Bloody Annoying 'junk' telephone calls!

area51newmexico

I seem to be getting bloody loads of recorded message telephone calls. You hear the phone ring, you run to get it (it's usually only parents that call) but when you pick up it says "hello this is a recorded message to inform you about...." at which point I hang up! Garrr! I can't imagine that anyone listens beyond that point so they have gotta be the most pointless thing in the world!

Does anyone else get these? And most importantly, how the hell do I stop them calling again? I'm already ex-directory.
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pickle · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

We get them at work, but I haven't received any at home or any cold calls. There must be some sort of database that you are on, like junk mail. There has to be something you can do to remove yourself from it, it's probs worth investigating.
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Lamiaceae · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:11 am Post subject:

TPS FTW!

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/what/

I used to get a lot of recorded messages as well, I think I posted a rant on here a while ago about it and how if anything it's only going to put me off more.

Hence why I signed up for TPS.
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aalpha · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:55 pm Post subject:

If all else fails get an answering machine. If you hear Mum and Dad pick up, if its a recording let it play and delete or take your time disconnecting. If it's a cold call have a referee's whistle by the phone and give them an earful.

What is ex-directory? My number in unpublished or unlisted as others would say. Is that the same thing? If so, try to get a new number that has not been available to *any*one for a long time.

You don't want a number that belonged to a pub that went out of business 2 weeks ago.
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Lamiaceae · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject:

Just as a foot note, the Telephone Preference service also have the 'Mail Preference Service' - so no more junk mail through your front door ( save the environment ! )

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/

Both are a free service and neither will contact you to pay anything

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/news1.html

Recorded messages get a short sharp drop with a sudden drop as well even if you can't contact the company and tell them to stop bothering you.

You shouldn't have to go ringing round people anyway telling them to stop bothering you, sign up to TPS and that stops them all, the magic words ( after 28 days have passed ) are 'This is a TPS'ed number' gets rid of them sharpish.

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/news3.html

The FAQ is here
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/faq/

If you are being harassed by bloody foreigners and TPS doesn't seem to be working ( it's stopped all cold sales calls for me though ) then contact your telecoms provider, they may be more helpful in blocking various numbers.
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spartman · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:45 am Post subject:

TPS sounds like our version of the "Do not call " list. The 28 day wait for the telemarketers to "scrub" their call lists is the same.

We use the answering machine to screen those calls. Many times ,once the caller ID pops up on the handset, I will just pick up the satellite hand set, turn it on and then promptly disconnect.

Telemarketing, that is a job I could just not do at all.

Spart

Rolling Eyes

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area51newmexico · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject:

Lamiaceae · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject:

aalpha · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:20 pm Post subject:

I also like letting the caller do his/her speel then say "wait a minute I'll go get my credit card" and then say every couple of minutes "I know it's here." . . . . . . . "oh wait I know where it is!!". on and on until they hang up. Twisted Evil

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Lamiaceae · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

I did that aswell, record was 7 minutes. (Obviously I don't get calls now)

But I still do get them at work.

They give me the speel, and go through various ways of trying to get me to do a questionnaire which is fatal as they all swoop down on you and just question you for hours on end when you should be working.

Therefore my responses vary from :-

1) - hang up
2) - company policy to not take part in questionnaires or surveys ( it's not, but they don't know that )
3) - When they plead it will take 2 minutes, I give them 2 minutes according to the timer on my phone.
4) - Give answers which are wrong or don't fit

It was surreal when I realised I could do that last one.

Them - What do you use for email?
Me - Lotus Domino
Them - You can't have that answer
Me - Wah ???
Them - I have a lot of drop down lists which I have to pick from, I don't have that on my list
Me - What do you have on your list that you want me to have ?
Them - Microsoft Exchange ?
Me - Sounds good to me, i'll have that one then
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