Pre-recorded cold callers.
Discussion
I must get upto 10 a day, they are doing my head in!
Brasses me off when they interrupt whatever I'm doing which is often working to answer the phone to some message about collating my debts, or home improvements.
I naively thought that being ex-directory (as we are), cold calling would not be an issue but it has really ramped up these last few months.
I guess the only solution is to change our number?
They are quite smart too, only start regurgitating once anyone speaks (I used to hang up as soon as the recording started) but can't now it seems
Brasses me off when they interrupt whatever I'm doing which is often working to answer the phone to some message about collating my debts, or home improvements.
I naively thought that being ex-directory (as we are), cold calling would not be an issue but it has really ramped up these last few months.
I guess the only solution is to change our number?
They are quite smart too, only start regurgitating once anyone speaks (I used to hang up as soon as the recording started) but can't now it seems
illmonkey said:
This. I registered recently and it has improved things, still get the odd one or two though.
Ofcom regulate the parameters of outbound contact centres quite heavily.
I'm not 100% but I'm quite sure that for unsolicited 'marketing' calls that you must be connected to a live agent within something like 2 seconds, and it MUST be a live person. Most of these places are in breach of the regulations, but pursuing them because of their fairly low, (by comparison to some of the bigger operators), call volumes isn't really worthwhile and quite a difficult task. They usually only get found out by auditing process rather than reports.
I'm with TPS but still get 'nuisance' calls. All I do is instruct them to place a DNC, (Do not call), tag on my number on their database and remove it from their database at the earliest opportunity. Ideally, that should be straight away, but from working in the industry, it's not always doable. That's all you need to tell them. Failure to comply, (I had one bunch of to55ers telling me they couldn't do it unless I confirmed my address and some other details!!), is in breach of OFCOM reg's and from there instruct them that by way of the technology available to me I could trace them back to the desk they're sat at and at least have their job if not their managers and quite possibly have the business shut down. Usually does the trick. The technology is available to me, but the process is laborious and would take quite a while, but they don't know that.
Of course this only works if the person on the other end of the phone is actually reasonable. I have been subjected to some fairly hefty abuse then hung up on, but they've never called back even though they've occassionally threatened to.
You could always try and trick their dialler into thinking you're an answering machine/service by either waiting about three seconds before you say anything or making the first thing you say a fairly long sentence rather than a quick 'Hello!'
I'm not 100% but I'm quite sure that for unsolicited 'marketing' calls that you must be connected to a live agent within something like 2 seconds, and it MUST be a live person. Most of these places are in breach of the regulations, but pursuing them because of their fairly low, (by comparison to some of the bigger operators), call volumes isn't really worthwhile and quite a difficult task. They usually only get found out by auditing process rather than reports.
I'm with TPS but still get 'nuisance' calls. All I do is instruct them to place a DNC, (Do not call), tag on my number on their database and remove it from their database at the earliest opportunity. Ideally, that should be straight away, but from working in the industry, it's not always doable. That's all you need to tell them. Failure to comply, (I had one bunch of to55ers telling me they couldn't do it unless I confirmed my address and some other details!!), is in breach of OFCOM reg's and from there instruct them that by way of the technology available to me I could trace them back to the desk they're sat at and at least have their job if not their managers and quite possibly have the business shut down. Usually does the trick. The technology is available to me, but the process is laborious and would take quite a while, but they don't know that.
Of course this only works if the person on the other end of the phone is actually reasonable. I have been subjected to some fairly hefty abuse then hung up on, but they've never called back even though they've occassionally threatened to.
You could always try and trick their dialler into thinking you're an answering machine/service by either waiting about three seconds before you say anything or making the first thing you say a fairly long sentence rather than a quick 'Hello!'
Big Rod said:
Ofcom regulate the parameters of outbound contact centres quite heavily.
I'm not 100% but I'm quite sure that for unsolicited 'marketing' calls that you must be connected to a live agent within something like 2 seconds, and it MUST be a live person. Most of these places are in breach of the regulations, but pursuing them because of their fairly low, (by comparison to some of the bigger operators), call volumes isn't really worthwhile and quite a difficult task. They usually only get found out by auditing process rather than reports.
I'm with TPS but still get 'nuisance' calls. All I do is instruct them to place a DNC, (Do not call), tag on my number on their database and remove it from their database at the earliest opportunity. Ideally, that should be straight away, but from working in the industry, it's not always doable. That's all you need to tell them. Failure to comply, (I had one bunch of to55ers telling me they couldn't do it unless I confirmed my address and some other details!!), is in breach of OFCOM reg's and from there instruct them that by way of the technology available to me I could trace them back to the desk they're sat at and at least have their job if not their managers and quite possibly have the business shut down. Usually does the trick. The technology is available to me, but the process is laborious and would take quite a while, but they don't know that.
Of course this only works if the person on the other end of the phone is actually reasonable. I have been subjected to some fairly hefty abuse then hung up on, but they've never called back even though they've occassionally threatened to.
