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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To swear profusely at the next "courtesy caller" who wants to speak to my OH who is at work dammit!!

77 replies

Ashantai · 08/01/2009 16:23

ARRRGGGHH!!

I've just answered the 3rd call of the day from some eejit business wanting to speak to my oh. Poor woman just got the brunt of my anger cos i've had enough!!

I told her "He's at work, LIKE YOU ARE!!, what do you people do, hold a meeting and decide to ring me up at stupid times of the day just to annoy me??!"

I then ranted a little bit longer and then came over all apologetic, but it just winds me up.

The ones who ring and take about 5 seconds to actually speak, while i'm saying "hello, hello, hello, HELLO!!", piss me off the most and when they finally reply, i'm afraid there is most likely some expletive and i hang up!

Ok, i've counted to 10 and am now calm-ish!!!

OP posts:
Iklboo · 08/01/2009 16:26

The ones that take a while to answer are usually overseas call centres.
I had one chap who refused to speak to me about our JOINT account because he will 'only do business with the husband'

MissGT · 08/01/2009 16:27

YANBU! Sky regularly call here asking to speak to my boss (I'm the nanny)... Sometimes once a week. Or more.. Each time I say "sorry he's at work, call back in the evening". Just before Xmas I suggested they not to call back during weekdays as he will NEVER be here. They rang again yesterday morning. Sigh!

OhBling · 08/01/2009 16:27

I would be closing that account, pronto!

Fimbo · 08/01/2009 16:28

Those time delay ones get my goat too.

I tell them my husband is away on business for the next 3 months so they need to speak to me. Occasionally it works.

MadMarg · 08/01/2009 16:29

Oooh, that annoys me too. I was constantly getting phone calls from his bank - same stupid courtesy calls, and calls to interest him in insurance etc. When I pointed out that they darn well knew that he worked, and it was completely unreasonable for them to be calling at 2.00 pm (!!!). They have his mobile number, but they won't call mobiles and so wanted his work number. Humph, as if!!!! Pointed out that not calling a mobile was THEIR problem, not mine. One day I had enough and demanded that they put a note into his file that they ARE NOT to ring him at home during the day. Got quite stroppy about it. Finally worked though.

IsaacsFabMummy · 08/01/2009 16:29

YANBU most people work, why don't they understand that?!

bluebump · 08/01/2009 16:30

I get this all day too, usually when I've just got DS to sleep and you can't mute our home phone. You can usually tell if it's a call centre as they don't answer immediately when you say "hello" there is a small gap - I tend to hang up before they've even said hello if this is the case.

Ivykaty44 · 08/01/2009 16:33

Just say - oh yes of course, let me just get him for you... Then shout really loudly

GET you hairy bottom down here its your (either or) girlfriend/boyfriend on the phone.

Then just wlak away from the phone and next time you pass pop phone back on cradle.

Alibear1 · 08/01/2009 16:36

It drives me mad - have to say that Sky are one of the main culprits!

Man on phone 'I can't tell you what it's about madam, that's confidential'

Me 'Well if you are trying to sell something then fuck off and don't call back!'

argh

wasabipeanut · 08/01/2009 16:38

YANBU. Talk Talk rang for my dh over 10 times during the days only for me to tell them AGAIN that they had to call on an evening or weekend.

When he finally did talk to them he told them to go away because they had failed to listen to me

RedOnHerHead · 08/01/2009 16:42

just as i started reading this thread the phone rang - whilst also breastfeeding the baby, got up answered it and it was fecking dead! "withheld ID" - feckers!

pisses me right off - had a phonecall earlier from the Abbey - can you answer some security questions? How do I know its really them?????

I will join you in your AAAAaaaaarrrrrrghness!

OhBling · 08/01/2009 16:48

I used to get calls from Egg. Their strategy was to make me think there was a problem with the account to stop me from getting off the phone. But I figured it out and started saying at the beginning of the call, "is there a problem with my account or are you calling to offer me something?"

Stopped hearing from them.

My pet hate is when they call once, it rings once, then you get a message saying, "we have tried repeatedly to reach you but can't. Please call us in connection with your x,y,z credit card as soon as possible as it's urgent." And when you ring up they hvae no idea who you are!

babyignoramus · 08/01/2009 16:50

I often get cold calls at work - do you pay the electricity bill for the address? It's a building that houses about 1000 people. Do I feck!

Deemented · 08/01/2009 16:51

I keep getting these for hubbs...

