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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:
notevenamousie · 08/01/2009 18:36

Screening calls is fine, I do that too.
Swearing at someone for just doing their job (for minimum wage - or less, if overseas) is really unpleasant and rude.

ahfeckit · 08/01/2009 18:43

i agree with you how annoying it is. yanbu.

i had a call today of a similar nature and when i said i wasn't interested they cut me off!
they were actually lucky because when i'm at home i don't always answer the phone. i just let it ring and ring and ring.

if it's v important (family or friends) they'll carry on phoning if it's urgent.

deste · 08/01/2009 21:33

I once answered the call to someone from BT. They asked if I was old enough to take the call. My answer was I would think so I am 45.

UnquietDad · 08/01/2009 21:36

We almost always screen calls.

In fact, we sometimes just let the phone ring 5 times and let the answering service kick in because we can't be arsed to answer it.

This outrages MIL, which amuses me.

prettybutterfly · 08/01/2009 21:44

Really, the phone is an instrument of purest rudeness... can you imagine if a human being came up to you and screamed RING RING! RING RING! until you stopped and spoke to them??? There'd be slappage.

I frequently ignore the phone, and I'm courteous but totally take no bollocks of callers! They're earning their honest crust right enough, but it doesn't mean I have to take attitude.

When people won't speak to me until I've given personal information I just tell them that I don't gve out my personal information to anyone, because for all I know they are identity thieves.

oneyummymummy · 08/01/2009 22:02

Last time I got a call on my mobile phone, It was from one of those companies mentioned earlier that say they are from 02 when really they are not and your contract is not up for renewal.I get them ALL the time, and had got fed up. She said
02 "Im calling from 02, I just wanted to let you know that your 02 contract is due for renewal and we can offer you some really good deals....."

ME "sorry I don't have a mobile phone, so no thank you"

02 "Oh sorry to disturb you"

She had just called me on my MOBILE! I got off the phone and hadn't even really realised what i had just said. PSML.

This came after my dad told a double glazing company that he didn't want any free windows or conservatories as he doesn't have any windows in his house

CoffeeCrazedMama · 08/01/2009 23:14

I screen calls but always answer when it is international as our parents all live abroad and are elderly (MIL in nursing home with advanced degenerative illness). If it is an odd time for someone to be calling from there it is always a worry to see International flash up on the phone. So very annoying when it is one of those recorded messages trying to rope you into some scam or other.

ManIFeelLikeAWoman · 08/01/2009 23:48

Typically cold callers are working to a script, especially if English is not their first language. I like to thorw questions at them, quite blunt ones, early on, because this breaks the script and they lose their nerve and focus.

They are then much easier to get rid of.

I don't hold with this viewpoint, "don't be unpleasant, it's their job." It may be their job to ring me but it's not my job to listen to them. I do try not to swear though. I really do try ...

duke748 · 09/01/2009 01:31

Hey all.

Thought I'd put the other side of it across. I work in a bank and quite often the cashiers have to stay late to call people to tell them about various products that could be of use.

People are selected precisely because we think we can help them, not chosen at random. For example, we might call people who have a direct debit to a home insurance company that we know we can beat on cost.

I help teach people what to say, and definately don't like the 'curtesy call' bit. Its a batant lie! I ask them to be polite and to the point.

It doesn't have a fantastic success rate, but seeing as there is a large proportion of people who never come into the branch itself, its a way to contact these customers.

Of course, some people are not interested or don't have the time. Rude people annoy the hell out of me though. I have to stop myself from ringing them back and reminding them that the people calling them are just that, people, just trying to do their job, and quite often what they are talking to you about might actually be worth listening to for two minutes of their life! Grr...grrr!

So, I understand your frustrations but please do be polite to people. That's all I ask!

KnickersOnMaHead · 09/01/2009 01:53

Message withdrawn

tubeofcanesten · 09/01/2009 02:06

kerknckers you still up or falling down you dirt show all

ManIFeelLikeAWoman · 09/01/2009 12:06

duke748

You make a valid point - but has it ever occured to you that the reason they don't come into the branch could be:

  1. they don't want to - they just want you to look after their money and give them banking facilities; or
  2. you're not open at the right times and that, though they would love to come in, your bank does not make it possible for them to do so and maybe you need to change that? or even 3)they don't want your bank's poxy home insurance because, as intelligent adults, they've investigated the market to their personal satisfaction and bought the one they want without your help

If you disagree, I've got a suggestion. Why don't you post your own home number on this site and, when I think of something that I think might interest you, I'll phone you up and tell you about it at a time of my choosing? If it doesn't interest you, you can tell me there and then, and then I can wait until the next interesting thing I have to say and we can try again. I warn you, though, some of these calls may well be in the evening or at weekends when you're trying to relax, because when else am I going to catch you at home?

