Cold callers

[Imurg]

Having to have my mobile number on the Net I get 5 or 6 cold calls every day, sometimes more.
This week I've had calls from Manchester, Sunderland, Ipswich, Burnley, Lancaster, Wolverhampton, Reading, Preston, Blackpool, Cardiff, Stranraer, Berwick and.........Texas!!!
I don't know anyone from these places who would know me and want driving lessons!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

He didn’t waste 48 minutes of his own time, he said he was bored with nothing else to do so he’s not wasting his time. They are scum bags trying to scam people. my disabled 70 year old mother has to get up and check the phone every time one of these imbeciles ring. If people want something they will go out and get it or contact the relevant company to get it. How would you feel if you’re confused 75 year old parent ended up giving out bank details or buying 4 grands worth of solar panels or something to someone that’s just phoned up trying to “do their job”

They aren’t trying to “scam” - they are trying to sell - if they are scamming then it’s illegal. If your mother is getting all these calls then why not speak to BT to call screening etc or put something in place to stop her getting up to answer. My parents don’t answer any call that isn’t programmed into their home phone or mobile and then listen to any answerphone message - just common sense really.

And they are just getting their sales - we have all been subjected to it before and at times they have been good buys and bad buys.

 

[Pin-seeker]

48 mins ? Why ? They are only doing their jobs as a salesman to try and get business - they are just like all salesman’s but why waste 48 mins of yours and theirs time.

Any time someone phones I will always ask what are they selling if I could want it I’ll listen to it if not I’ll say no thank you and it finishes politely- they Arent “scumbags” - or scamming , just trying to sell to make a living.

Seriously Phil are you Ned Flanders?

 

[larmen]

Again, you can stop ALL legitimate sales calls vie registering on the telephone presence service
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html

UK cold sales callers are obliged to screen against that list. If you are on it they are not allowed to call. And it's free to register.
That doesn't of course stop illegal scam calls, but they are the minority of calls anyway.


Another thing, if you get a cold call ask them who gave your data to them. Then tell that company to stop giving it out.

 

[Simbo]

They aren’t trying to “scam” - they are trying to sell - if they are scamming then it’s illegal. If your mother is getting all these calls then why not speak to BT to call screening etc or put something in place to stop her getting up to answer. My parents don’t answer any call that isn’t programmed into their home phone or mobile and then listen to any answerphone message - just common sense really.

And they are just getting their sales - we have all been subjected to it before and at times they have been good buys and bad buys.

That’s pretty much what I asked before you just on your self righteous high horse.what methods people were using to stop them. Relentlessly calling random numbers repeatedly trying to sell something amounts pretty much to a scam in my book, especially if the receiver is a vulnerable person.
Quite often my parents don’t answer the phone then check to see who’s phoned but it’s still a nuisance especially for elderly people.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Bit like Imurg we use the answerphone as a screen and to be honest don't really get too many calls on the landline these days as most people I want to talk to have my mobile. I have signed to the TRS service which I did as soon as we moved home to the new address

 

[Imurg]

A big part of this is down to when you sign up for something online.
Enter a comp, buy something....you register with an email address and, often, a phone number.
If youngest to tick the box that says Don't pass on my numbers - and it's easy to miss or tick a box incorrectly due to the wording.
As soon as you've done that, your number is being passed on to call centres . And if you've "willingly" given them your number then you're going to get calls.
I've never bought anything over the phone. So phoning me is a waste of time!

 

[Lazkir]

48 mins ? Why ? They are only doing their jobs as a salesman to try and get business - they are just like all salesman’s but why waste 48 mins of yours and theirs time.

Any time someone phones I will always ask what are they selling if I could want it I’ll listen to it if not I’ll say no thank you and it finishes politely- they Arent “scumbags” - or scamming , just trying to sell to make a living.

Most of them are, have you actually followed their spiel? It's mostly B.S. to part you from your cash or to sign for something that profits them and not you.

As for the call in question, I was waiting for a customer that had been delayed, so it was a distraction until they turned up.
When you get as many of these calls as I do, they are a massive distraction from my business. None of the solutions that are about actually work for me in my situation.

 

[chrisd]

Again, you can stop ALL legitimate sales calls vie registering on the telephone presence service
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html

UK cold sales callers are obliged to screen against that list. If you are on it they are not allowed to call. And it's free to register.
That doesn't of course stop illegal scam calls, but they are the minority of calls anyway.


Another thing, if you get a cold call ask them who gave your data to them. Then tell that company to stop giving it out.

