How to deal with nuisance telemarketer calls...

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #1 15-10-2009, 07:10 PM

http://videos.juegosbratz.net/video/...hone-call.html

damn well funny as if you ask me!

Dave

multiweb (Marc) · #2 15-10-2009, 07:29 PM

That's hilarious!

Thanks for sharing.

I have actually something that might be of interest to people who want to get rid of all those pesky telemarketers. The calls are software driven. So it doesn't matter how many times you tell them not to call, they'll call back because your number is in the loop. Now I assume everybody will agree with that.

Most of the calls are from overseas. If you have a phone with a digital display you'll be able to know if it's an overseas call before you answer. So when you know, pick up the phone but don't say a word. The software must be voice activated, because by the time you say Hello, there's always a slight pause then you're dispatched to a person. Then it's too late.

The thing is that if you're quiet for let's say 5s to 10s it will hang up. I did that over a period of two weeks. My number must have dropped off their database as being "disconnected" or invalid because I haven't had a call in the past 6 months or so. I used to get them daily, sometime many times per day.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #3 15-10-2009, 07:34 PM

That sounds awesome. That said, we don't get junk calls @ home - silent number and it has been silent for a fair while.

Dave

bloodhound31 · #4 15-10-2009, 07:35 PM

uh oh...I think last time this subject was posted......never mind...

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #5 15-10-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodhound31

uh oh...I think last time this subject was posted......never mind...

???

Dave

Lester · #6 15-10-2009, 07:46 PM

Wish I had the ability to stay serious and crack a story like that.

I get them to hang on while I get the owner of the business, put the phone down and come back to it in 10 minutes, they have always hung up by then. After a few times they don't ring back.

Haven't had one ring now for over 6 months.

matt · #7 15-10-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpastern

we don't get junk calls @ home - silent number and it has been silent for a fair while.

We've got a silent number too...but still get the occasional call.

I just ask them to hold and walk away for 10 minutes.

I was in the mood for a laugh on one occasion and interrupted his 'spiel' to tell him at length about the day I'd just had at work. It didn't matter what he tried to say, I just ploughed right ahead with my monologue.

DavidU (Dave) · #8 15-10-2009, 08:27 PM

I ask them for their mobile number so I can call them back after dinner.

taminga16 (Greg) · #9 15-10-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidU

I ask them for their mobile number so I can call them back after dinner.

I ask for their number as well, so that I can call them during their dinner!

Greg.

Sarge (Rod) · #10 15-10-2009, 09:42 PM

Great track, hilarious, very hilarious.

Thanks David

Rod

Ian Robinson · #11 15-10-2009, 09:44 PM

They wont talk to answering machines , so I suggest you buy a cheap fax/answering machine combo (it'll double as a phone , photocopier, fax and answering machine).

That'll sort out the telemarkers , but only if you refuse to pick up the phone unless you recognise the voice on the other end or it's an expected call.

Redshift (Phil) · #12 15-10-2009, 09:47 PM

There's always a delay in them speaking when you answer. I just say hello twice and if the caller doesn't reply straight away, I hang up. It works for me.

acropolite (Phil) · #13 15-10-2009, 10:47 PM

I usually don't answer but sometimes, just for fun, I ask them questions, lots of questions, over and over, get them to spell everything and keep it up until they hang up.

One thing that usually gets a rise is to deny any knowledge of their carrier etc "Optus, never heard of them, what was the name again. ....Nope, never heard of them, how do you spell that....

They have targets and holding them up stuffs up their targets.

If they're persistent and manage to hang in for more than a couple of minutes I ask them to wait and put them on hold, at that stage they never hold for more than a few seconds..

BerrieK · #14 16-10-2009, 08:26 AM

Oh dear... last time this subject wa sin a thread it turned rather nasty and was locked... beware...

multiweb (Marc) · #15 16-10-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BerrieK

Oh dear... last time this subject wa sin a thread it turned rather nasty and was locked... beware...

Agreed... last post is a definite "this thread is locked now..."

mithrandir (Andrew) · #16 16-10-2009, 09:43 AM

Screening calls through an answering machine is good. The message needs to say you do this so your friends won't hang up.

For those cases where you forget, keep a radio near the phone, best tuned to a talk radio station. As soon as you recognise one of these insults to intelligence, turn it on, gently place the handset down, and walk off. Let them enjoy. Give it ten minutes or so and hang up.

The longer you keep them occupied on a useless call, the less they are paid.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #17 16-10-2009, 12:05 PM

I follow a similar tack to others, but I let them know I am VERY interested in their product, just if they could bare with me for 2 minutes whilst I get my credit card. 5mins minutes later I come back, ask for another minute as the baby is crying, then another and another. The key to it is, to make them think you are interested and they are going to get a sale. If not they will hang up. Keep mixing up the excuses, don't leave them for more than a few minutes. I had one poor sucker on hold for at least 25minutes, before asking him if it was a bit much stuffing him around for this long, he replied no, but he was busy, guess he knows how I feel now "Click" .

Ric · #18 16-10-2009, 12:40 PM

I just screen through the answering machine, they can then ring all they want.

It's their 25 cents not mine.

telemarker (Keith) · #19 17-10-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

That'll sort out the telemarkers , but only if you refuse to pick up the phone unless you recognise the voice on the other end or it's an expected call.

We "telemarkers" are too busy skiing to worry about answering the phone.

Occasionally, I enjoy a round of baiting. One was proudly spruiking a new phone, a great plan and a discount holiday. After 30 minutes I told him he was offering me a phone that was crappier than the one I own, a plan that was way more expensive than my current one and a holiday that was too expensive to take the family on. Asked him why he thought I would be interested in that. Told him I've got all day and was waiting for him to hang up. He eventually did hang up but only after I told him he was an bloody idiot. Sometimes I've just got too much time on my hands.