happened, how bad is it.................' Gradually getting more and more hysterical, until they're trying to calm me down.
YANBU, selfish cunts, I've done some shit jobs, some literally, but I never sunk so low as to get paid to go and harass people in their own homes. TPS only works for companies in the UK, international calls can appear to come from anywhere.

Original poster
parmalilac · 27/06/2016 14:36

I've tried another tactic with the ambulance chasers - they tell me they've had a report that I was in an accident. I respond ' Oh no! Am I in hospital?/Was I badly hurt?' or suchlike, which usually results it THEM hanging up on ME. Also repeating 'Pardon?/What?/Can't hear you/Speak up'. I really want to say 'why don't you fuck off and get a proper job'

OP posts:
Original poster
parmalilac · 27/06/2016 14:38

Scaredycat3000 - sorry, cross post! We obviously think alike, must try and borrow 6 year old niece to deal with these wankers.

OP posts:
rumbelina · 27/06/2016 14:45

One I got I kept asking how she'd got my name. She mentioned something they were doing with the government. Bull. Shit. I kept asking which department and who made the report and what was the title of the report. She was side stepping but I kept on demanding actual answers. I was like a dog with a bone and she eventually hung up on me. I know people need jobs but this stuff really pisses me off. Does anyone actually ever sign up to these things?? We don't have a landline now as even with TPS it used to ring off the hook.

Had a cold caller at the door last week from Shelter. I said I'm sorry we don't do stuff on the doorstep, I don't want to waste your time. She said ok, if you want to know more you can find us on the internet, with a smile, and went off. I went on and donated some money. I even surprised myself but I get so annoyed by hard sellers trying to get a foot in the door that she really got my respect.

rumbelina · 27/06/2016 14:46

*charities included in the hard sellers bit. They are so persistent.

Scaredycat3000 · 27/06/2016 14:48

It doesn't make any difference, but I feel like I've at least tried. If you decide that's it's a member of your family the ambulance chasers are calling about you can really go for it though.
The only thing that made any difference in the end was move house. I asked to be ex directory in the same phone call as I set up the new phone, we still get cold calls though. At least here we have our own front door so have a no cold callers sign, obviously the Religious ignore this and point to my sign ans say but that can't mean us, wankers.

coco1810 · 27/06/2016 17:10

Invest in a whistle!

LavenderRains · 27/06/2016 17:19

I've had the same people over the last few months asking me to do a home style survey. Every time I say no and ask them to delete my number.
The last call ended with the man telling me he was coming to my address to arrest meGrin TWAT

lostincumbria · 27/06/2016 17:48

Best thing you can do is get a new number and do not share it on any form unless you can explicitly forbid them to pass your number on. Argos were the worst culprits with me.

cluecu · 27/06/2016 18:05

I get about calls a week either about car accident or ppi. As long as they're polite I'm polite back and it takes around 20 seconds. Not something worth getting annoyed at in my opinion as they're just doing a job and have been given incorrect info by their system Smile

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