Unwanted Calls

jims-terrano · 22-12-2015, 11:40

So ok you know what this is about, I'm having a rant again!

OK I registered with TPS years ago and hardly give out my phone numbers and email addresses. Though I suspect my children are not so careful. Over the last year or so the phone calls and texts have started becoming more frequent and in fairness not very many as I know some people are pestered to death but just the same I want to get rid of them.
I'm pretty convinced the local Skoda didn't take a blind bit of notice when I told them direct that I do not want them to pass my details on to third parties and I do not want their marketing either. I also suspect that insurance companies are the same and incidentally I only called two for the project truck one of whom often pops up on car forums, nuf said. I also know that TPS have no powers over foreign call centres.

Has anyone got any ideas to cut these calls and texts out?

don simon · 22-12-2015, 11:50

I just cut them off mid sentence.

I had a guy offering me compensation for my accident of three years ago. he had no details of the accident ( I had my last accident in the early 90s), nor details of the insurer, nor of me apparently except my number. But if I gave him my personal details he would chase it up.... Bless him...

jims-terrano · 22-12-2015, 11:53

Sadly cutting them off doesn't remove your number or stop them from getting it. Although apparently some numbers are just randomly generated by more flippin technology

don simon · 22-12-2015, 11:57

I only use the mobile and don't pick up unrecognised numbers, unless I'm expecting a call from an unknown source, hence picking up for Mr Dippy Accident Claim Guy. If it's important, they'll leave a message.
I guess it's just something that we have to live with, unfortunately. The other side is that legit business callers are just some poor minimum wage sap who's just doing the job they're told to do.
Spam emails from interior design companies is an all together different matter!!!

panelbeater · 22-12-2015, 12:05

i must be lucky as i do not get any.
no home phone plugged in and just use my 2 mobile sims.

jonela · 22-12-2015, 12:13

I did read about a guy who got a premium number or something and every time someone rang him it cost them, and the longer he kept them on the more he got, now that's pay back

briggie · 22-12-2015, 18:04

give the phone to one of your kids , and tell them its santa

jims-terrano · 22-12-2015, 18:21

Haha just taken a call from Skoda dealer asking about their service, wife only just picked car up and hasn't even got home. So I said I was sick of their phone calls

The bloke didn't take the hint and proceeded to try and sell me another car

rustic · 22-12-2015, 19:00

I try to keep the caller on the phone for as long as possible, I often have my wife in stitches. 10 minutes has been the max.
From what I have said, they are clearly following a script, putting the answers in a box without listening and understanding what I tell them...
For example...
One was trying to sell me a new credit card, after a few holding replies, one question was...
How many credit cards, do you have?

oh let me think, 19, no then there' the Halifax, one, oh, a couple ohh Santander, hang on... 23 yes 23...

Do you have any outstanding credit on them? well you can imagine, going through 23 cards takes a while especially if you have to get a balance slip from the file... boy... they are still there asking questions...
Eventually I say, well it's been nice talking to you, clearly what I have told you is clearly unbelivable, and I hope I have wasted your time, as I have enjoyed winding you up, and you might just want to take me off your mailing list.
They don't say much more after that...

The other caller clearly selects a random number, and I wait for him to confirm who he would like to speak to, by full name, this forms a brick wall for about half of them.

Then there are the guys who have been sold on the phone numbers, usually they have your full name, so a brick wall untill they can give me the name of the company that provided these details, keep asking them after every question they ask.... after about three replies like this they go away. Also mention telephone preference services and they often go.
The other one I use is ask their name and insist that they give you their phone number, so I can call them back should they get cut off...
They don't know how to handle that one, and sometimes the greener ones escalate the call to their supervisor, then you can go from there.
I just take them as a challenge, and time the call lol...
So who can beat 10 minutes?
lol

jims-terrano · 22-12-2015, 20:10

Just had a call from the automated feedback service for the dam skoda garage on my mobile this time.

jims-terrano · 22-12-2015, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by jims-terrano

Just had a call from the automated feedback service for the dam skoda garage on my mobile this time.

I put the phone down so the prats texted me instead.

don simon · 22-12-2015, 20:12

Quote:

So who can beat 10 minutes?

Try telling them to hang on as there's someone at the door, then just put the handset down on the sideboard...

Sweety · 22-12-2015, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by don simon

Try telling them to hang on as there's someone at the door, then just put the handset down on the sideboard...