You could always try and trick their dialler into thinking you're an answering machine/service by either waiting about three seconds before you say anything or making the first thing you say a fairly long sentence rather than a quick 'Hello!'
Makes no odds if the call originates off shore..I'm not 100% but I'm quite sure that for unsolicited 'marketing' calls that you must be connected to a live agent within something like 2 seconds, and it MUST be a live person. Most of these places are in breach of the regulations, but pursuing them because of their fairly low, (by comparison to some of the bigger operators), call volumes isn't really worthwhile and quite a difficult task. They usually only get found out by auditing process rather than reports.
I'm with TPS but still get 'nuisance' calls. All I do is instruct them to place a DNC, (Do not call), tag on my number on their database and remove it from their database at the earliest opportunity. Ideally, that should be straight away, but from working in the industry, it's not always doable. That's all you need to tell them. Failure to comply, (I had one bunch of to55ers telling me they couldn't do it unless I confirmed my address and some other details!!), is in breach of OFCOM reg's and from there instruct them that by way of the technology available to me I could trace them back to the desk they're sat at and at least have their job if not their managers and quite possibly have the business shut down. Usually does the trick. The technology is available to me, but the process is laborious and would take quite a while, but they don't know that.
Of course this only works if the person on the other end of the phone is actually reasonable. I have been subjected to some fairly hefty abuse then hung up on, but they've never called back even though they've occassionally threatened to.
You could always try and trick their dialler into thinking you're an answering machine/service by either waiting about three seconds before you say anything or making the first thing you say a fairly long sentence rather than a quick 'Hello!'
pc.iow said:
I find it childishly amusing to listen to the whole message to find out who they are, then Google for a fax number, then send a few black sheets of A4 paper.
Rather than sending blank pages, fax through a few black pages. Should see them get through toner at a rate of knots. 
Pints said:
pc.iow said:
I find it childishly amusing to listen to the whole message to find out who they are, then Google for a fax number, then send a few black sheets of A4 paper.
Rather than sending blank pages, fax through a few black pages. Should see them get through toner at a rate of knots. 
Pints said:
pc.iow said:
I find it childishly amusing to listen to the whole message to find out who they are, then Google for a fax number, then send a few black sheets of A4 paper.
Rather than sending blank pages, fax through a few black pages. Should see them get through toner at a rate of knots. We have a dedicated number for Cold Callers in our IT Dept.
It goes stright thru to our Voicemail system, which records the message they leave and then deletes it!
In fact we had to modify the message so that other Depts could use it (it orginally said "thanks for calling the IT Dept"), we even handed it out to the switchboard so that they can put obvious calls through (the switchboard are very good at screening the IT Depts calls for us)
You can also register whole phone number ranges with the TPS, so I registered the range the firm uses with the TPS and also the FPS (for Fax's) - only downside is that you have to re register every year!
It goes stright thru to our Voicemail system, which records the message they leave and then deletes it!
In fact we had to modify the message so that other Depts could use it (it orginally said "thanks for calling the IT Dept"), we even handed it out to the switchboard so that they can put obvious calls through (the switchboard are very good at screening the IT Depts calls for us)
You can also register whole phone number ranges with the TPS, so I registered the range the firm uses with the TPS and also the FPS (for Fax's) - only downside is that you have to re register every year!
pc.iow said:
I find it childishly amusing to listen to the whole message to find out who they are, then Google for a fax number, then send a few black sheets of A4 paper.
You actually spend time and effort on that?
All for some office clerk at the other end to walk past the fax machine and bin the sheets without giving it a second thought or it even interrupting his day at all.
How strange.
AB said:
I didnt realise how much of this went on until I spent a week at home ill.
It's either pre recorded or silent for 2 seconds whilst it connects you to an operator. At which point I swear at them and hang up.
Annoying when you are having to climb off the sofa to answer the phone.
+1 I registered with TPS but we still got the odd company who would continually call. I started off explaining I was registered with TPS but they kept on calling. It's either pre recorded or silent for 2 seconds whilst it connects you to an operator. At which point I swear at them and hang up.
Annoying when you are having to climb off the sofa to answer the phone.
I found the best way is to just let rip with a torrent of abuse. They stop calling quite quickly then!
im said:
pc.iow said:
I find it childishly amusing to listen to the whole message to find out who they are, then Google for a fax number, then send a few black sheets of A4 paper.
You actually spend time and effort on that?
All for some office clerk at the other end to walk past the fax machine and bin the sheets without giving it a second thought or it even interrupting his day at all.
How strange.
Gives me a strange feeling of achievement.
BigRichi said:
Most of these places withold or dont transmit there telephone numbers.
Your telephone line provider should be able to block calls from witheld numbers for a couple of £ a month
Richi
That is a really bad idea when you can effectively stop the calls by signing up to one of the services as suggested. Your telephone line provider should be able to block calls from witheld numbers for a couple of £ a month
Richi
Working for the NHS when we phone up people to book up appts or whatever and they don't accept calls from withheld numbers it's a real pain.
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