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BS: Maddening phone call surveys
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Subject: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Rumncoke Date: 25 Feb 15 - 03:01 PM Over the last month or so I have had two or three phone calls just about every weekday, some just after 8 am and others after 6 in the evening. All by people with strong Indian accents. Our number is on the don't phone list, but they just go on and on. It is really getting to me, and I just don't know what I can do to stop them, other then unplug the phone, but then I can't get the 'real' phone calls either. I never do surveys because the only result is more phone calls from more people trying to generate income from my information. I think that there is some change to the rules coming up and they want to harvest as much information as they can and tell me that they are phoning in response to a request from me - but they are going to drive me crackers before long. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,# Date: 25 Feb 15 - 03:34 PM Hang up. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Backwoodsman Date: 25 Feb 15 - 03:35 PM As soon as they start their patter, I just say, "Very sorry, I'm not interested, but thank you for your call", and hang up. Ignore the protests, don't give the buggers a chance. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link Date: 25 Feb 15 - 03:48 PM And it ain't just surveys either. Loads of PPI calls, and other sales calls too. Had another this evening.....what, not interested in saving money.....says he. No says I, and please remove us from your list please ?!. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Rapparee Date: 25 Feb 15 - 03:51 PM Check the phone number on caller id (if you don't have it, get it) and if you don't recognize don't answer. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Feb 15 - 03:57 PM Many of these callers use an automated system. If you don't say anything right away or if it goes to an answering machine, they hang up. And there is a type of answering machine that gives the audible disconnected phone beep for a few seconds, enough that automated systems recognize the sound and (in theory) remove the number from a repeat call. I noticed this beep last time I left a message at my brother's home, I'll have to ask him how he set it up. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Joe Offer Date: 25 Feb 15 - 03:58 PM I try to report as many as possible to donotcall.gov. If they call several times from the same number, I use caller id/blocking to block the number. It feels like we're in a lull now. We haven't been getting the several calls a day we were receiving a few months ago. I've started to get a few Spam calls on my cell phone. I sure don't like that. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Feb 15 - 05:51 PM In Australia calls from organisations we've had dealings with, survey companies, political parties & charities are exempt from the Don't Call Register - but I consider that the fact I'm on the Don't Call Register means I don't want to get calls from any unsolicited caller & hang up as soon as the caller says they're (First name) from (Organisation) of course, some of these unknown callers do have my name (dunno how they get it) so I ask who they are & hang up if they are not wanting info about my folk club. The caller yesterday who asked for Sandra (surname slightly related to mine) got my wrong number reply "Sorry, there's no one with that name here". sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: olddude Date: 25 Feb 15 - 05:54 PM Not me I take the survey and give them nonsense answers. Like on cars I will say yes canned tuna fish is Ok. They eventually hang up |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Peter Date: 25 Feb 15 - 06:02 PM The best way is to filter through an answering machine. If they start leaving a message then you can decide if you want to answer. The cold callers seldom do. Sometimes I answer pretending to be a business and keep asking what sort of pizza they want to order. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Rapparee Date: 25 Feb 15 - 06:52 PM I once told a photo company (who had called over and over) that I didn't have children because I'd been wounded by a castrator mine in Vietnam and they didn't call back for more than five years. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Richard Bridge Date: 25 Feb 15 - 07:31 PM The usefulness (or otherwise) of government schemes to enable you to opt out of spam phone calls varies from country to country. Recorded messages I just hang up. Live callers, sometimes I just hang up, sometimes I tell them that the number is registered with the telephone preference service and they are committing an offence, sometimes I yell "FUCK OFF CUNT". |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 25 Feb 15 - 07:36 PM I amm having an absolute BLAST with them. (I am unable to watch TV....so they "interrupt nothing." I consider 15 minutes to be the average time I can "sting-along" a marketer.....before.....I......lose interest. (Gone for nearly an hour once.) A group of us, record and share our experiences. We have not yet begun to "score results".....but it would certainly be a negative if the marketer hungup within the first three minutes. The object is to remove the telemarketer from circute for one-quarter-an-hour. Sincerely, Gargoyle My standard "sign-off" is "Mummsy - won't let me talk on the phone.....you need to call back when she is here." