[alexlduffy]

Luckily for me, I don't get these much because whenever I get calls (or even salespeople knocking at the door), they assume that I'm a young teen and ask to see my mum or dad. When I tell them they're not here they leave/hang up =D

If they stay I politely tell them that I'm busy and that I'm not interested.

[glousck]

I sometimes sing Bohemian Rhapsody down the phone if a telemarketer calls.

[kpwxx]

(Original post by I love shopping)
I know it's really annoying when you get these phone calls, but before being rude to the person calling, please think about the position they are in. It must be such a depressing job. It's not something anyone would choose to do unless they were really desperate for money. As annoying as it may be, you could just tell them you're not interested and ask them not to call again. This really wouldn't take much time or effort. Like others have suggested, you could sign up to TPS to stop getting these calls.

It depends on the nature of the call. If it's a genuine company and you ask them to remove you from their list they should comply. And they shouldn't call you excessively. I understand people doing these jobs just need money and wouldn't be needlessly rude. Though I personally wouldn't mind a joke (as opposed to shouting, abuse etc) if I was on the phone... It would probably make it more interesting! As long as I get paid.

But the stuff mentioned in the op seems to be mostly scam stuff... The people who call repeatedly, claim they're someone they're not and try to scam you out of money. If someone is going to call me trying to scam me I think rudeness is ok... Though I usually avoid it as I cba.

For example, the people who claim to be Microsoft to get people to pay for 'anti virus' stuff which they don't get.

Xxx

posted from the TSR Android app

[Annie72]

We've just had one!.Someone asked "Am I speaking to the home owner", husband said "No" and then they said "Are you a family member",Hubby said "No" and then it went all quiet so he hung up.I know people are only trying to make ends meet, but ffs it's so annoying.If I wanted what ever it was they are trying to flog, I'd go to them!.


Some of us dont want to be bothered by phone calls.

[the.cookie.monster]

The worst is those PPI ones, I swear its a pre-recorded voice so you can't even vent out and tell them to stop friggin calling!!

[FrescoDiMorte]

The only calls I seem to get to my housephone are: ''You may have been missold PPI, and could be due more than £7000. Press five to claim.''

[I love shopping]

(Original post by kpwxx)
It depends on the nature of the call. If it's a genuine company and you ask them to remove you from their list they should comply. And they shouldn't call you excessively. I understand people doing these jobs just need money and wouldn't be needlessly rude. Though I personally wouldn't mind a joke (as opposed to shouting, abuse etc) if I was on the phone... It would probably make it more interesting! As long as I get paid.

But the stuff mentioned in the op seems to be mostly scam stuff... The people who call repeatedly, claim they're someone they're not and try to scam you out of money. If someone is going to call me trying to scam me I think rudeness is ok... Though I usually avoid it as I cba.

For example, the people who claim to be Microsoft to get people to pay for 'anti virus' stuff which they don't get.

Xxx

posted from the TSR Android app

Ah, okay. I didn't realise that the OP was specifically talking about scams. Yes, those calls are completely unacceptable.

But if they are calling on behalf of genuine companies, I think would be kinder just to tell them you're not interested. They must have targets to meet, and it would be very annoying for them to have to put up with time wasting pranks that some people have suggested on here.

[Solid.Snake]

Ah these cold callers really annoy me as well!
Most of the time i just say "sorry not interested" and then hang up
Sometimes, if i'm in the mood for it, i try put on a heavy accent or something like scottish lol. One time i tried talking like a chav with the use of words such as "yo","mate", "innit" as well pretending to be thick and it was really funny!

[Laurah5498]

(Original post by I love shopping)
I know it's really annoying when you get these phone calls, but before being rude to the person calling, please think about the position they are in. It must be such a depressing job. It's not something anyone would choose to do unless they were really desperate for money. As annoying as it may be, you could just tell them you're not interested and ask them not to call again. This really wouldn't take much time or effort. Like others have suggested, you could sign up to TPS to stop getting these calls.

It frustrates us too! I work in a call centre debt debt collecting and the amount of debtors who give out random contact numbers is unbelievable. All day today I was constantly apologising for wrong numbers being dialled. Most are fine and tell me straight off, it's the ones who pretend to be the person I need to speak to and then scream at me because I have to do data protection checks.

The PPI ones drive me mad, i've reported so many telephone numbers about companies that do that it's unreal. I had one tell me about a loan I took out in 1986, and they didn't believe that I was not even conceived then xD


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by memifer)
Register on line with the TPS (telephone preference service) for free (google it)....after a few weeks the calls should stop, and if they do call just tell them that you are registered with the TPS and be astounded at the speed with which they suddenly hang up on you!!

