The cold call victim who fought back

[ScottishInvestments]

Hi,

I don't know if this has been posted before, but I thought it was quite funny and honourable!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20068927

Complaints about unsolicited calls and texts from sales and marketing companies have reached an all-time high.

But now one man has successfully claimed back the cost of his time from a firm which called him when he had specifically asked them not to.

Good on him! If there's anything I hate in life, it's cold callers!

ScotInvest

 

[S-Marketing]

BDW, is that you?

 

[ScottishInvestments]

BDW, is that you?

What in the world is BDW?

ScotInvest

 

[S-Marketing]

What in the world is BDW?

ScotInvest

Just a joke. BDW was our resident cold caller hater until he was banned.

 

[ScottishInvestments]

Just a joke. BDW was our resident cold caller hater until he was banned.

Oh I see!

ScotInvest

 

[Deleted member 138423]

Although the TPS does seem to be somewhat effective, they must struggle with the likes of numberless, autocall companies that continue to call and text and call and text! Fair pay to that guy and long live the likes of he!!

 

[Gabbalot]

Why does everyone hate cold callers most businesses wouldnt survive with out some sort of cold calling to increase sales.

I bet you advertise in some way yell newspaper leflets trade journals signage on buildings/vans.

O wait advertising is a type of cold calling it pushing your product/service in front of someone who doesnt know they want it

If you dont want yo be called dont advertise your number.

Sorry rant over

Sent from my GT-I9100 using UK Business Forums

 

[ScottishInvestments]

Why does everyone hate cold callers most businesses wouldnt survive with out some sort of cold calling to increase sales.

I bet you advertise in some way yell newspaper leflets trade journals signage on buildings/vans.

O wait advertising is a type of cold calling it pushing your product/service in front of someone who doesnt know they want it

If you dont want yo be called dont advertise your number.

Sorry rant over

Sent from my GT-I9100 using UK Business Forums

Cold calling is completely different to a poster on the wall. It's inconvenient, it's harassment and it ought to be criminal! I'm sure a country has already outlawed it.

I don't think anyone who gets cold called advertises their number. My mother for example, changed her number, got put on the TPS AND still got calls offering PPI and all sorts! She didn't even give her number away to any company or anyone!

ScotInvest

 

[Gabbalot]

It only harasment if its done incorrectly. Dont get me wrong a lot of compaines dont do it right they dont abide by the rules that are set. Which tars everyone in the industry with the same brush.

And why is it inconveiant most call centers target there calls to contact you went your not busy or would you rather be called in the middle of the night on the way to work in the middle of a meeting. Or when your at home with time to listen?

As for your relative they will of put there number down on some sort of database. House or car insurance bank applications compertations all of which is data capture and will be sold on.

What business are you in scotinvest I can trace your customer base back to cold calling at some point.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using UK Business Forums

 

[Deleted member 138423]

Why does everyone hate cold callers most businesses wouldnt survive with out some sort of cold calling to increase sales.

I bet you advertise in some way yell newspaper leflets trade journals signage on buildings/vans.

O wait advertising is a type of cold calling it pushing your product/service in front of someone who doesnt know they want it

If you dont want yo be called dont advertise your number.

Sorry rant over

Sent from my GT-I9100 using UK Business Forums

I guess your business involves cold calling does it not?

Cold calling work many ways and goes from polite, helpful, professional calls to automated or untimely aggressive nuisance type calls so before you start moaning at those who hate receiving cold calls, think of the reasons why they might!!

 

[ScottishInvestments]

It only harasment if its done incorrectly. Dont get me wrong a lot of compaines dont do it right they dont abide by the rules that are set. Which tars everyone in the industry with the same brush.

And why is it inconveiant most call centers target there calls to contact you went your not busy or would you rather be called in the middle of the night on the way to work in the middle of a meeting. Or when your at home with time to listen?

As for your relative they will of put there number down on some sort of database. House or car insurance bank applications compertations all of which is data capture and will be sold on.

What business are you in scotinvest I can trace your customer base back to cold calling at some point.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using UK Business Forums

That was the point, she didn't give it to ANYONE! No insurance, no government agencies, no nothing! She gave it to me and her sister!

It's damn right inconvenient. I'm sat at home, drinking a whisky or two at 8pm, I get a phone call trying to sell windows from a British company or some utter tosh. If I want something, I will CALL YOU!

I'm in the business of farming. My business doesn't require cold calling! The only people I call are the local farm for cow feed, the local fuel depo for diesel and that's it!

ScotInvest

 

[Gabbalot]

My business is cold calling and like I said alot of companies dont do it right.

I personally dont use autodiallers or recorded messeges. And my staff have stricked instructions regarding how they sould be on a call.

I understand all the negative points people have and I underdstand why a member of the public has them they dont want to be sold too.
But someone in business should relise that its just a form of advertising.