I registered on the Telephone Preference Service the first day it was possible and I still get unwanted sales calls on a daily basis - I don't want, or ask them to ring me, and therefore reserve the right to deal with their call in whatever manner I choose.

 

[Hobbit]

My stock response is I’m interested but you’ll have to speak to my carer. It’s never not worked.

I know they’re only doing a job, some of them, but, a) I only do business on the phone if I’ve made the call, and b) I didn’t invite them to ring me.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Just don’t have a land line...who does?
Its easier to screen calls on my mobile.
Anyone who engages with a cold caller for 48 mins really needs to get a life!!
They’re just doing a job. Just say no

Someone who can't get a mobile signal indoors? Doesn't matter which handset or provider, my mobile signal indoors is dreadful.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Check with their phone provider, they may have a scheme which helps. We are with Sky and they have a system which has stopped all of those types of calls. Fantastic, we used to get 3-4 per day before.

With regards to the cold callers, they largely use high pressure techniques and prey on vulnerable people. I have no sympathy for them.

 

[bobmac]

I try and sell them stuff.
The last guy who called I tried to sell him an old flymo.
They soon hang up.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Someone who can't get a mobile signal indoors? Doesn't matter which handset or provider, my mobile signal indoors is dreadful.

Does your provider do Wi-fi calling?

Mine didn’t so we had a landline as houses are very good at blocking mobile signals, esp new houses with all that metal in them.

The second it did offer it I threw out the landline phone, useless at that point. I was literally about to switch when they added it for free, they also added data rollever for free and doubled my data. I felt like I had won the mobile lottery.

 

[Smiffy]

48 mins ? Why ? They are only doing their jobs as a salesman

Phil. Serious question.............

Why are you so argumentative??
Seriously, I have never met anybody so keen to always take the opposite view to the general consensus of opinion.

 

[Slab]

To OP, difficult to do once the horse has bolted and you say number changing is not an option, but prevention is easier than a cure. If you’re selective about who gets your number the chances of it getting passed on are naturally reduced

Some folks like to enter lots of competitions or vote for tv talent shows or give out numbers when enquiring about xyz etc etc or don’t go ex-directory, and several other behaviours that let their phone numbers loose. It can’t then be surprising when the calls start coming in

Some folks grew up in a culture where giving out your number didn’t have these ramifications (folks used to wait for the new phone book to come out to look themselves up in it) but that’s a long time ago now because it’s also true to say it didn’t just change recently, people should have been protecting their privacy 20+ years ago (long before they were considered elderly)
Like anything if you don’t want it used then a phone number should be protected almost as much as your pin number (or any other piece of information you don’t want used)

It used to be junk mail through the letter box because companies had/shared our addresses (it was easy to receive dozens of items in a week and for the most part it was ignored & thrown away) but costs etc have allowed it move to include e-mails and calls, but they should all be treated in the same manner but as I say it’s tough to re-cork the bottle so you’re left with measures already mentioned such as TPS, caller ID, blocking etc but none will be fully effective

Yup it’s a pain but if the problem is that severe it might be worth reconsidering whatever reason you believe changing the number is not an option




Bob is the flymo still for sale?

 

[patricks148]

We are on the TP service and still get a load of unwanted calls.

the solution we found has been, unplugging the phone. We had the hall decorated just before Christmas, and didn't notice they had been in the cupboard and unplugged the phone. we didn't notice until 2 months later

 

[Pin-seeker]

Phil. Serious question.............

Why are you so argumentative??
Seriously, I have never met anybody so keen to always take the opposite view to the general consensus of opinion.

Imagine what the cold caller thinks when he thanks them for their call & wishes them a super dooper evening 😂

 

[Bunkermagnet]

It's amazhig the amount of Indian sounding gentlemen calling me with names like "Simon, Jack and David"
I either put the phone down, or take my revenge and try and waste their time. Being registered on the TPS hasn't really made much difference.

 

[Simbo]

A big part of this is down to when you sign up for something online.
Enter a comp, buy something....you register with an email address and, often, a phone number.
If youngest to tick the box that says Don't pass on my numbers - and it's easy to miss or tick a box incorrectly due to the wording.
As soon as you've done that, your number is being passed on to call centres . And if you've "willingly" given them your number then you're going to get calls.
I've never bought anything over the phone. So phoning me is a waste of time!

They don’t really do that tbh, I dunno where these people are getting their number from other than a computer randomly guessing a number through brute force crunching.
Another thing Iv noticed a huge increase in is normal shops all wanting your private details when you can buy a bottle of oil or something. Then they look at you with indignation like you’re the bad guy when you tell them you won’t give them it, Nightmare.