Our budgie has taken a few calls as we have told the caller to hang on for a minute & put the phone on top of the budgies cage

22-12-2015, 11:40	#1
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Unwanted Calls So ok you know what this is about, I'm having a rant again! OK I registered with TPS years ago and hardly give out my phone numbers and email addresses. Though I suspect my children are not so careful. Over the last year or so the phone calls and texts have started becoming more frequent and in fairness not very many as I know some people are pestered to death but just the same I want to get rid of them. I'm pretty convinced the local Skoda didn't take a blind bit of notice when I told them direct that I do not want them to pass my details on to third parties and I do not want their marketing either. I also suspect that insurance companies are the same and incidentally I only called two for the project truck one of whom often pops up on car forums, nuf said. I also know that TPS have no powers over foreign call centres. Has anyone got any ideas to cut these calls and texts out?

22-12-2015, 19:00	#9
rustic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Staffordshire Vehicle: Maverick Mk I 2.7 TD LWB Posts: 7,825	I try to keep the caller on the phone for as long as possible, I often have my wife in stitches. 10 minutes has been the max. From what I have said, they are clearly following a script, putting the answers in a box without listening and understanding what I tell them... For example... One was trying to sell me a new credit card, after a few holding replies, one question was... How many credit cards, do you have? oh let me think, 19, no then there' the Halifax, one, oh, a couple ohh Santander, hang on... 23 yes 23... Do you have any outstanding credit on them? well you can imagine, going through 23 cards takes a while especially if you have to get a balance slip from the file... boy... they are still there asking questions... Eventually I say, well it's been nice talking to you, clearly what I have told you is clearly unbelivable, and I hope I have wasted your time, as I have enjoyed winding you up, and you might just want to take me off your mailing list. They don't say much more after that... The other caller clearly selects a random number, and I wait for him to confirm who he would like to speak to, by full name, this forms a brick wall for about half of them. Then there are the guys who have been sold on the phone numbers, usually they have your full name, so a brick wall untill they can give me the name of the company that provided these details, keep asking them after every question they ask.... after about three replies like this they go away. Also mention telephone preference services and they often go. The other one I use is ask their name and insist that they give you their phone number, so I can call them back should they get cut off... They don't know how to handle that one, and sometimes the greener ones escalate the call to their supervisor, then you can go from there. I just take them as a challenge, and time the call lol... So who can beat 10 minutes? lol __________________ Ford Maverick GLX 1995 2.7TD LWB in illusion silver, 98k miles. Owned since new, for 22 years. Best car I have ever owned. Just wish I could drive it more.

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22-12-2015, 11:50	#2
don simon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Gone. Vehicle: Terrano ii Posts: 2,215	I just cut them off mid sentence. I had a guy offering me compensation for my accident of three years ago. he had no details of the accident ( I had my last accident in the early 90s), nor details of the insurer, nor of me apparently except my number. But if I gave him my personal details he would chase it up.... Bless him...

22-12-2015, 11:53	#3
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Sadly cutting them off doesn't remove your number or stop them from getting it. Although apparently some numbers are just randomly generated by more flippin technology

22-12-2015, 11:57	#4
don simon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Gone. Vehicle: Terrano ii Posts: 2,215	I only use the mobile and don't pick up unrecognised numbers, unless I'm expecting a call from an unknown source, hence picking up for Mr Dippy Accident Claim Guy. If it's important, they'll leave a message. I guess it's just something that we have to live with, unfortunately. The other side is that legit business callers are just some poor minimum wage sap who's just doing the job they're told to do. Spam emails from interior design companies is an all together different matter!!!

22-12-2015, 12:05	#5
panelbeater Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: clacton on sea essex Vehicle: nissan terrano 2 2.7 tdi Posts: 1,639	i must be lucky as i do not get any. no home phone plugged in and just use my 2 mobile sims.

22-12-2015, 12:13	#6
jonela Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Chateaunef du Faou, France Vehicle: 2000 LWB SE+ Posts: 906	I did read about a guy who got a premium number or something and every time someone rang him it cost them, and the longer he kept them on the more he got, now that's pay back

22-12-2015, 18:04	#7
briggie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: peoples democratic republic of west yorkshire Vehicle: " alice " Posts: 10,473	give the phone to one of your kids , and tell them its santa

22-12-2015, 18:21	#8
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Haha just taken a call from Skoda dealer asking about their service, wife only just picked car up and hasn't even got home. So I said I was sick of their phone calls The bloke didn't take the hint and proceeded to try and sell me another car

22-12-2015, 20:10	#10
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Just had a call from the automated feedback service for the dam skoda garage on my mobile this time.