Sent from my GT-I9100 using UK Business Forums

 

[MrCloser]

Anybody know the best way to irritate ambulance chasing persinal injury tests? The standard "Records show you are entitled to..." type sms spam.

If I were bedbound and unable to speak on the phone for any length of time, would they send a legal professional around to my house?

If I had a trip or fall when answering the door, could I sue them?

 

[deadgoodundies]

I just breath heavily down the phone to them. Seems to work

Sent from my MZ601 using Tapatalk 2

 

[webgeek]

I understand all the negative points people have and I underdstand why a member of the public has them they dont want to be sold too.
But someone in business should relise that its just a form of advertising.

While in days gone by I have responded positively to cold callers, the frequency of giving someone the time, or a positive response, has greatly dwindled over time.

Personally, I dislike interruptive sales/marketing. I do not want to interrupt what I'm working on to have someone try to sell me something which they have no idea whether I want, need or even am remotely interested in...

When it's time to make a purchase, I want to seek it out and buy it.

The difference between responsive marketing and interruptive selling s akin to the difference between buying something and being sold something.

Of course I realise there are cases where someone may not know that a particular product or solution exists. They may have no idea that they could reduce overheads, improve profitability, stop smoking or get a new conservatory, and that simply answering the knock on the door or the ring of the phone could be an enlightening and beneficial response.

There's a time and place for interruptive sales/marketing - but please keep it out of my day.

 

[hotel-man]

Anybody know the best way to irritate ambulance chasing persinal injury tests? The standard "Records show you are entitled to..." type sms spam.

Not Pi but PPI....

We had a new BT line installed and hadnt given the number to anyone - we just had it for broadband and use our mobiles.

Anyway, within 2hrs the PPI calls started - we just put the phone down.

It didnt stop them.

So, I just had fun with it.......

Have you ever had a mortgage, loan or credit cards.

Yes

Which?

all of them.

great, you are probably due thousands etc.

oh, that sounds great.

can i get some details, who did you have loan with?

erm (long pause) nat west

mortgage?

erm (long pause) nationwide

credit card?

erm (long pause) lloyds

that sounds great, how much was your loan?

erm, £10

£10? ok, how much was the mortgage?

erm, £10

oh ok, what about the credit card balance?

erm, oh yeh, that was £10 as well.

OK, can I take your name please?

yes

Oh, what is your surname?

roger

No, your surname!

it's roger.

Oh OK, whats your first name?

roger

Your first name is roger?

yes

Sorry, can you give me your full name

yes

OK what is it?

roger roger

Oh I havent come across that name before.

i know, it a bit of a pain to be honest.

If I can take your address details we'll send someone round with the claim forms.

Oh no, I cant give you my address - I dont know who you are

But we need the address to bring the forms.

We have a tree in the front garden - and we have a red door.

But that wont help us to find your address.

It helps the postman - and all my friends manage to find it OK.

You're not being serious with me are you?

No Im not - Im just fed-up with you all calling me.

Oh, sorry you feel that way - we're just trying to claim back money which you are owed.

oh, OK then, i didnt realise that I was due any.

Yes, you may well be - could I take some details and we'll check for you?

Sure, OK then.

Did you have any loans, credit cards or mortgages?

yes

.....and repeat whole process over again until they get the message.

PMSL the last twice I did it - amazed i could keep a straight face.

The calls stopped within a couple of days.

Try it - and enjoy the wind-up.

 

[Matt121]

I find that cold calling is most troublesome and frowned upon when done B2C.

Cold calling for businesses is definitely easier to do since most people are willing to listen to a call.

To the above poster: I loved what you did to the caller, spinning him around until he gets the idea.

 

[vision25]

My business is cold calling and like I said alot of companies dont do it right.

And that is why you don't understand that cold calling is NOT advertising.

With advertising I have a choice to either ignore it or respond to it.

When my phone rings, yes, I could ignore it but since I don't know whose calling I always answer it in case its important.

Some useless twonk calling about double glazing/ppi is not only not important, it is also something that I have to go out of my way (by answering to phone) to avoid.

Its not advertising, its harrassment.

And I never buy from cold callers or companies rhat use cold calling.


Vision25

ps I hope you go bust.

 

[hotel-man]

Gabbalot

You dont want to accept the difference between a Call Centre available to take calls and handle enquiries from the person choosing to make the call and those call centres set-up just to harrass people who dont want to be harrassed.

I also make it a point (wherever I can) to avoid doing business with any company which cold calls/texts/visits me.

There is no need for it - unless your business is so desperate that it cant attract custom using more ethical methods.

 

[ScottishInvestments]

Have to agree with the two other members, I avoid using companies who cold call. I recently changed a few suppliers and I avoided those who cold called me previously.

Does anyone know if it's possible to block ALL numbers, except those you want to get through like family members?

ScotInvest

 

[Swisaw]

A cold caller was introducing himself as 'it is cold outside'.