Doesn't work with Indian call centres They've been ringing me for 3 months now. Thankfully I have caller display and usually I'm not in!

[Teatania]

If you cry down the phone usually they hang up...

[Mark85]

(Original post by RobertWhite)
I understand where you're coming from, of course. Perhaps you should lighten up a little though.

Well these kind of people are the reason people hate students. Namely, they are tediously unoriginal, unfunny and carry an unearned sense of superiority or feeling that they are yet of any worth to society. They are just acting like utter dicks to people who are doing a generally unrewarding job. Then they come and bitch to forums like this or Daily Mail columnists on the flip side when they find themselves on the flipside and leave the job centre queue defeatedly to claim their own McJob/telesales position.

From the other side of the coin, I would say that people should carry on acting like they do because from personal experience of working full time in a call centre - speaking to an eighteen/nineteen year old unintelligent moron with no banter about him is one of the perks of the job because it lets you, the 'mindless drone' feel infinitely superior to someone. Nothing perks up a **** day in a call centre like being able to laugh in the face of a nuclear grade weapon who is reciting ****e down the phone like something out of a third rate Michael MacIntyre routine or getting all vexed and angry. Sometimes I liked to play along back with them and then switch it round, start laughing and tell them to go **** their mother. Another common one is to hold the phone in your hand, adopt another voice and pretend to be the manager. Amazing how many people can't tell.

[hannahisasmit]

Sing to them! At Christmas time I sung 'Let It Snow' to a PPI seller and she replied with "what?" then she hung up. Works wonders!

[Mr Bee]

My mum told me how she once read about a woman who got a conservatory sales phone centre call. This woman played them along and sorted everything out to do with getting it. This by now was about a 3 hour conversation, and just as she was about to pay, the woman said to the salesman, "just a quick question, how are you meant to fix a conservatory onto a 11th floor flat?"

Made me laugh :P

[Teatania]

(Original post by Mark85)
Well these kind of people are the reason people hate students. Namely, they are tediously unoriginal, unfunny and carry an unearned sense of superiority or feeling that they are yet of any worth to society. They are just acting like utter dicks to people who are doing a generally unrewarding job. Then they come and bitch to forums like this or Daily Mail columnists on the flip side when they find themselves on the flipside and leave the job centre queue defeatedly to claim their own McJob/telesales position.

From the other side of the coin, I would say that people should carry on acting like they do because from personal experience of working full time in a call centre - speaking to an eighteen/nineteen year old unintelligent moron with no banter about him is one of the perks of the job because it lets you, the 'mindless drone' feel infinitely superior to someone. Nothing perks up a **** day in a call centre like being able to laugh in the face of a nuclear grade weapon who is reciting ****e down the phone like something out of a third rate Michael MacIntyre routine or getting all vexed and angry. Sometimes I liked to play along back with them and then switch it round, start laughing and tell them to go **** their mother. Another common one is to hold the phone in your hand, adopt another voice and pretend to be the manager. Amazing how many people can't tell.

Why do you assume these morons are all students? I have no doubt some of them are, but way to tar everybody with the same brush.

[Mark85]

(Original post by Teatania)
Why do you assume these morons are all students? I have no doubt some of them are, but way to tar everybody with the same brush.

This is a student forum; I am assuming that the people posting here are students.

[Teatania]

(Original post by Mark85)
This is a student forum; I am assuming that the people posting here are students.

What have the people on this forum got to do with the people who actually talk nonsense down the phone to you at the call centre?

[Mark85]

(Original post by Teatania)
What have the people on this forum got to do with the people who actually talk nonsense down the phone to you at the call centre?

Most of the posts in this thread were people sharing their prefered unoriginal, tired and cliched methods of acting like a tosser on the phone to call centre workers. I assumed that these people were students since this is a student forum.

I then said that this attitude, which I have come across in other settings too, amongst a certain class of students (i.e. the unearned sense of superiority or worth) is one of the things that give students in general a bad name.

In one post I discouraged this type of behaviour but then partially recanted that advice since I remembered that when I did that type of job, dealing with that type of punter (young, student or not) gave me a sense of satisfaction.

If you require any further clarification, feel free to drop me a line

[fuzznbass]

When they ask me if I'm the homeowner is in I say no, otherwise I wouldn't be robbing the place