TPS and telephone canvassing
Discussion
Just received a phone call from one of the mainstream political parties. I answered the question "Would you have 5 minutes to take a survey" with one of my own..."Have you heard of the TPS - I'm registered".
Somewhat puzzled to be told that "we are exempt from the TPS". How can this be? I was under the impression that the TPS was set up to stop nuisance phone calls - are they really exempt?
Somewhat puzzled to be told that "we are exempt from the TPS". How can this be? I was under the impression that the TPS was set up to stop nuisance phone calls - are they really exempt?
A lying politician? That's less likely than me getting my willy dirty.
"It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so."
"It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so."
Was the call from the Party itself or maybe some other affiliated organisation that you're a member of?
Unite are the main people behind Labour's phone bank operation for example. They're using their membership lists to identify members who're Labour voters and encouraging them to make sure they vote, as well as trying to target swing voters. Their defence is that any call is simply a personal call between two trade union members.
Unite are the main people behind Labour's phone bank operation for example. They're using their membership lists to identify members who're Labour voters and encouraging them to make sure they vote, as well as trying to target swing voters. Their defence is that any call is simply a personal call between two trade union members.
bradders said:
Just received a phone call from one of the mainstream political parties. I answered the question "Would you have 5 minutes to take a survey" with one of my own..."Have you heard of the TPS - I'm registered".
Somewhat puzzled to be told that "we are exempt from the TPS". How can this be? I was under the impression that the TPS was set up to stop nuisance phone calls - are they really exempt?
Got little to do with nuisance calls (as per some nutter calling you etc.).Somewhat puzzled to be told that "we are exempt from the TPS". How can this be? I was under the impression that the TPS was set up to stop nuisance phone calls - are they really exempt?
TPS is to stop marketing calls.
Market research is exempt (there are strict rules in place, companies can't (shouldn't) dress up marketing calls as market research (e.g. a load of MR questions then a sales pitch right at the end etc.).
SunderJimmy said:
"It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so."
Errr, how about quoting the WHOLE paragraph:The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a free service. It is the official central opt out register on which you can record your preference not to receive unsolicited sales or marketing calls. It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so.
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/
Not a member of any political party, nor a trade union. If being asked to complete a survey, unsolicited I might add, is not a marketing exercise, then what is it?
The call was claimed to originate from the party itself - on behalf of my local MP, stated by name.
Would be interested if anyone has knowledge of the distinct difference between market research and marketing??
The call was claimed to originate from the party itself - on behalf of my local MP, stated by name.
Would be interested if anyone has knowledge of the distinct difference between market research and marketing??
Edited by bradders on Tuesday 16th March 08:39
Calm down!
I assume you opted into TPS to save time wasted on calls you don't want? Given that, option 1 is to just say bye and hang up when they called. But you've gone for option 2 which is converse with them, converse with us and now thinking of conversing with your MP! Object the defeating....rearrange that in your surplus time.
I assume you opted into TPS to save time wasted on calls you don't want? Given that, option 1 is to just say bye and hang up when they called. But you've gone for option 2 which is converse with them, converse with us and now thinking of conversing with your MP! Object the defeating....rearrange that in your surplus time.
Tiggsy said:
Calm down!
I assume you opted into TPS to save time wasted on calls you don't want? Given that, option 1 is to just say bye and hang up when they called. But you've gone for option 2 which is converse with them, converse with us and now thinking of conversing with your MP! Object the defeating....rearrange that in your surplus time.
Nah, opted into the TPS to stop the phone interrupting mealtimes - which prior to the opt in, seemed to happen nearly every evening. Didn't opt in to save time. Was actually mid cook last night, and had a pan on the go - had to take it off to go and answer the phone. I assume you opted into TPS to save time wasted on calls you don't want? Given that, option 1 is to just say bye and hang up when they called. But you've gone for option 2 which is converse with them, converse with us and now thinking of conversing with your MP! Object the defeating....rearrange that in your surplus time.
Always considered my telephone to be something for my convenience, not others! All my mates tend to call me on the mobile, but the parents still use the landline - they are getting on a bit, so I always rush to answer it.
As to calming down, I was a tad annoyed that I had ruined some food at the time, but am as calm as can be now. Would still like to know how market research (short survey) by a political party can be deemed not to be part of a marketing campaign, mind you.