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,DTM Date: 25 Feb 15 - 07:47 PM There was a good one on the web a few years ago when the person answering the phone pretended he was a detective at a murder scene and told the guy on the phone he had to stay on line to answer a few questions as he could be involved in the homicide. The caller was absolutely crapping himself by the end of the questioning. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: olddude Date: 25 Feb 15 - 07:50 PM Richard survey is not covered under the do not call list, I know I reported them only to find that out by the government |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: olddude Date: 25 Feb 15 - 07:53 PM Oh and when I asked why they said it would affect political polls... Money talks I guess |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Don Firth Date: 25 Feb 15 - 08:34 PM Answering machine: "Hello. You have reached the Firth residence. We're unable to answer the phone right now, but if you leave your name and phone number after the 'beep,' we'll return your call as soon as possible. Unless you are asking for money." Every few weeks lately, I've been getting a call from some guy with an Indian accent who tells me that he is on the Microsoft help desk and they've detected a problem in my computer. If I allow him access to my computer, he'll fix it for me. In a pig's arse!! Microsoft is just across Lake Washington from Seattle, and there are a couple of people who live in the same apartment building Barbara and I do who work for Mickeysoft. Also, the wife of a good friend works for Mickey and she tells me that they don't work that way. AND they know how to get into any computer loaded with their operating system. That's why, sometimes when you shut off your computer, you get the message telling you not to unplug or power off your computer until they finish downloading a fix or upgrade. That's legit. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Rumncoke Date: 25 Feb 15 - 09:23 PM Oh yes, the Microsoft one - I just laugh that one off - the survey people are just so persistent, so frequent and they try early and late and all through the day. My response is usually the same - we don't do surveys so stop contacting me, but they just keep on and on. Some days I just put the phone down because I can't stand to speak to them yet again. I get quite a few phone calls from people I don't know who want to buy the things we make, so the phone is fairly essential, but recently I have sometimes gone out of the house for no reason other than to get away from the phone calls. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Feb 15 - 01:18 AM as I hang up from a survey taker I sometimes think I'd like my 2 cents worth in their survey, especially around election time, but it's like throwing a crumb to a pigeon or a seagull, next minute ... previous & very entertaining thread on The Microsoft Security check out my first post giving a link to a local columnist's fun with The Microsoft Security |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Musket Date: 26 Feb 15 - 02:57 AM I do the same as Bridge, which is rather worrying. Does that make me a Radical Socialist? 🙉🙊🙈 My worst one is that I changed home number last year when I changed broadband supplier and my number must have been the fax line for a business because I get fax machines ringing it in the day. Grr... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Shimrod Date: 26 Feb 15 - 03:30 AM Sometimes, when these people call, I say, 'sorry but I think that you need to speak to my father'. I then shout, 'Dad!' and leave the phone off the hook for 10 or 15 minutes. With the "Microsoft" people I sometimes have some fun. On one occasion, I pretended to go along with the woman on the line and to follow her instructions. When she said, 'what can you see on the screen?', I told her that I could see a duck; 'you've programmed a duck into my computer, please let me speak to your supervisor!' When the supervisor came on the line, I shouted, 'your operative has programmed a duck into my computer!' I ran out of absurdities at this point and hung up. A "Microsoft" person rang the other night and I demanded that he put me through to 'Mr Gates, the Head of Windows', immediately! He hung up. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: banjoman Date: 26 Feb 15 - 05:02 AM I quite enjoy some of these by taking the line with (e.g.) Windows sales people that its a pity you didn't ring last week as I have just placed a major order with one of your competitors. My son, who is an IT guru, handles the Windows security ones and enjoys winding them up for ages and then after 15 minutes or so says he cant see any windows on screen and he uses Linux . Usually shuts them up. I agree with the point already made about using caller display. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,DTM Date: 26 Feb 15 - 05:37 AM Here's the link to the "murder scene" response to cold calls.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdoogjic4I |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: eftifino Date: 26 Feb 15 - 06:24 AM Failsafe method to stop calls: 1.Me "Hello?" 2. This is Goggi representing the Acme co, to ask a few questions. 