How to Foil a Telemarketer
Replies
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If it's a woman. .I ask her what she's wearing. .then flirt with her until she either gives me her phone number or hangs up.0
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I tend to not screw with people just trying to make a living. They probably hate calling you as much as you hate them calling you.
+1
sorry -1.
Its my telephone number and I didnt invite a stranger to offer me another mobile phone that I do not need.
Sign up for the Do Not Call registry then. The actual person on the end of the phone didn't make the decision to call you specifically, they're just given your number.
They do however realize what they are doing. They did sign up for that job. You can't tell me they are innocent in the whole process.
+1
Generally speaking... I don't anyone who signs up to be a telemarketer accepts the position because they enjoy it...kinda like getting annoyed with someone who asks me if I need help finding something when I'm shopping for clothes. It's their job to ask.0 -
If it's a woman. .I ask her what she's wearing. .then flirt with her until she either gives me her phone number or hangs up.
gross0 -
I tend to not screw with people just trying to make a living. They probably hate calling you as much as you hate them calling you.
+1
sorry -1.
Its my telephone number and I didnt invite a stranger to offer me another mobile phone that I do not need.
Sign up for the Do Not Call registry then. The actual person on the end of the phone didn't make the decision to call you specifically, they're just given your number.
They do however realize what they are doing. They did sign up for that job. You can't tell me they are innocent in the whole process.
+1
Generally speaking... I don't anyone who signs up to be a telemarketer accepts the position because they enjoy it...kinda like getting annoyed with someone who asks me if I need help finding something when I'm shopping for clothes. It's their job to ask.
What does enjoyment have to do with anything? I don't "enjoy" my job, but I always have the option to quit.0 -
I tend to not screw with people just trying to make a living. They probably hate calling you as much as you hate them calling you.
+1
sorry -1.
Its my telephone number and I didnt invite a stranger to offer me another mobile phone that I do not need.
Sign up for the Do Not Call registry then. The actual person on the end of the phone didn't make the decision to call you specifically, they're just given your number.
I have signed up for privacy with BT but some calls still do filter through. For me with so much fraud around, its just weird someone would call me up and then start wanting to sell and expect my details over the phone its not happening. Even when the bank calls me and starts asking me for my details I will call the bank back myself.
A chap called me from Great Ormond Children Street hospital last week and he was pulling on my heart strings, and talking non stop. Even when I told him I had no money he still was trying to wear me down. I finally got rid of him by saying Its a great idea but I do not have any money. My colleague said I should have just dropped the phone on him. This chap was not innocently doing his job.0 -
For the most part caller ID takes care of it. However we have friends and family out there who I know are not in our caller id. I pick up for "home phone" looking numbers. If they ask for my mom or grandma, I ask who is calling and if they would care to leave a message. No one is looking for me because I don't have any bills in my name. That usually works or they ask for a better time to call. I usually say later that evening or next week, but now I know the number and don't pick it up again. If its important than they will leave a message.
I just treat it like I treat my job. I answer phones and take messages and I am generally polite; it's when people don't take no for an answer that I get pissy. I will also take surveys if they don't take too much time.
I used to have to make calls for my bank job and I HATED it. Cold calls are the worst, especially when you are positive that the person doesn't want to hear about new CD rates.0 -
If it's a woman. .I ask her what she's wearing. .then flirt with her until she either gives me her phone number or hangs up.
gross
silly. . it's just for laughs!0 -
I used to work for a call center... and at the time (this was almost 10 years ago...) the 'Do not call' registry was only for sales calls... we did surveys, not sales... so we could legally call. That didn't deter people from being nasty to use though. People in a call center work there because they can't find a better job at the time. I promise you, I hated my job. A simple 'No thank you', or "sorry, I am not interested" is the best reply to give people calling, because TRUST me we get enough attitude and harassment... A simple no thank you is always appreciated! I have had air horns blown in my ear, perverted comments, out right harassment and name calling, death threats... All because I was calling to ask if you were happy with your recent internet installation, what sort of improvements you'd like to see with your personal bank, or to see how your local newspaper could better their service....0
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If I suspect that it's a telemarketer then I just answer the phone speaking Spanish. They usually hang up quickly0
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In for giving the phone to the 5 year old :-)0
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I just register my phone number(s) in the Do Not Call registry. Problem solved...I don't get telemarketer calls.0
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What does enjoyment have to do with anything? I don't "enjoy" my job, but I always have the option to quit.
