How to stop your nuissance calls - Dispatches
13 August 2014, 09:26 PM
#1
How to stop your nuissance calls - Dispatches
Just watched this episode of Dispatches having recorded it from earlier in the week;
For those who didn't see it, the investigation embedded undercover reporters in call centres where companies, contracted by charities attempt to raise funds by making unsolicited phone calls to members of the public.
I usually cut these callers off without getting into any discussion telling them that I dont expect to hear from them again. It does seem to have a more detrimental effect on the individaul's performance within the company if you can waste a little of their time letting them set out thier pitch, while allowing them to try to coax you into subscribing and then give them what they term a "hard refusal" by telling them you are absolutely not interested in their services and they are not to contact you again.
I wonder if more folks tied up the time of these callers would it make their calls ineffective enough to to make this an unprofitable business.
Are these type of nuisance calls something unique to the UK?
For those who didn't see it, the investigation embedded undercover reporters in call centres where companies, contracted by charities attempt to raise funds by making unsolicited phone calls to members of the public.
I usually cut these callers off without getting into any discussion telling them that I dont expect to hear from them again. It does seem to have a more detrimental effect on the individaul's performance within the company if you can waste a little of their time letting them set out thier pitch, while allowing them to try to coax you into subscribing and then give them what they term a "hard refusal" by telling them you are absolutely not interested in their services and they are not to contact you again.
I wonder if more folks tied up the time of these callers would it make their calls ineffective enough to to make this an unprofitable business.
Are these type of nuisance calls something unique to the UK?
Last edited by tarmac terror; 13 August 2014 at 09:28 PM.
13 August 2014, 09:45 PM
#2
I haven't seen the programme, but the calls are so annoying
I am on the 'telephone preference service' TPS http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html and it did cut out all calls for years, but in the last year or so the amount of calls has gone up
I am on the 'telephone preference service' TPS http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html and it did cut out all calls for years, but in the last year or so the amount of calls has gone up
13 August 2014, 10:07 PM
#4
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I haven't seen the programme, but the calls are so annoying
I am on the 'telephone preference service' TPS http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html and it did cut out all calls for years, but in the last year or so the amount of calls has gone up
I am on the 'telephone preference service' TPS http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html and it did cut out all calls for years, but in the last year or so the amount of calls has gone up
13 August 2014, 10:13 PM
#6
We are on the Telephone Preference scheme... however.... BT themselves got our names wrong on their account when we moved into our house 7 years ago, everyone else got it right. BT got our last name completely and utterly wrong. I have for years now received calls directed to the incorrect name coming in from nuisance call centres and telemarketing companies all the time. This can only mean that BT themselves have sold our INCORRECT details on. How lovely of them accepting my TPS money and selling my details at the same time!
14 August 2014, 02:08 AM
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The TPS only works with UK companies & call centres, if the company/call centre is based outside of the UK then the TPS is useless & powerless to stop them, hence a sharp increase in a 'foreign' accent on the other end of the line from companies opting for an overseas call centre. Sneaky swines.
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14 August 2014, 09:03 AM
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The TPS is free and has nothing to do with BT.
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html
14 August 2014, 01:33 PM
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Recently I have had several calls from India and been told that they work for Windows and will help me resolve my computer problem. They then give some instructions on some keys to press and at this point I understand that they take over your computer and plant a locking device and then charge you to allow you to clear the computer.
It's pretty crude but I guess some people fall for it. If I'm busy I tell them to f,uck off but occasionally I have messed around with them. Anyone else had these?
I'm on TPS for UK calls which works reasonably aside from small companies who don't know it exists
dl
It's pretty crude but I guess some people fall for it. If I'm busy I tell them to f,uck off but occasionally I have messed around with them. Anyone else had these?
I'm on TPS for UK calls which works reasonably aside from small companies who don't know it exists
dl
15 August 2014, 06:46 PM
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Yes a couple of years ago. I had a guy phone me and explain that my computer was at risk etc etc and that he was from Mucrosoft. Me, being thick wiv computers, took a long time to understand and action his requests. So long in fact that I had to go out and couldn't complete his directions. I thanked him for his invaluable help and asked that I could phone him back to finish. He gave me his mobile no. which somehow appeared on the back of several doors in public conveniences. Happy days.
15 August 2014, 09:14 PM
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My record for stringing them along is 15 minutes.
Telling them your computer is slow to boot up helps while away their time, as does Windows needing an update and having to restart
For those in the know, stringing them on is a public service - it's time they aren't spending conning someone who is more technologically naïve.
Telling them your computer is slow to boot up helps while away their time, as does Windows needing an update and having to restart
For those in the know, stringing them on is a public service - it's time they aren't spending conning someone who is more technologically naïve.
15 August 2014, 11:41 PM
#28
I put the phone on loud speaker and tell them to **** off.
I generally do this in increasing volume and doing my best Spike Milligan impression... Most hang up but i had a tenacious women on the phone the other week who just kept repeatin **** off back to me....Lasted a good 6-7 minutes..
I generally do this in increasing volume and doing my best Spike Milligan impression... Most hang up but i had a tenacious women on the phone the other week who just kept repeatin **** off back to me....Lasted a good 6-7 minutes..
17 August 2014, 04:17 PM
#29
Recently I have had several calls from India and been told that they work for Windows and will help me resolve my computer problem. They then give some instructions on some keys to press and at this point I understand that they take over your computer and plant a locking device and then charge you to allow you to clear the computer.
It's pretty crude but I guess some people fall for it. If I'm busy I tell them to f,uck off but occasionally I have messed around with them. Anyone else had these?
I'm on TPS for UK calls which works reasonably aside from small companies who don't know it exists
dl
It's pretty crude but I guess some people fall for it. If I'm busy I tell them to f,uck off but occasionally I have messed around with them. Anyone else had these?
I'm on TPS for UK calls which works reasonably aside from small companies who don't know it exists
dl
17 August 2014, 04:27 PM
#30
I stopped answering my home phone a while back. Anyone that needs to get me has my mobile number. A guy I work with has one of these and swears by it.
https://www.truecall.co.uk/call-bloc...scription.aspx
https://www.truecall.co.uk/call-bloc...scription.aspx