Reply to: Cold Caller Combat

[Zippy]

I think you will be finding that TPS preferencing is not being valid outside of EU.
You can request updations to the database but you will be wasting your time. Keep the buggers on the line and waste their time/money instead.

[Sysman]

Just ask which one.

They say your main one.

You say oh the Debian laptop, then proceed to ask which repositories you can download their spyware from.

2nd time they get the rape alarm.

I like the idea of the rape alarm, but back in the days of early hands free phones you could send them some very effective feedback by pressing the hands free button and not putting the handset down.

[vetran]

Last week we had "Microsoft Support" calling when I was around at a mate's place. He normally either swears at them or puts the phone down.

This time when I heard the Indian accent I answered as "Sysman Computer Consultants" and they hung up.

He hasn't had any calls since.

Just ask which one.

They say your main one.

You say oh the Debian laptop, then proceed to ask which repositories you can download their spyware from.

2nd time they get the rape alarm.

[Paddy]

I've had a couple of calls from some bunch of arse munchers asking me questions about my pension. I ended the first call with "I don't discuss my finances with strangers". Today I graduated to "I don't discuss my private financial matters with illiterate spivs who phone me out of the blue".

Do you think they'll come back?

It's HMRC finding out how much you can afford

[Sysman]

Just had them on the phone ... he got as far as telling me his name was Adam - is Adam a common name in India?

Last week we had "Microsoft Support" calling when I was around at a mate's place. He normally either swears at them or puts the phone down.

This time when I heard the Indian accent I answered as "Sysman Computer Consultants" and they hung up.

He hasn't had any calls since.

[Sysman]

Now my Asterisk is up & running I have a new plan.

'Oh sorry, I have another call coming have to take this, be two ticks' I then put them through to Music on Hold -

'Vetran co are experts in dealing with cold call handling when and TPS rules observance, we are happy to share our expertise please hold if you need our advice, standard consultation rate is £10 per minute.'

nice little earner, and there is case law !

Post Of The Day!

[Sysman]

The best bet is to waste their time, but only if you have time to kill obviously. The one I like is seeing how long I can keep them on the line. Oh let me get a pen.......Are you still there?.......You can never find a pen when you need one......you still there and repeat until they get bored and hang up

I did a lot of that with double glazing and insulation types knocking on the door when I had just bought my first house and was feeling broke.

I considered that by wasting their time I was performing a public service

[formant]

You email their directors & customer service team (hard copy in post as well if no reply in 24 hours) explaining you have no contact or knowledge of this person, you are certain their records are incorrect and unless they can prove otherwise they are to remove all reference to you and confirm in writing within 7 days. You consider the matter closed subject to this letter, any communication from them other than to confirm they have corrected their records will be seen as a request for your professional advice charged at £1000 a day or part therof.

Also if they impugn your credit information in any way then you will sue them for damages and approach the relevant ombudsman & BBC watchdog.

Worked for me with two very aggressive & subsequently confused debt collectors / credit companies that approached me, apologetic letters and no further contact.

Have also dealt with some very good ones on behalf of a friend who was 'bang to rights' the Bailiff was very pleasant, helpful and professional.

You do not let it lie, they may affect your credit rating despite them having no evidence.

BBC News - Cold Calling: The victim who fought back - and won

Yes, it was that very article that inspired me to threaten them with legal action in the first place.

[vetran]

I don't find the TPS helps much (but then I have been on it for years, so I wouldn't know what it would be like without it).

Most annoying ones are those where some f-tard gave debtors/debt collectors a wrong number (yours). Used to get calls from Avantis (?) for a 'Lisa Bowman' every single day - both automated and operators (and told those repeatedly to stop calling already. I eventually sent them an angry email threatening them with legal action if they didn't take my number off their records. Not sure what 'legal actual' could have actually been taken in that instance, but somehow it sort of worked. They only phone every 2 months now.

