How can one stop these people?

[Exfso (Peter)]

Every day without fail, I get some person rings me who says they are from "the technical dept of Windows", what a joke!! I have had a gut full, how does one stop these people calling all the time?

[Octane (Humayun)]

Have any young kids or grandkids to put on the phone with them?

"Just a minute, going to turn my computer on."

Walk away and put the phone down without hanging up.

H

[Larryp (Laurie)]

I hurl a tirade of abuse at them-doesn't stop them calling, but makes me feel better!

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

I just say " yeah, right" and hang up.
Once I said, "which computer, I have 6?" They hung up that time.

[Neutronstar (T)]

I find with cold callers and the like they give up pretty quick if you speak to them in a language other than English.

I know enough German to address them. When I answered with "Gutten Arbend", one guy said, "oh, you don't speak English, see ya later mate" and hung up on me. Like I knew what he said.

[Julian]

You could say"I've been waiting for your call"

"I need the two windows in the front Room cleaned, then there is the kitchen back window which is a little dusty, and of course the cobwebs in the garage"

Windows is now clean

[Akwestland (Andrew and Kim)]

Sometimes (When I am in the mood) I start talking to them, they get all excited I start asking them questions (as if I am interested), I then let them down with a great thud when I inform them that I don't actually own a computer and probably never will. They are not sure what to say next.

And other times I ask then about the "error reports" I ask them what format the report is in, what protocol was used to transmit the data, and what period of time was the data collected over, add a few more questions that they will not be able to answer (because the error report does not actually exist) and they do not know which way to go either. And yes, I do know a little about computers, but do not profess to be a Guru.

Just my thoughts.

Andrew.

[Neutronstar (T)]

Originally Posted by Julian

You could say"I've been waiting for your call"

"I need the two windows in the front Room cleaned, then there is the kitchen back window which is a little dusty, and of course the cobwebs in the garage"

Windows is now clean

THAT one I like, might try that next time.

[vapeinspace (R)]

If I have nothing better on, I try and waste as much of their time as possible. If figure the longer I keep them on the phone then the less they are wasting other peoples time.

So far my record is 54 minutes.

[glend (Glen)]

Make sure your phone is on the 'Do Not Call' Register, then you will onky get bothered by exempt charities. - in theory.

[AndrewJ]

Gday Glen

Make sure your phone is on the 'Do Not Call' Register,

Doesnt work, as these folks are normally ringing from O/S and hence know they cant be fined anyway.
In my perfect fantasy
I would get the windows peoples call first, then tell em i need them to hold as i have another call. The second call would be from the scum wanting to change all my downlights to LEDs ( for Free ).
Then i could connect em to each other
Andrew

[Dealy (Kev)]

Originally Posted by Octane

"Just a minute, going to turn my computer on."

Walk away and put the phone down without hanging up.

H

Yep that's what we used to do.

We found the only people that called on the house phone were scammers and telemarketers, so we unplugged the phone and only use mobiles now.

Kev

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Tell'em your running Windows 3.1 .... or better still a Commodore 64

Col....

[glend (Glen)]

Ok, then try this: All these overseas call centres doing inbound marketing rely on computer dialing systems which randomly dial numbers till they get a hit - when the system detects a pickup at the called number it it then 'pops' the call to the first available operator (its forced on the operator by the system). There is always a lag between when the system calls you and when it connects you to the operator. If you pickup the phone and say hello the system assumes your caught and pops the call to an operator (you can actually sometimes here the call centre background noise when this happens through the open mike of the operator). The trick is to hang up during this switch period, don't say anything just hang up. Most people can't brign themsleves to just pickup the phone but not say anything, so you can pickup, say hello (but that's all) and if you don't get an immeadiate response from someone you know just hang up before the system can pop the call to an operator. These Overseas call centres have to contend with lag and that's their weakness.

[OffGrid (Steve)]

Get yourself a standalone digital answering machine.
Our home phone has had various answering machines fire walling since I can't remember when.
Nothing gets through unless it is both important to us and the caller.

As most calls are computer generated, they usually drop out very quickly and we get a short busy tone msg that is easily deleted.

Our regulars know the deal and warble on till we pick up or leave a message.

No costs to call the voicemail.
I have been thinking for some time to buy a few units and put away in case they are no longer manufactured.
We are not on the No Call Register and never will be.

Life is good this side of our firewall.

[vlazg (George)]

I have a referees whistle next to the phone, give them a blast, it hurts

[pmrid (Peter)]

I ask them "Does your mother know what you do for a living?". There's usually a pregnant pause during which I quietly hang up. I have given up torrents of abuse - it's not worth the effort.

Peter

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

I play along a bit to waste their time then tell them I'll call the cops and they have never called back.

[xelasnave]

I use Glens system. Hi there...no answer then I hang up.
I think I have had only two or three calls in 12 mths that were legit.
Although I let one thru recently.
After his speel I said...I don't have a computer I think you are bs get lost.
I do wonder however how many folk they get to scam

[Terry B]

Never had one of these calls. I have had a silent number for years.