REALLY nice ones guys. I got another call shortly after I made the first post, so what did I do? I told them my roommate went back to Cuba. They are gonna call me again tomorrow at about 3.30pm my time again.
Telemarketers
- Thread starter Weyoun Ten
- Start date
If somebody calls me and claims to be working for the police (or fireman) benefits association or whatever they call those, I always ask, "Are YOU a [cop/fireman/rescue worker/EMT/Great Old One/whatever]?" Of course the caller never is. 
I'm signed up to the "no telemarketing" list, which is actually pretty damn effective.
Once in a blue moon, one does get through though. No problem though, since I never answer my landline unless I recognise the number (I always let the machine pick up the call otherwise).
Once in a blue moon, one does get through though. No problem though, since I never answer my landline unless I recognise the number (I always let the machine pick up the call otherwise).
I'd love to be able to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OgWcwgB50
(Makes the telemarketer think he's calling a murder scene.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OgWcwgB50
(Makes the telemarketer think he's calling a murder scene.)
Thanks to caller ID and Do not call lists, I can't remember the last time I actually answered the phone with a telemarketer on the other end. I'm sure that line of work eats at your soul so I don't have any desire to make their day worse. We do occasionally get survey calls at work and I just say "sorry this is a business and i can't accept this call."
I'm signed up the the TPS but increasingly I'm getting calls that show up as international, invariably they claim to be carrying out surveys. I actually had an argument with one guy...
ME: I'm on the TPS.
PHONE MONKEY: That's ok I'm allowed to call you.
ME: You're missing the point, you're annoying me, how likely am I to want to talk to you?
He then tried to justify his disturbing me. I'm almost tempted to do one of these surveys to find out which companies are signing up to these outside of EU call centres that ignore the rules.
In the days before the DNC list, I used to get a call every three weeks or so from a local photography studio. They had an unerring knack for getting me either when I was eating or showering before work. After the first few times of just politely saying no, I started telling them to take me off their call list, but I kept getting calls from them. One time they called when I was passing a kidney stone; needless to say, I was not in a polite mood. I said to the person, "I've asked you five times to take me off your calling list. The next time you call me, I'm going to send you a bill for $500 for wasting my time." Never heard from them again!
I've done telemarketing. I didn't particularly want to phone people up and pester them, but this was a work placement that I'd been sent on when I was unemployed - So not too much choice in the matter. I didn't really have much success and didn't get any customers in over two weeks. I guess the "robotic" reading from a script approach doesn't work too well.
I hadn't noticed this myself, but I do rarely notice the phone rings and no message is left, so I assume it must be an autodialer hanging up. Just screen all your calls.
When my dad collapse, we could not ring for a ambulance because just has I garbed the phone we got a telemarketer, and for some reason the call would not cut off.
I wanted to kill the guy.
I wanted to kill the guy.
These cold callers was one of the reasons i changed my whole phone provider.....and thank god i did it.....now after 6 months not one cold call.....god its fantastic.
I also now have a cheap mobile phone that i use for putting into stuff like buying online and anything that requires my phone number...so that's no doubt has also helped...and surprising enough the odd few time i left the mobile on its had a cold call.
But before that they were a nightmare, even after registering with the TPS...all hours of the day and night.
I also now have a cheap mobile phone that i use for putting into stuff like buying online and anything that requires my phone number...so that's no doubt has also helped...and surprising enough the odd few time i left the mobile on its had a cold call.
But before that they were a nightmare, even after registering with the TPS...all hours of the day and night.
I'm no longer in the system and have not gotten one of these calls in several years.
However when I did get them (inevitably at dinner time) I would say politely, "I don't respond to phone soliciting" and hang up. In the dim past I was rude but I realized that it's a shit job that people only do because they can't get a better job so I went against every impulse of my personality and stopped being rude to them.
However when I did get them (inevitably at dinner time) I would say politely, "I don't respond to phone soliciting" and hang up. In the dim past I was rude but I realized that it's a shit job that people only do because they can't get a better job so I went against every impulse of my personality and stopped being rude to them.
Actually it was just in America something actually happened that day when it comes to the attacks on New York and Washington.
Cute, yet unconvincing story though if I'm honest.
I don't tend to get annoyed at telemarketers, they're doing their job, something I have done in the past aswell, so I just hang up.
What gets me though are the damn automated messages that some companies use, even when you hang that up, the message is still being read and you can't make an out going call on a landline until the recording has finished.
About the only calls i get are from my mobile phone provider offering me new deals (which usually turn out more expensive for me and my habits than my old plan 
) but i just tell them i'm not interested and they end the call then politely.. no big deal.
Years ago i worked as a telemarketer for an engineering company selling electrical safety devices to construction companies so it was not typical telemarketing. It was ok, i was polite and the person on the other end usually too. The call was brief (basically me asking a few questions about their company and offering them a catalogue package) and few people were annoyed.
However i am a bit sorry for all those people working this business.. it is crap, very low paid and you encounter some really rude people. I've had friends who did this for a while and not one of them liked this job.
When i was unemployed years ago several temp agencies "lured" me in with open positions in my field of expertise only to admit they didn't have any openings currently but could offer me telemarketing. I denied politely and left.
) but i just tell them i'm not interested and they end the call then politely.. no big deal.Years ago i worked as a telemarketer for an engineering company selling electrical safety devices to construction companies so it was not typical telemarketing. It was ok, i was polite and the person on the other end usually too. The call was brief (basically me asking a few questions about their company and offering them a catalogue package) and few people were annoyed.
However i am a bit sorry for all those people working this business.. it is crap, very low paid and you encounter some really rude people. I've had friends who did this for a while and not one of them liked this job.
When i was unemployed years ago several temp agencies "lured" me in with open positions in my field of expertise only to admit they didn't have any openings currently but could offer me telemarketing. I denied politely and left.
Not strictly telemarketing but goes under the 'being totally fed up with phone calls'.
Apparently this Belgium company has a dreadful customer service record so this happened...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxXlDyTD7wo
warning it is 10 minutes, subtitled but if you have the time and are bored, it is incredibly creative and very funny
Apparently this Belgium company has a dreadful customer service record so this happened...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxXlDyTD7wo
warning it is 10 minutes, subtitled but if you have the time and are bored, it is incredibly creative and very funny
Does anyone remember the time someone called him, something a about a paper subscription I think? And he said "YES!" and then hung up? I lol'd but my brother said they'd probably just call back... >.<
Edit: Found it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQjp_c6ynU0&NR=1
While it's not as much fun, telling the caller you're on the DNC list is effective. Telemarketing companies can be fined some large amount (several $1000, as I recall) for each and every violation. As a bonus to you, if you're on the DNC list and get a telemarketing call, then report it and the company is prosecuted, you get a share of the money the company is fined. So, the lesson is this: get on the DNC list, then if you get a call, pay attention to the name of the company if you can get it and report the violation. You just might get paid for your trouble.
Not necessarily that they can't get a better job. Some might be doing it as a second job, or it provides convenient part-time work while studying.
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