You email their directors & customer service team (hard copy in post as well if no reply in 24 hours) explaining you have no contact or knowledge of this person, you are certain their records are incorrect and unless they can prove otherwise they are to remove all reference to you and confirm in writing within 7 days. You consider the matter closed subject to this letter, any communication from them other than to confirm they have corrected their records will be seen as a request for your professional advice charged at £1000 a day or part therof.

Also if they impugn your credit information in any way then you will sue them for damages and approach the relevant ombudsman & BBC watchdog.

Worked for me with two very aggressive & subsequently confused debt collectors / credit companies that approached me, apologetic letters and no further contact.

Have also dealt with some very good ones on behalf of a friend who was 'bang to rights' the Bailiff was very pleasant, helpful and professional.

You do not let it lie, they may affect your credit rating despite them having no evidence.

BBC News - Cold Calling: The victim who fought back - and won

[Troll]

Has anyone had the "Please hold for an urgent message." calls on your mobile?

I used to hang up but I found that they keep calling back, so I pressed 1 to talk to a person. It went like this ......

Them: "Hello, we called you about your recent car accident."

Me: "Which one?"

Them: "Have you had more than one? Ummmm, we can deal with all of them. Were you to blame for the accidents?"

Me: "Yup. Pissed at the wheel."

Them: "Oh, were there any passengers in the car at the time?"

Me: "Not exactly. But a couple of the kids in the school bus landed on the roof of my car when I hit it. Does that count? Did I mention I was pissed at the time?"

Them: "Oh, ummm, I don't think we can help you with that one ....."

Me: "Ok, the other one was when I hit a pensioner on a zebra crossing. I was pissed then as well."

Them: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Not had a call since.

Just had them on the phone ... he got as far as telling me his name was Adam - is Adam a common name in India?

[bless 'em all]

Has anyone had the "Please hold for an urgent message." calls on your mobile?

I used to hang up but I found that they keep calling back, so I pressed 1 to talk to a person. It went like this ......

Them: "Hello, we called you about your recent car accident."

Me: "Which one?"

Them: "Have you had more than one? Ummmm, we can deal with all of them. Were you to blame for the accidents?"

Me: "Yup. Pissed at the wheel."

Them: "Oh, were there any passengers in the car at the time?"

Me: "Not exactly. But a couple of the kids in the school bus landed on the roof of my car when I hit it. Does that count? Did I mention I was pissed at the time?"

Them: "Oh, ummm, I don't think we can help you with that one ....."

Me: "Ok, the other one was when I hit a pensioner on a zebra crossing. I was pissed then as well."

Them: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Not had a call since.

[moggy]

The best bet is to waste their time, but only if you have time to kill obviously. The one I like is seeing how long I can keep them on the line. Oh let me get a pen.......Are you still there?.......You can never find a pen when you need one......you still there and repeat until they get bored and hang up

I'm with this one...

Can't find the link just yet, but saw a clip on youtube where a guy tapes himself pretending the sales guy has called into a crime scene and he is being treated as a witness/suspect.. hilarious!

[formant]

I don't find the TPS helps much (but then I have been on it for years, so I wouldn't know what it would be like without it).

Most annoying ones are those where some f-tard gave debtors/debt collectors a wrong number (yours). Used to get calls from Avantis (?) for a 'Lisa Bowman' every single day - both automated and operators (and told those repeatedly to stop calling already. I eventually sent them an angry email threatening them with legal action if they didn't take my number off their records. Not sure what 'legal actual' could have actually been taken in that instance, but somehow it sort of worked. They only phone every 2 months now.

[SimonMac]

Based on the title, I had hoped that you had found a way to patch two cold calls to each-other and the take bets on who works it out first.

But...yes, TPS.

I have found that you need to re-register with the TPS every couple of years or so.

And companies that are outside the UK don't give a flying fig about the TPS.

Alas this is the point now, even UK based companies can get round TPS with off shoring

[cojak]

I had a local accountant call me not 10 minutes ago offering to review my accounts.

When I got the answer 'what's that?' to the question 'do you use FreeAgent?' the call ended rather swiftly.

The next question will be IR35 and the one after that S58. I don't expect may more calls after that.