What really bugs me about cold-callers

[UnquietDad]

... is that they can't flaming well be honest about the fact that they are calling to sell you something. They have to do all that "Oh, hello Mr [close approximation of pronunication of my name], it's Jessica here [like f%$£ is your name Jessica], I just wondered how you were today?"

The temptation to say "Why do you give a shit?" or "I was fine till you called" is very strong, but I do try to resist as I know these people are doing a crap job... I suppose I get them a lot as I work mainly from home.

Today it was "mmlgjghggj [incomprehensible mumble] in conjunction with Network Something-or-other." They called my city a "county" and said they were doing a special promotion in it. I asked them to tell their researchers to get their information right, and said that if I wanted their product I would call them.

Yesterday, I'd won a "7-day holiday for 4 people" and all I had to pay was a "small booking fee." Yeah, right. These people must think we came down in the last shower.

I mean... its not rocket science, is it? has anyone EVER bought anything as a result of a cold-call?

just say "I don't believe in holidays/phones/ tellies/free gifts - I believe in working for everything I possess".

I do - believe me it shuts them up long enough for you to say goodbye politely!

The only thing we got via cold call is a Mobile phone, as I was able to get an even better and more suitable package ....saved dh lots of money...but anything else, I don't listen, too!

I have a listing in the yellow pages for cello teaching, and I get calls quite alot asking me if I need insurabnce for my company cars. Like I am going to have a fleet of vans or something, being a very part time cello teacher.

I hate the advertising ones more, becuase the people who ring are usually thick as shit and call the cello the "sello" which pisses me off no end.

I usually end up telling then to eff off, because lots of them cannot take a polite no for an answer, as it's not on their script sheet.

pmsl " sello" !!!

I got to grade 6 on the sello many years ago....

i have a right rant at someone once for othering me free holiday vouchers. ok, they dont know the family situation, but when i said i couldnt take a holiday, they questioned me why. so i let rip on them big time.

they didnt call back surprisingly. my number probably has 'mod nutty woman, do not call' logged next to it.

If they call about adverstising, I usually tell them that I am so successful, I don't need to advertise, and that I only have a free listing in the YP so that my many hoardes of pupils can find my number easily.

I actually did telesales a few years ago, and I was shit. I felt like the scourge of humanity.

I had a call on my mobile from yell.com asking if i would like to be listed in the yellow pages! Under what catagory I wondered? maybe they should start a new title in there Mumsnetters!

Oh...just thought of this...lol...dh tends to either lay the receiver on the table and just lets them wait or he hands the phone to our almost 3 year old who is a right chatterbox...he is an evil man, lol! Must say I don't have the heart to be rude, because I feel sorry for them...most of the time!

To stop unwanted sales calls register Here with a company called Telephone preference service. Then after you've done that click on the link for MPS (Mail preference service) and stop junk mail too!

I immediately say "I have to go my kid has just vomited", but I like 3andnomore's dh's strategy.

I registered with the TPS when I first went on Mat leave with DS. It's amazing, I've had maybe 3 calls in the last 3 years and the ones that do call crap themselves as soon as you tell them you're with the TPS. Apparently they can be fined for it so it's always worth getting the company name first, then mentioning the TPS. FWIR it took about 6 weeks to kick in then no more calls. Great service.