talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all, just a post that I hope can help solve a problem we had.

We've been getting a lot of silent calls lately and its annoying, as some of you may know, these are telemarketing companies, that are dialled by a computer.

The reason they are silent is the computer dials out hundreds of numbers, and there are not enough operators available when you answer, therefore the call is terminated.

If you are getting these calls, they are anonymous, and there is no background noise.

To stop these, you can call these numbers....
0845 0700 707 these are to stop live telemarketing calls and some silent calls. This is a service called TPS where you register your number.

0870 444 3639 this is listed on the website too, and you register your number via this call.

the website on which you can also do this is www.tpsonline.org.uk
If you call your operator from a BT line (100) and get through to someone, these are the numbers they will give you.

We were getting 3 calls a day or more, and now we dont get any. They dont guarantee 100%, some may still get through

Its about time these calls were stopped, and I hope this thread helps anyone who is getting as cheesed off as I was

Regards
Mark

The Telephone Preference service is not fool proof however, even though I am registered I still get some sales calls. It does have the advantage that if you mention that you are registered and ask to speak to a supervisor they hang up pretty quick!

I registered our home numbers with TPS a year or so back and when we get a cold sales call these days we egg them on a bit and ask for the full name of the firm and, if possible a contact number. We dont usually get a number but it's great when we say we need the details so we can pass them on to TPS which means the firm will be fined - the line goes dead very quickly!

Other annoying calls recently are those where a recorded message is played to you, usually in an Amercian accent. Not a lot to be done about them as they originate outside the UK where the TPS have no powers.

Thanks for the info Mark. We get them all the time, very annoying. The latest we got one was 8.00 pm (don't these people go home?) Mandrake, I will use your tip, very helpful if I can keep my cool for long enough

Rushie

Hi - linked to this thread from Google.

Ofcom and other regulators do have powers under the law to act against this nuisance. After making a complaint that led to an investigation, I have found myself running a campaign against this nuisance.

To learn more you can visit my website

http://www.users.waitrose.com/~SilentCalls/

David

Mandrake, I will use your tip

OK, if you really want to be evil and have some time to play, just adopt a slightly stupid idiot voice, speak v e r y s l o w l y to the cold caller, tell them you're really, really glad they called you because you're feeling lonely as you don't have any real friends of your own and would they like to be your friend because you could meet them somewhere later on and have fun together, perhaps go for a burger or go see the lorries on the main road…….. Ad lib as much as you can and it's almost certain they'll hang up on you before too long!

Weve been getting a lot of these phone calls recently, and its got to a point in the family where i will do some "acting" if we get one of these!

A memorable on was about 3 weeks ago. We had someone calling about car insurance, asking for my dad. So i put on a really camp voice and was talking complete nonscence to the guy on the phone, pretending that i knew what he was on about and coming up with some roundabout excuse for that reasoning. So, he asked about taking on this policy. Gave some false details and when he asked if everything seemed ok, i said, "actually, ive changed my mind, your voice has been getting on my nerves and dont want to do it anymore"

He hasnt rung back since!

I've been registered with the TPS for nearly three years (also the Fax preference and Mail preference services) but the odd annoying silent (or worse, international 'recorded' call) get through—and there are a couple of ways to get round this I've discovered...

1. Get a phone with caller ID. Usually, these numbers are witheld or unknown, or even show as international. If one of these numbers is ringing, I usually let it run to answerfone. If it's an important call, they will ring back or leave a message.

2. A lot of genuine telemarketing by companies whom you've consented to call you (i.e. Sky TV, credit card, bank, etc.) will dial from 0800 or similar prefixes. Again, let the call ring out. If you re-dial the number you usually get 'Sorry we missed you, we rang from a telemarketing company' etc.

3. The 'silent' treatment calls become less persistent if you let them ring out and out (at least to answerphone) because they are not getting their pickup—they therefore assume the number is dead

4. EVIL and yet somehow theraputic ways to get rid of a telesales agent:

Salesagent: Hello sir, I am calling you from Southernripoffwindows. We have a double glazing representative in your area this week and we are wondering if we could take some details from you so he can call in blah blah...

Evil me reply 1: Well, actually, I was going to give YOU a ring to see if I could offer you my web design services. Can I take the name of someone in charge there please? (Be persistent—it really works!)

Evil me reply 2: I rent the house actually. And our landlords have specifically asked us NOT to agree to anything without their consent. Therefore, this is the end of our discussion. Thank you.