Another cold caller called me about my google adwords.

'what is the problem about my google adwords?' I asked him.

'It doesn't appear on the first page.' He replied.

'Why are you worried?' I asked him.

'No, I am not worried.' He replied and put the phone down.

 

[Deleted member 158308]

This was the best response to a cold caller I've ever heard

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/849713/the_greatest_prank_call_made_ever/

 

[patientlady]

Not Pi but PPI....

We had a new BT line installed and hadnt given the number to anyone - we just had it for broadband and use our mobiles.

Anyway, within 2hrs the PPI calls started - we just put the phone down.

It didnt stop them.

So, I just had fun with it.......

Have you ever had a mortgage, loan or credit cards.

Yes

Which?

all of them.

great, you are probably due thousands etc.

oh, that sounds great.

can i get some details, who did you have loan with?

erm (long pause) nat west

mortgage?

erm (long pause) nationwide

credit card?

erm (long pause) lloyds

that sounds great, how much was your loan?

erm, £10

£10? ok, how much was the mortgage?

erm, £10

oh ok, what about the credit card balance?

erm, oh yeh, that was £10 as well.

OK, can I take your name please?

yes

Oh, what is your surname?

roger

No, your surname!

it's roger.

Oh OK, whats your first name?

roger

Your first name is roger?

yes

Sorry, can you give me your full name

yes

OK what is it?

roger roger

Oh I havent come across that name before.

i know, it a bit of a pain to be honest.

If I can take your address details we'll send someone round with the claim forms.

Oh no, I cant give you my address - I dont know who you are

But we need the address to bring the forms.

We have a tree in the front garden - and we have a red door.

But that wont help us to find your address.

It helps the postman - and all my friends manage to find it OK.

You're not being serious with me are you?

No Im not - Im just fed-up with you all calling me.

Oh, sorry you feel that way - we're just trying to claim back money which you are owed.

oh, OK then, i didnt realise that I was due any.

Yes, you may well be - could I take some details and we'll check for you?

Sure, OK then.

Did you have any loans, credit cards or mortgages?

yes

.....and repeat whole process over again until they get the message.

PMSL the last twice I did it - amazed i could keep a straight face.

The calls stopped within a couple of days.

Try it - and enjoy the wind-up.

Would it not be quicker to say
Thanks but no thank you

 

[BustersDogs]

I usually tell people to ring back around 6am as that's when it's convenient for me. Strangely none of them oblige.

 

[Shaun_Pearce]

I am one of those annoying cold callers I guess. I have to be out of the house 12 hours a day to make an honest living. I have a 5 year old son who needs to be clothed and housed. Essentially I try my best to ensure the people I call on a daily basis aren't offended by my calls. I understand how it is frustrating to be called at a time that generally is unsuitable for those I call. There have been cases when I've called and the person I'm intending on calling has died recently. I'm sure there are people out there nodding and thinking of those "Oh my good lord" moments when a person answers and tells you something you wasn't expecting. I don't enjoy those moments.

I am one of those cold callers, I even sit opposite a department which cold calls people about their PPI. I offer loft and cavity wall insulation which has been done to death now. Yet I'm generating 25 confirmed sales a week, which isn't bad you know.

It's not easy to do the job and you can imagine the kinds of responses I get only a daily basis. I do have days where I wish I had tried harder at school. Oh well, such is life, and this is the one i lead.

By asking: "Are you happy to take the call? I don't intend on taking your time for longer than 5 minutes"

Generally I find the more honest I am and the more transparent I am, the easier the potential customer feels about speaking to me.

9/10 the person on the other end of the phone will tell me to jog on. However for those who are willing to listen I give them every bit of respect they deserve for allowing me to discuss something with them.

It's a very hard job and I promise it's not what I expected to be doing after I left school. However, here I am doing very well in the role and It ensure me and my family have a good Christmas.

I just wanted some of you to know I am one of those cold callers, but I can promise you I always treat people with respect and ensure I am honest.

We're not all bad

 

[internetspaceships]

Nice post. Well worded, you could have been a lot less polite judging by the mob's behaviour on here.

Thanks.

(btw I think Scotinvest is BDW too)

 

[Shaun_Pearce]

Nice post. Well worded, you could have been a lot less polite judging by the mob's behaviour on here.

Thanks.

(btw I think Scotinvest is BDW too)

Cheers, that really does make me feel good about myself. The thing is i completely understand how people feel about cold calling.

 

[ScottishInvestments]

Nice post. Well worded, you could have been a lot less polite judging by the mob's behaviour on here.

Thanks.

(btw I think Scotinvest is BDW too)

What in the world is a 'BDW'?

ScotInvest

Edit: Just noticed, I'm certainly not this so-called "BDW" person. This is my only account on here. I just dislike cold callers immensely and it seems I'm not alone...

 

[uk_biz]

No matter what you do, add your number to TPS etc, they still contact you.