It's not so simplistic for everyone though.0 -
Sometimes, when I get repeat annoying calls, I play along and act like I want the whole thing, even financing. When they get close to "climaxing," I say something like, "Heeeey, I am going through Chapter 7 bankruptcy...will that be a problem?" They never call back.0
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What does enjoyment have to do with anything? I don't "enjoy" my job, but I always have the option to quit.
It's not so simplistic for everyone though.
It most certainly is.. I bet 100% of telemarketers quit and go look for a better way of life. I may be wrong, but I can't really find stats on 25 year veteran telemarketer guy.
Also like I said in an above post.. I can't believe there is this much sympathy for these folks. The homeless squeegee guy is just trying to make a living as well. It is not so simple for him, but I bet most don't blink an eye about treating him like crap!0 -
What does enjoyment have to do with anything? I don't "enjoy" my job, but I always have the option to quit.
It's not so simplistic for everyone though.
It most certainly is.. I bet 100% of telemarketers quit and go look for a better way of life. I may be wrong, but I can't really find stats on 25 year veteran telemarketer guy.
Also like I said in an above post.. I can't believe there is this much sympathy for these folks. The homeless squeegee guy is just trying to make a living as well. It is not so simple for him, but I bet most don't blink an eye about treating him like crap!
Tbh, I don't feel like investing much more into this conversation... It's a pointless argument. You're probably right about them quitting and moving on to a better way of life in the long run. It's still their job for the given time though, and they don't want to be giving you a call any more than you want to be receiving it. For all you know it could be a single mother who is picking up that shift as a source of supplemental income on top of her two other jobs. That's all I'm saying...
I don't think anyone is comparing them to being homeless, so that's just a stupid point all together.0 -
We agree to disagree, that's fine, but for all you know it could be a 15 year old kid who thought it would be cool to make some extra money and was too dumb to realize ..
1. How it bothered people.
2. Doing the dirty work for a shady company.
3. That the job actually sucks and would never do it again.
Yes I am talking about myself when I lasted one 3 hour shift.
PS. Could be a single mother, but so could have that person you flipped the finger to when she cut you off driving, so could the person at the restaurant who messed up your order. So could the person who accidentally scratched your new car. Point being, it is easy to be holier then thou on a forum. I just call BS to all that say I am nice to telemarketers they deserve it.. blah blah blah.0 -
We agree to disagree, that's fine, but for all you know it could be a 15 year old kid who thought it would be cool to make some extra money and was too dumb to realize ..
1. How it bothered people.
2. Doing the dirty work for a shady company.
3. That the job actually sucks and would never do it again.
Yes I am talking about myself when I lasted one 3 hour shift.
You're right it could. Still wouldn't change the fact that I wouldn't be a dbag to him. I'd respond the exact same way - "I know you're just doing your job but sorry I'm not interested." Why go the extra mile just to be a ****?0 -
I usually ask them what they are wearing.0
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We agree to disagree, that's fine, but for all you know it could be a 15 year old kid who thought it would be cool to make some extra money and was too dumb to realize ..
1. How it bothered people.
2. Doing the dirty work for a shady company.
3. That the job actually sucks and would never do it again.
Yes I am talking about myself when I lasted one 3 hour shift.
PS. Could be a single mother, but so could have that person you flipped the finger to when she cut you off driving, so could the person at the restaurant who messed up your order. So could the person who accidentally scratched your new car. Point being, it is easy to be holier then thou on a forum. I just call BS to all that say I am nice to telemarketers they deserve it.. blah blah blah.
A person sucking at driving isn't the same as someone trying to earn a living, nor is scratching my car. In all those situations I wouldn't immediately react and be a jerk though. Perhaps I just have better control of my emotions than most.0 -
I just hang up.0
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We agree to disagree, that's fine, but for all you know it could be a 15 year old kid who thought it would be cool to make some extra money and was too dumb to realize ..
1. How it bothered people.
2. Doing the dirty work for a shady company.
3. That the job actually sucks and would never do it again.
Yes I am talking about myself when I lasted one 3 hour shift.