'Hello... i'm calling on behalf of XYZ, please can i speak to Mr C.'

'Er, no...'

'I'd really like to speak to him about our latest range of products, we've introduced a new line and he's been selected to trial it for us, so it'd be in his benifit to speak with us.'

'Do you have a Ouija board?'

'...um... noooo....'

'Well that's the only way you'll get to speak to him - he's been dead for nearly five months'

Fucking twunts.

Shoshe · 08/01/2009 17:06

The worst one I got yesterday was one that sent a SMS to the landline, saying could I phone such and such Company urgently, and leaving a reference number. Only thing the reception was so bad I couldn't make head nor tale of the reference number.

I phoned them (we are in the process of moving and thought it was the Removal People)

The woman who answered said she need the Ref No. o put me through to the right Dept. I old her I couldn't decipher it.

'Well listen to it again' in a very snotty voice.

'I have 5 times, I cannot make it out' in a very very controlled voice.

'Yes you can'

' No I cant'

'listen to it again'

Arrrrrrrrggggggggggggggg

So I asked why send a SMS to a Landline.

Sh wouldn't come up with a reply to that.

I put the phone down.

2 hours later same SMS arrives.

This time I can make it out.

I phone again.

Get through to dept.

BLOODY8 DOUBLEGLAZING*

I LIVE IN ARMY QUARTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I am stressed enough as it is!

StarlightMcKenzie · 08/01/2009 17:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LackaDAISYcal · 08/01/2009 17:15

Register here and the cold calls will stop.

It might take some time for it to take full effect but since I registered I maybe get one a week rather than three a day as I was getting a t one point.

If any do call, I just mention that I'm registered and they clear the line quick smart as the penalties for breaching the core are quite strict.

the ones that irritate the most are the foreign call centres saying they are calling on behalf of vodaphone or whoever (which as I'm a customer with vodaphone makes me think they are from vodaphone) but they are just bloody lying and trying to sell you a new phone on a vodaphone tarriff.

TheCrackFox · 08/01/2009 17:16

I was once offered double glazing and said no. She then went on to offer me a conservatory. Er, good luck with that, I live in a first floor flat.

scaryteacher · 08/01/2009 17:21

It's great when I get cold called here in Belgium as they usually try me in rapid French. I tell them I can't speak that (I lie) and they go away! Otherwise I let the answerphone kick in on the basis that if it's important they will call me back.

StepfordKnife · 08/01/2009 17:25

YABU - poor sods are only trying to earn a quick buck and probably get terse and irritable callers all the time. I'd have to be seriously desperate before I did their job. Register with the telephone preference scheme.

emmalou78 · 08/01/2009 17:40

Either registering with TPS, or

say
'You AGAIN? remember you've told me you're recording these calls - so really you should KNOW I said piss off last time eh?'

oldraver · 08/01/2009 17:43

IKLBOO...I've had similar form an Indian call center. It was for the passport office (why on earth are the foreign centres for such thing) I explained that my sons father was not named on his birth certificate so should I put his details down. He told me just to write my husbands details down. I was confused so he then told me to get my husband to fill in the form

I wish I had used Deementeds reply .. taht I would need an Ouiji board. I did later complain when I got through to someone in THIS country. I understand India is a differnet culture but they should be made aware of OUR culture, ie that we dont need to be tied to a man

I also get Southern Electricity calling at my door with late (as off 9 years) name

Lauriefairycake · 08/01/2009 17:45

I'm registered with tps.

I screen always.

I don't answer calls from withheld numbers.

The telephone is there for my convenience, no one else's. I'm always shocked by people who get annoyed cos they've 'got out the bath/stopped having a shit/stopped eating dinner' to answer the phone - they're idiots - it's your telephone.

Which poem is it that has the line 'peremptory ringing of the telephone'? Love that line - as if the telephone is telling you to answer it.

StepfordKnife · 08/01/2009 18:34

In complete agreement with Lauriefairycake - I call screen and only answer when it is convenient...

mylittleredcar · 08/01/2009 18:34

I used to get loads of overseas calls, always in the daytime, always for my husband who was at work, AND always from the same foreign sounding lady, who ALWAYS got his name wrong ! last time, instead of explaining he was at work, I just said "of course, I'll go and get him" put the reciever down by the phone and carried on with what I was doing, she waited 17 and a half minutes before hanging up !!!!!!! and hasn't called since, yay, the customer wins !!