BS: Maddening phone call surveys

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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 !!

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

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."

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.

________________________________________________________________________

Buy Gold

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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...

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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."

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".

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.

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.

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

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

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-

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

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.

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 ?!.

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.

Subject: RE: BS: Maddening phone call surveys
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 Feb 15 - 03:34 PM

Hang up.

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.