PS. Could be a single mother, but so could have that person you flipped the finger to when she cut you off driving, so could the person at the restaurant who messed up your order. So could the person who accidentally scratched your new car. Point being, it is easy to be holier then thou on a forum. I just call BS to all that say I am nice to telemarketers they deserve it.. blah blah blah.
A person sucking at driving isn't the same as someone trying to earn a living, nor is scratching my car. In all those situations I wouldn't immediately react and be a jerk though. Perhaps I just have better control of my emotions than most.
Point taken...0 -
I just ask them for their full name and the name of the company, get it spelt right then tell them I am on the Do Not Call registry, they usually can't end the call fast enough!0
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I don't really feel the need to mess with anyone just trying to do their job. I do request that I'm taken off their call list. Sometimes, it actually works! I've received calls from a company for weeks, only to make this request when I finally do pick up and the calls actually ceased. I've definitely had some pretty funny conversations trying to say "No thank you!", though.
Telemarketer: Hi, I'm calling from the Toronto Sun-
Me: Oh! Let me interrupt you there, I don't read newspapers, so I'm sure I'm not interested.
Telemarketer: (Sounding indignant.) Well, just how do you get your news?
Me: The internet, like everyone else born after 1980?
Telemarketer: (Hangs up in my ear.)
Me: Oh, okay!0 -
I tell them I am the baby-sitter. :ohwell:0
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I tend to not screw with people just trying to make a living. They probably hate calling you as much as you hate them calling you.
I agree...and with caller ID, I screen my calls anyway. Picking on a lowly telemarketer is pretty low grade stuff, imho.0 -
After the same people called me every single day for a week (even though I asked them to stop calling) I handed the phone to my husband hoping he would be meaner than I was and get them to stop calling. He answered the phone "Ridgecrest Police Department, non-emergency line, how can I help you?" And then after about 5 minutes of explaining why the number they called was no longer a personal number (because the PD buys old numbers and reuses them) and then scolding them for calling the Police Department unnecessarily, he hung up the phone and the never called again!
ETA:
I own a timeshare so I get a lot of calls, genuine and scams, asking me to buy, sell, rent, or sue my timeshare. I only like to mess with companies that refuse to take the hint after I either don't answer their repeated calls, report them to the Do Not Call registry, or tell them numerous times to stop calling me. Once you start calling me on a daily basis and I have asked you for the last week to stop calling, it's game on.0 -
I foil them by treating them really nicely, as if they were human beings. They are so used to being treated like crap that they expect it - hearing a friendly voice at the other end really throws them off their game.0
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We agree to disagree, that's fine, but for all you know it could be a 15 year old kid who thought it would be cool to make some extra money and was too dumb to realize ..
1. How it bothered people.
2. Doing the dirty work for a shady company.
3. That the job actually sucks and would never do it again.
Yes I am talking about myself when I lasted one 3 hour shift.
PS. Could be a single mother, but so could have that person you flipped the finger to when she cut you off driving, so could the person at the restaurant who messed up your order. So could the person who accidentally scratched your new car. Point being, it is easy to be holier then thou on a forum. I just call BS to all that say I am nice to telemarketers they deserve it.. blah blah blah.
Hey, I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because people are generally rude to homeless persons or fast food restaurant workers, you are justified in being rude to telemarketers?
If you are, then surely a better argument would be to push for being civil to everyone, rather than rude to everyone?0 -
I worked as a telemarketer through college. We're not all weird low-lifes who don't realize what we're doing is annoying. A lot of my coworkers were mothers who needed the flexible hours, or disabled folk who needed to telecommute. I was working myself through college and the schedule was just right.
By the way, the Do Not Call registry really doesn't protect you in any tangible way because every time you sign up for an e-mail newsletter or buy something online and subscribe to updates, or enter to win a free car at a fair, etc -- ANY TIME you give out your personal information, it removes you from the list and you have to start all over again. Remember folks!
Some of the responses we got were absolutely hysterical. I once called a pizza joint to talk to the owner about employee benefits and the guy broke down in fake tears about how the owner left for the moon the previous day and was never coming back. All I could say was "touche."0 -
I tend to just say " no thanks, bye " - seems to work. I doubt they enjoy their job, but everyone has bills to pay.
^ This0
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