Evil me reply 3: Just a moment please... have you got a watch on? OK, can you tell me what time it is? Great. Thanks. 8pm. Now usually, if I want the time, I ring the speaking clock, so you've saved me a call. Goodnight. (they won't ring back, I promise)

Evil me reply 4: Hang on... is that Nigel? Hey! Nigel mate! What? Oh, you sound so much like my mate Nigel. Is this a wind up? Come on, give it in mate... you old bu**er! Very funny! (Keep this up for a minute or so, they will break first)

Evil me reply 5: We aren't allowed windows in here... the patients might escape. Even through double glazed ones, a chair thrown hard enough and they're off down the road annoying the old people's home. I can refer you to the Asylum manager if you like, but I really can't help. I usually do the dishes at this time of night before I take my pills and they put me to bed, but I heard this phone ringing...

Now... you might THINK I am joking here... but no... most of these are real replies I've used. Honestly.

If you make a joke out of it, they cross you off their list.

We have limited experience of dealing with telesales from a client-side point of view, and things which will cause you to immeditately get off their list if you are speaking to a REAL person (not answer machine etc) are:

1. Say that you are renting
2. Say that the property is a business number and how did they obtain it
3. Say that you are running a government service from the telephone no.

In all, have some fun with them. We do the same at work... we get a 'cold sales' call, so we waste their time for our own amusement. It beats being rude to them and telling them to p** off. Try it!

The more serious nature of this problem is that it's effing annoying when the phone goes quiet etc.

But the TPS is by far the quickest way to get rid of most of the unwanted calls.

i need some assistance with this. i've been receiving silent calls on my mobile, pretty infrequently, yet they happen nonetheless. i changed my number and the silent calls still happened, once even at about 9 pm, god know what telemarketing company's open then. what's going on and how do i stop it because it's driving me up the wall. the number is withheld and i can't call back and tell them to take a hike.

help!

linda d wrote:i need some assistance with this. i've been receiving silent calls on my mobile, pretty infrequently, yet they happen nonetheless. i changed my number and the silent calls still happened, once even at about 9 pm, god know what telemarketing company's open then. what's going on and how do i stop it because it's driving me up the wall. the number is withheld and i can't call back and tell them to take a hike.

help!

Why on God's good Earth would you want to call them back at your expense?

Oh, God, that reminds me:-

Whenever England score a goal in the World Cup, a lot of mobiles will receive spam text messages pretending to be strangers who have misdialled. The hope is that in the heat of fervent patriotic euphoria people will want to share their glee with the strangers who text them. I'd like to think that TM members are more aware of the idea of "false reality" than most. Think about it; who the hell doesn't store the numbers they're likely to want to text at a moment's notice and has to type them in impromptu?

Hello, Linda D. Care to pop by the introductions section and introduce yourself? It's a sort of tradition.

linda d wrote:i need some assistance with this. i've been receiving silent calls on my mobile, pretty infrequently, yet they happen nonetheless. i changed my number and the silent calls still happened, once even at about 9 pm, god know what telemarketing company's open then. what's going on and how do i stop it because it's driving me up the wall. the number is withheld and i can't call back and tell them to take a hike.

help!

Definately call TPS. I believe they can monitor you're phone if it gets out of hand.

Also Telemarketing companies will run a mile if you mention these three little letters, you don't even have to be a member and they'll hang up pronto!

Just pointing out that it's not really nice to be unkind to the cold callers - as annoying as they are it's just some person making a living, it's the company you should get annoyed with. We registered with TPS but we still get a decent few silent calls and recorded messages, maybe 1 or 2 every couple of weeks.

Kati

katrielalex wrote:Just pointing out that it's not really nice to be unkind to the cold callers - as annoying as they are it's just some person making a living

I've been a cold caller (lots) and I do agree, however mentioning TPS usually gets rid of them double quick. It's fairly painless and fairly civil considering.

you need to say your busy and ask for their number to call them back when you're free, it goes like this:

me: sorry, I'm slighty busy at the moment, could i perhaps have your home/mobile number so i can call you back when I'm free?
caller: I'm sorry, i can't give out that kind of information
me: hm, why's that? i guess you don't want random people you don't really know bothering you at home when you're trying to chill out...#click#......

my one is "This is an official booking line, you are stopping my clients getting through. Do not call this number ever again" and hang up