3. Me: "Certainly! please tell me where to mail my invoice for $100" 4. Goggi: 'Im sorry, I don't know what you mean" 5 Me: I do market research on a professional basis and my fee is $100/Hour or part thereof. Where do I send my invoice? 6 Goggi: CLICK |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link Date: 26 Feb 15 - 07:54 AM Not exactly PC, that, DTM, but had to admit it was funny. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: EBarnacle Date: 26 Feb 15 - 01:50 PM I will try a variation of that one. Maybe it will get me off the daily robocall lists. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Tom Date: 26 Feb 15 - 02:16 PM What I do is disconnect my landline and have people call my on my mobile. If it's going to be a long call we'll talk via landline. I get far fewer spam calls on the mobile than on the landline; if I see "number unknown" on my mobile I just ignore it. ________________________________________________________________________ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: ranger1 Date: 26 Feb 15 - 02:26 PM My friend Van likes to keep them going on and on forever, especially the Microsoft scam callers. Here's one of his conversations: "I just had another illuminating conversation with those fun guys at "Windows Technical Assistance" who want me to give them remote access to my computer! This is the fourth time we discussed my computer and I can't tell you how nice it is to know these people are so concerned about it. "Hello, this is Mike," came the possibly Indian accent over the phone. "Hi Mike, how are you?" "I am fine, thank you very much." Then Mike began to tell me about all the terrible things they have detected regarding my computer. "Are you the main user of the computer?" he asked. "I am in Maine, yes." "That is good, now –" "Are you in Maine?" "Excuse me?" "Are you in Maine?" He began to tell me what was wrong with my computer again. I said: "Because if you are in Maine, you and I should get together for a cup of coffee and chew the fat." "Excuse me?" "It's been too long. Don't you think it's been too long?" "What has been too long?" "Since you and I had coffee and chewed the fat." There was a pause on the other end. "I don't believe that has ever happened." "Well," said I, somewhat deflated. "I'm sorry I made so little impression on you. What color is your shirt today?" "What color is my shirt?" "That is why I called. I called to find out what color your shirt is." "No, sir, I called you about your computer." "Is this Alan?" "No, this is Mike." "Well, sure, you said that. I was thinking of you earlier today. I thought, I wonder what color Mike's shirt is?" "Sir, I believe there is some error here." "Yes, in my computer." Now the slightest sense of hope sounded in his voice. "Yes, the errors in your computer." "Is Alan there?" "Alan?" "Is Alan there? What color is his shirt?" "I will transfer you to Alan." "Oh, that'd be wonderful. Maybe the three of us can have coffee sometime." Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Somehow, our connection was broken. I never did get around to asking him his hat size. Nice guy, though." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Andrez Date: 26 Feb 15 - 09:49 PM Sadly I fluctuate between f**k off and hanging up when I get these calls. Interesting that this issue seems to be global with the same thing happening all over and nothing can be done to stop it at that level! Re the Microsoft calls its always funny to get these and be told there is a problem with my Windows PC as our household is entirely made up of Mac users. F**kwitz! Cheers, Andrez |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: bubblyrat Date: 27 Feb 15 - 08:32 AM I find that a quick burst with one of those aerosol-powered marine foghorns ,so beloved of football supporters,usually does the trick.It is unethical,and probably illegal, and quite possibly dangerous, but Hey !! --who cares ?? these people MUST BE STOPPED !! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Rumncoke Date: 27 Feb 15 - 12:59 PM Two calls yesterday and so far one today - they are so persistent, and they try to blackmail me into giving information by telling me that they will stop calling if I tell them what they want to know - however, I know that if I do tell them anything they will sell the information on to others who will then phone me. I found that out years ago and stopped cooperating. Even though I have not supplied information to phone call surveys for years, though I am still contacted by charities, home improvement firms, snake oil salesmen, all telling me that they are calling because I have done a survey, have requested information about their product, or some such thing, and I tell them that I have done no such thing and I never buy anything when I get such phone calls. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST Date: 27 Feb 15 - 03:03 PM Because I have time on my hands and I don't mind wasting it my usual response is to say 'thank you for calling, please hold the line for one minute' and then putting the 'phone next to a speaker - which is always playing high quality folk music. After 5 minutes or so I pick up the 'phone and say 'you're call is important to us, please continue to hold'. I repeat this until they ring off. I feel that I am providing a public service by developing their musical education. I can't believe how generous and virtuous I am. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Anne Lister Date: 27 Feb 15 - 05:22 PM We have three persistent repeat offenders. Yes, the Indian gentleman from Microsoft who says he knows what's wrong with my computer and yet when pressed he admits he doesn't know what kind of computer I have and is confused when I tell him it's a Mac. Then there's the automated dialler with a recorded voice - something to do with insulation and government funding, but as we're not the house owners that's fairly pointless. And then there's the calling company who always ask for Mr John Ball. They've been calling since we had the phone put in, well over two years ago, and despite being told on every single occasion that this number has never belonged to a Mr John Ball they keep on calling. I vary in my techniques with these calls (except the automated recording, which I simply hang up on each time) but nothing seems to deter them. In our previous house we had a caller for a Mrs someone or other - always the same name. They persisted in calling for eight years, generally once or twice a month but sometimes more often, despite us talking to supervisors, explaining that this woman had never had that phone number and even on one occasion making the breakthrough that the area code they thought they were calling wasn't the code they had called (if you see what I mean - so the address didn't link up to the number). Nothing seems to work. I've been very rude and I've tried being very polite. I've left them on hold for an hour. Still they call, generally when I've got cosy with a cup of tea and a snack in front of the television for a break. They're a total menace. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: ranger1 Date: 27 Feb 15 - 06:06 PM Anne, I know what you mean about the timing! I'm usually snuggled in under a quilt on the sofa with a cat in my lap. She does not take kindly to having her laptime interrupted... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Weasel Date: 27 Feb 15 - 06:36 PM Although I am on the TPS register (no sales calls) I am always polite to the sales people - it's someone doing a job, probably a job he doesn't enjoy, and who otherwise would be on the dole. I am always polite right up until the point where I say, "Thank you but I'm not interested". If they respect that and then hang up all is well. If they insist on continuing, then I take that as an invitation to have fun. I am, however, never polite to the liars and thieves who claim to be from Microsoft. They deserve nothing but contempt and probably worse. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST Date: 27 Feb 15 - 07:26 PM Consumers Union has organized a campaign to demand that phone companies give customers tools to block unwanted robocalls. The technology is easily available, but most phone companies are not implementing it. You can sign their petition at https://consumersunion.org/end-robocalls/?source=email&sub_source=newsletter. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,BobL at Halsway Manor Date: 28 Feb 15 - 03:19 AM Them: "It's about your computer." Me: "Ah. Is that one I've supplied to you?" Them: "?" Me: "I sell computer systems - that's my job." Click. Slighly simplified but you get the idea. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Shimrod Date: 28 Feb 15 - 04:54 AM "Can I just stop you there, please? I have to tell you that I don't do business over the phone - especially not as the result of a cold call. Please don't call me again and please remove all of my details from your data base. Thank you. Goodbye." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Sarah the flute Date: 28 Feb 15 - 06:52 AM My standard reply to anyone who says they are conducting a survey is to ask them for their Market Research Society Registration Number - they usually hang up immediately. More fun is the sales people - I have now invented a new fun system. I tell them that I have just moved in and that I am German. My name is Frau Dulant and I have an account at Kohn Bank with the number SUR218SC4M. Had a brilliant one two days ago for solar panels - strung them along for 20mins before I told them I was in a ground floor flat - it was when I asked them if they could be attached to my windows instead of a roof that they rang off. All good fun...if you have the time |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST, DTM Date: 28 Feb 15 - 07:26 AM The old trick for nuisance callers was to have a referee's whistle next to the phone. Apparently one blast doesn't sound pleasant to the person at the other end. As a bonus, you get a free 'kick'. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Anne Lister Date: 28 Feb 15 - 08:25 AM I can say from lengthy experience that asking for our number to be removed from their lists doesn't work. Often the excuse is that the lists have been sold on several times, and so they literally can't do it - and another thing that doesn't work is explaining that we're (a) ex-directory and (b) on the Telephone Preferences List. BT told us the only thing they could suggest was for us to have a new number entirely, or for every incoming call to be vetted by them. As I have a frail father in a nursing home who finds making calls difficult at the best of times (but I wouldn't want to stop him calling) this isn't an option. And as having had a new number two years ago has simply changed the name of the person the persistent callers call to speak to I'm sceptical of that solution as well. I have, in my time, worked at a call centre making calls to elicit charitable donations. I know what it's like from the other side, too, but at least that was for a good cause whereas the calls I'm finding objectionable are the ones just for profit, or to gain control of a computer. Or the ones that simply won't go away. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Shimrod Date: 28 Feb 15 - 11:03 AM I'm sure that it's probably very politically incorrect to say so, but have you noticed that charities are becoming more and more and more of a 'pain-in-the-arse' too? 'Chuggers' on every high street, leaflets through the door (along with those irritating plastic bags for your 'old clothes') and, of course, phone calls! There was one woman rang me the other day, about some (no doubt worthy) charity who went on and on and on - obviously from a prepared script - until I interrupted her and said that I was already signed up for two charities (of my choice), and still she went on and on and on until, in the end, I had to put the phone down! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Rumncoke Date: 28 Feb 15 - 01:15 PM At the moment our finances are basically shot, but we still get calls from charities which have already contacted me and been told that I can't contribute. I think that they have bought another list and started trawling through the same people all over again. It is all a terrific waste of resources. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,LynnH Date: 28 Feb 15 - 01:22 PM My answering machine is a wonderful spam filter for such calls. A clip display is also useful. If there are about ten digits after the STD code then it's almost certainly a call-centre. Checking the numbers on a site like Tellows can be interesting and amusing. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link Date: 28 Feb 15 - 03:53 PM I have also got calls from charitable organizations which I had previously donated to. I find these intimidating to some extent as there is an element of guilt suggestion. I have told them I support a number of charities and don't want to be phoned, and that if I get more calls, I will donate elsewhere. I have not had any for awhile now. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Rumncoke Date: 01 Mar 15 - 11:15 AM Oh the scripts used for the charity calls are designed to tug the heartstrings - what makes me immune is when I learn that it is costing them XXX,XXX amount to contact people to get them to give money to the cause. The calls almost never come at weekends, so it is usually me who takes them. When my husband had a couple of days off as he was unwell he was disturbed every few hours by the phone ringing - he was puzzled as to who it was and why I had so many phone calls which I picked up and then put down at once - the ones which just go dead. It is probably a good thing that he is not a suspicious man. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST Date: 01 Mar 15 - 12:41 PM "Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST,Shimrod Date: 28 Feb 15 - 11:03 AM I'm sure that it's probably very politically incorrect to say so, but have you noticed that charities are becoming more and more and more of a 'pain-in-the-arse' too? 'Chuggers' on every high street, leaflets through the door (along with those irritating plastic bags for your 'old clothes') and, of course, phone calls! There was one woman rang me the other day, about some (no doubt worthy) charity who went on and on and on - obviously from a prepared script- until I interrupted her and said that I was already signed up for two charities (of my choice), and still she went on and on and on until, in the end, I had to put the phone down!" I think a lot of these big 'charities' are essentially not much more than bloated self-interested corporations / businesses who plough a massive percentage of their takings back into getting even more people to give them money. The only charities worth giving to, are the small ones run by a dedicated volunteer base. At least you know when you give to those, the money goes straight where it's needed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: GUEST Date: 02 Mar 15 - 05:26 AM We have stopped getting the old clothes bags which is a pain. I am going to have to pay good money for some bin liners this week. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: Firecat Date: 02 Mar 15 - 09:25 AM About 10 years ago, I worked for a cold caller trying to get people interested in kitchens. There was no choice in who I got to call as it was an autodialler. I ended up being told to leave by my GP after three bouts of severe laryngitis in six months - appalling conditions, low pay, and if you didn't hit your targets, you lost a shift. Doesn't stop me getting annoyed though! I've surprised a few of the Microsoft ones though. I either tell them that my husband is an IT specialist, or that I don't have a computer. The latter is usually more successful. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys From: MGM·Lion Date: 02 Mar 15 - 02:33 PM I have always just hung up without a word — - except for the ones who begin "How are you?"; in which case I say, "Why, how kind of you to ask", and proceed to tell them, at some length & in considerable detail, about my arthritis, boil behind my ear, dental problems, anginal breathlessness, how I no longer suffer nearly as much from winter colds or summer allergies as I did when younger, &c &c: finishing up, "Thank you so much for calling to enquire about my health. I really do appreciate it. Goodbye". Then I hang up... ≈M≈ |