CoffeeCrazedMama · 09/01/2009 13:09

Duke - I was thinking about the types of call from the bank you describe only today. I was wondering why they only ever seem to be for either insurance or loans, and never to inform me of what I really would like to know, which is that, to give a real example, the savings account I am using is now obselete and not their most competitive rate and I should upgrade? Funnily enough they never ring me to tell me that. [hmmm]

Triggles · 09/01/2009 19:43

Maybe it's just me, but I find it a bit off that anyone at a bank would be perusing my direct debits to see if they can offer me something at a cheaper rate. They have no business digging through my account to see what I'm paying for anything, IMO.

BasementCat · 09/01/2009 19:52

Our bank rang us last year to tell us that our account had 'run out', by which they meant not overdrawn (we weren't) but that we had had it (or dh had) for 20 years and they had to close it because it was finished! We spent some time sorting that one out!

Other callers that really annoy me are the utilities people who won't speak to me, but have to talk to dh. As it happens, we have both our names on the bills, so they're just being idiots.

Double glazing, new kitchens etc are told that the house is marked for demolition next month.

bran · 09/01/2009 19:58

Duke - write it down, put it in the post. It will get the same (low) response rate but it won't piss off the customers so much that they might decide to move their account elsewhere. If my bank phoned me I would ask to be taken off their phone list, if they phoned me a second time then I would threaten to move.

Notreallycutoutforthis · 09/01/2009 20:01

Double-glazers etc always get told we're renting, banks calling for DH that 'well it's a work day, of course he's not here', and Jehovah's get a swift 'no thank you' and door closed before they can engage.

My (rather splendid) aunt sings down the phone till they go away

GypsyMoth · 09/01/2009 20:02

my children usually end up answering our phone......so it always gets handed to me,i say in harassed voice "i'm busy with my children right now" most sensible people realise that childrfen are around forever,so they shouldn't really call back....but they do. doorstep callers too. works well with that. busy with the kids,can't leave them unattended whilst i discuss my gas provider on the doorstep!!

however,today,for first time in ages,i ventured into my nearest branch of my bank....halifax. i needed to bank a cheque,and chose to do it via the cashier rather than the box. i entered the bank,went to queue. was approached by bank worker telling me to use the post box type thing instead of cashier,er,no i want a receipt now to see when it will be cleared. he took some persuading that i wanted to bank with a real ,live person. then cashier wanted to know if i'd like a chat about upgrading my account. no. how about home insurance,would i like details? no. mortgage,who is mine with,they might have a good alternative for me. no thanks!! then i escaped,had the exit in my sights,sprinted accross the room,to be stopped by bank worker with clipboard wanting me to do a "quick" survey about my banking experience in their branch!!! i legged it out to costa coffee for a well earned cappuchino! never again

quint · 09/01/2009 20:04

The best ever response I heard to a cold call was the Tom Mabe thing on you tube, I've posted on here about it before but its still make me pee my pants laughing

I would so love to do something similar, but don't think I have the guts

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=un_PjRXV5l8

enjoy!

Homebird8 · 09/01/2009 20:20

I have a party plan business and usually just try to recruit them. They can't really enjoy their jobs can they? Mine is great. The best bit is that it isn't on their scripts when I ask them whether they enjoy their jobs and whether they would like to consider changing it! It's surprising how many of them turn into human beings!

quint · 09/01/2009 20:22

In their defence, the companies may have software which is able to recognise if they deviate from the script and notify their supervisor which would get them into a whole heap of trouble

optimisticsuzie · 09/01/2009 20:34

part of my current job requirement is having to dome telesales. I hate it and am planning my escape. Spare a thought for some of us!

BasementCat · 09/01/2009 21:00

I get really riled when a total stranger on a cold call asks me how I am. That guarantees very short shrift or else a literal answer (I have ms and so I can tell someone how I am for a good 20 minutes if I try!).

Smithagain · 09/01/2009 21:32

I enjoyed the call DH had from a gentleman representing Dell computers. It was my computer he was calling about, but I wasn't in. He said he'd call back later, "but perhaps not in the afternoon as your wife may be in the habit of taking a nap after lunch".

I wish!

I'm guessing he wasn't in the UK.

ManIFeelLikeAWoman · 09/01/2009 23:20

Totally agree with Triggles - I was going to post that very point then thought, "oh, what's the point, I suppose that's the norm now." Well said, Triggles - it certainly SHOULDN'T be the norm, even if it is.

When did we become a society where no invasion of privacy is too great, no time of day or night is off-limits to phone up strangers or stop them in the street, as long as the end goal is to "do them a favour" (ie fleece them for a few quid)?

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