Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I dont know how you all feel about them but I am fed up with calls about PPI or debt consolidation, or solar panelling or gas and electricity suppliers to name a few and some of them I cant make out what they are saying or they cant pronounce your name. They always seem to phone at tea time when they know there will be someone in. Nothing worse when you are in the middle of your dinner and some phones about PPI and the like.When will it all end. At least with emails you can unsubscribe .I often wonder how they get my phone number as I am ex directory for what thats worth nowadays. Evil or Very Mad

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The Clan Chieftain

mid · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 136 Location: Northampton

Have you signed up with the TPS? http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html this stopped most that we used to receive... and its a quick way to get rid of the ones that still come in, just you mention to them that it is illegal for them to contact you as you've signed up to the TPS service and they usually promptly remove you from their list and bugger off.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Thank you for the information. I have just registered with them...Hopefully it will stop all these calls. Cool

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The Clan Chieftain

Roger-hatchy · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 2135 Location: Tiptree, Essex

I used to get up to 10 a week so signed up to TPS
Now get 5 a day.
When I phoned to complain got told, we can't stop all calls.

Then told next time they call keep them on hold and phone bt????? hello how many phone lines do they think we have.

Not in BT's interest to get them stopped, think of the revenue they might lose.
There is one number that has been complained about for over four years and still giving problems, the usual - phone rings, on answering they hang up.

I have a recording of angry chimps as the message on my answer phone.
But still get elo elo can I spek Mister roger ples.

If I do pick up and play along all they get from me to each question is yeeeees, till they get the picture and ring off.

Had one woman phone back in less than 30 seconds and pretended to be from the met. police, got all threatening, got really wound up when I wouldn't bite and kept telling her to P.O.

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

I'm also on TPS, what a waste of time that's turned out to be as the calls keep coming.

When the phone rings I lift it and without speaking press the mute button, that seems to annoy them more than getting into a heated debate over the rights and wrongs of cold calling
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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

So it doesnt work then......Oh well back to uttering profanities. Laughing

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The Clan Chieftain

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

For solar panels, fitted kitchens and the like , I tell them I am planning to move house.
For the AA and the like, I ask for paperwork to describe the deal and that usually puts them off.
I get consumer surveys and these people can be quite rude so I tell them I don't know the make of my TV or DVD player.
For energy switching I make sure that I am not the householder and for calls that get a part of my partner's or my name wrong I correctly tell them no such person exists at this address.

It all works; the trouble is that they always try again....

exbmc · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject: phone calls

We have been with the TPS for a long time. Initially, the nuisance calls fell to almost nothing.Over time, the calls are increasing again. Unfortunately, a lot of companies are not in U.K, so they don't bother about TPS, mind you, there are a lot of U.K companies that choose to ignore the TPS rules too.Local councils make money by selling lists off the electoral role, i have ticked the box on the form to not allow that.
I usually say the householder is on holiday, and i am decorating the hall for them. Very Happy

My wife usually puts the phone down for 10 minutes.

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

I rarely get these, being on TPS and Ex directory, but for the ones that get through I usually say, as you have my number, you obviously will have my address, so pop what ever you are ringing about in the post because I'm busy.

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:40 pm Post subject:

Well, maybe it's just coincidence, but I saw this thread earlier today and signed up to TPS - been meaning to do it for a while, but you know how it is, hadn't got round to looking it up. Not one call since, and I would have expected at least half a dozen by this time. They do say allow up to 28 days, so will see how we do going forward Smile

I've tried most of the tactics mentioned here, one which is supposed to be good that I've never got round to is to keep a referee's whistle handy for the phone and give 'em an earsplitting blast when they call, I guess if we all did it the call centre's staff turnover would eventually finish it off. One thing we had were a lot of scam type calls - often selling the sort of "pc troubleshooting" where you help them to give you a nasty virus and then they clean out your bank account for good measure. They always came from Indian call centres (and they can't sound like Mancunians, however hard they try) and guess what, our phone/internet provide also used Indian call centres. Eventually we figured out that the two were connected, and the next couple of calls we gave them a rollocking and threatened to switch supplier if it didn't stop. It was quite amazing how many fewer calls we had after that, and if your situation is similar it may be worth a shot Wink

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

The thing that always hacks me off is the fact that the DVLA, insurance companies, banks, etc sell on your details to these companies, but if you ask to see your records at source they tell you that information is private and you have to pay to see them - even though its about you, how does that work I ask myself!

As for the telephone calls I just waste their time with needless questions - that is whan I have the time to waste.

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2150 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

We probably get one a week, not many. We have a phone that displays the number that's calling, this is fantastic as we can usually spot a cold caller straight away by the number, most companies are based overseas and as such have a really strange, long number, or just "1". They get ignored, the same as any withheld number. The only numbers that get answered are UK landline numbers or mobile numbers. My theory is, if you answer the phone to these people they know the number is active and even if they don't get anywhere with you they will try again in a few days time or sell on your details to someone else. If they think the line is dead they won't bother.
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Richard Hughes

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

MONTBREHAIN · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 6:05 pm Post subject:

Must admit we have been with the TPS for years and initially it worked , but of late the calls have started to rise again (especially at teatime Mad

). There is a time delay on most calls , So if you get chance to say Hello hello twice then just put the phone down. If its important they will ring back (probably at tea time the next night Shocked

) . I wouldnt even bother with a home phone as all the family has mobiles but I couldnt get by without my broadband..... "MO"
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A vehicle can be restored at any time, But is original only once !