Edited by bradders on Tuesday 16th March 08:57
Well, marketing is trying to sell you something, market research is just that, market research.
I think many people mistakenly think both are the same as it has the word "market" in them.
If MP calls and asks you about who you are going to vote, what issues of the day concern you etc. then that's OK I think. However if they try to directly ask/convince you to vote for them then that's possibly marketing. Maybe a legal bod here will give you a clear cut definition.
The OP will need to tell us what he was asked on the phone.
I think many people mistakenly think both are the same as it has the word "market" in them.
If MP calls and asks you about who you are going to vote, what issues of the day concern you etc. then that's OK I think. However if they try to directly ask/convince you to vote for them then that's possibly marketing. Maybe a legal bod here will give you a clear cut definition.
The OP will need to tell us what he was asked on the phone.
Dracoro said:
If MP calls and asks you about who you are going to vote, what issues of the day concern you etc. then that's OK I think. However if they try to directly ask/convince you to vote for them then that's possibly marketing. Maybe a legal bod here will give you a clear cut definition.
The OP will need to tell us what he was asked on the phone.
This is the cop-out (also used by the 'proper' market researchers). However I am confident there is an additional clause - once you have told them not to call, they must not call again.The OP will need to tell us what he was asked on the phone.
The other option is to record the conversation. I believe there have been complaints upheld (though by which body I can't remember) of political parties abusing the research cop-out.
I think the opt out (telling them not to call again) comes under the data protection act, not TPS.
Anyway, I'm TPS'd and any other calls I just politely ask to remove me from their list and not call again. Never really get marketing calls.
It's no great hardship to do the above (assuming you don't get many calls everyday), if you're busy cooking just ignore the call, if important the caller will try later or leave a message. Getting all fuming about it spanks of anger management issues.
Anyway, I'm TPS'd and any other calls I just politely ask to remove me from their list and not call again. Never really get marketing calls.
It's no great hardship to do the above (assuming you don't get many calls everyday), if you're busy cooking just ignore the call, if important the caller will try later or leave a message. Getting all fuming about it spanks of anger management issues.
I have both ex-directory number and TPS. Now this combination has all but stopped cold calls......until yesterday when an illiterate product of Winky's education system, supposedly working for B.T. cold called me to try and sell the B.T. Home Hub with streamed T.V. He kept going, right through the following;
I do not buy anything from cold call companies
This line is TPS so you can stop now, you should know as it is a B.T. option
When will B.T. improve my existing download time, currently average 2meg so that I can watch 1080 Hi Def video without stalling?
Still going when I put the phone down.
I do not buy anything from cold call companies
This line is TPS so you can stop now, you should know as it is a B.T. option
When will B.T. improve my existing download time, currently average 2meg so that I can watch 1080 Hi Def video without stalling?
Still going when I put the phone down.
bradders said:
Not a member of any political party, nor a trade union. If being asked to complete a survey, unsolicited I might add, is not a marketing exercise, then what is it?
The call was claimed to originate from the party itself - on behalf of my local MP, stated by name.
Would be interested if anyone has knowledge of the distinct difference between market research and marketing??
A quick response along the lines of "Congratulations Prat, you've just cost the bThe call was claimed to originate from the party itself - on behalf of my local MP, stated by name.
Would be interested if anyone has knowledge of the distinct difference between market research and marketing??
Edited by bradders on Tuesday 16th March 08:39
d one vote." Of course they may have been working for one of the other parties just trying to wind up people enough to vote for their own boy/girl.
Anyone else getting repeated calls conducting surveys in order (I suspect) to sell your details back to direct marketers? I actually went through with one last week, answering "no" to every question, including whether I would be "interested in saving money on my gas and electricity bills". Today I had E.on cold calling to sell me electricity. When I pointed out that I was TPS registered, they said that I had indicated in a survey that I wanted to be called. So clearly the bunch of cts conducting the survey don't even supply good leads for their money. I'm expecting the three charities I said I didn't want to support will also be on the blower some time soon.
And then I had another survey call tonight, who were told to go away. Is there no way of blocking this crap?
ts conducting the survey don't even supply good leads for their money. I'm expecting the three charities I said I didn't want to support will also be on the blower some time soon.And then I had another survey call tonight, who were told to go away. Is there no way of blocking this crap?
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