channe 
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No she won't. She's obviously a bloody idiot.
Reply #4861. Jul 10 12, 6:23 AM
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| C30
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Channe............agreed. I wonder if she realised that she was very fortunate to have spoken to Lesley on a good day.
"Our" Lesley has been known to enter the "kill" mode for less! Lol
Personally I would have suggested the caller "went away" had it been me!
Reply #4862. Jul 10 12, 7:29 AM
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Professer
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What a relief Lesley i was begining to think i was only one having to field wrong numbers for a local authority department.
Last month or so i have had numerous wrong numbers for the local health authority, is like 9 a week.
If it is a female caller and she is apologising i always say is ok i do not often get a gorgeous sounding lady ring me, major emabarrsment her end i am sure.
But they do say they will suggest the health authority change their number.
Reply #4863. Jul 10 12, 8:14 AM
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| lesley153
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Right first time, Channe. She actually rang again a few minutes later, but hung up when I answered. Rude.
Thanks, Ray, that was almost a compliment. If you'd stopped at "she was very fortunate to have spoken to Lesley" it would have been! I'm - er - Quite Nice when people are talking, because it's generally spontaneous.
Kill Mode comes in on the written word, because that's premeditated or, if it isn't, it bloody well should be. If she'd carried on insisting that "I'm at home" means that I can just find someone else to help her, I would have seriously considered telling her to go away. Why is it, when you tell people they've got a wrong number, most of them don't believe you?
No Gary, far from it. I vaguely remember being a housing association once before, many years ago. I had no idea what the right number was, and just told people it was a wrong number, until a little old man who sounded terminally nebbish left a message on my answering machine. I rang him back with the right number. That's another thing they don't seem to appreciate - if I really were whatever it was they wanted, I'd answer with an official name, not the number, or "Speak!" and I'd have an outgoing message identifying the group. I rang the people he wanted, and a human immediately picked the phone up, which shows how long ago it was. I said My phone number is xxxxxx, and the woman who answered said "Ah."
I've also been a clothes shop in a different town, and my parents were skip hire. They got phone calls at all hours, seven days a week. If they were unwilling or unable to answer the phone, it would ring for ten minutes and then ring again. If they picked it up, they got shouted at for not being able to provide a skip.
That's the right way round - let them change. :) |
Reply #4864. Jul 10 12, 3:05 PM
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| lesley153
|
Gardener's back, and he enjoyed himself once it stopped raining. He said he doesn't normally go with his parents, but this year they insisted.
Don't school-leavers generally celebrate by going away with their mates? Yes, there was a jaunt, to Greece. Huh? A load of 18-year-olds celebrating in Greece? What happened to a weekend at the seaside, or a week under canvas?
Merv's just come back from Greece, and I mentioned it, because I was astonished that a load of schoolkids could afford it. Merv says the place they were going to is noted for its - how can I put this? - vibrant 18-30 lifestyle.
Wonder if that's why the parents insisted! |
Reply #4865. Jul 10 12, 5:06 PM
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satguru
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If someone realises it's a wrong number I'm nice to them, but if they're thick and act like it's my fault then I start up a conversation with them and try and confuse them as much as possible. You don't get much of a chance to get your own back on idiots so have to take full advantage when you can. On holiday there was a payphone by the table tennis, and was used for us to phone home, but every so often someone would ring it. Normally this was either to call family back to save them money or by appointment, so if no one was there and it just rang we always answered 'Shmo Chinese restaurant' and most of them just hung up. I was a lot younger by the way...
Reply #4866. Jul 10 12, 6:13 PM
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| lesley153
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| I read about someone who got so fed up fielding calls meant for a Chinese takeaway that he ended up taking orders. Sounds like something I could try. :) |
Reply #4867. Jul 10 12, 7:31 PM
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Professer
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You should lesley be so much fun, when they don't get their order lol :).
cannot do such things as my wrong numbers are for the health authority and as i suffer so bad with health i could not torment anyone, wish i could.
Reply #4868. Jul 11 12, 5:21 AM
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| lesley153
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If you tell people the correct phone number for the health authority, I bet half of them ask you why you can't just transfer them.
And I bet the people who haven't got their food will always managed to dial the right number when they ring to ask when they're going to get fed. |
Reply #4869. Jul 11 12, 5:56 AM
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Jazmee27
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C30’s “I wonder if she realised that she was very fortunate to have spoken to Lesley on a good day.”
No, because she doesn[‘t know Lesley.
“quite nice…” Unless people just can’t fathom what it is we’re saying [and that was putting it nicely]
People only believe they’ve rung a wrong number if they come to that conclusion on their own
You go, David!
Funny how that works!
Reply #4870. Jul 11 12, 3:16 PM
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| lesley153
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Jazmee, I'm sure she would have known what I was saying much sooner if she'd been listening. She got there in the end!
I wonder if my parents were ever tempted to take orders for skips. Did people who shouted at them deserve a phantom skip? |
Reply #4871. Jul 11 12, 5:13 PM
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satguru
|
I just got a cold caller for PPI recovery, I'm on TPS and decided to make an example of him. I explained the TPS meant he couldn't call me or he was breaking the law, and he said he wasn't selling anything, so I said OK, you're doing it free, that's fine. No, it's no win no fee. So you are selling then? No, it's a service. The law doesn't recognise a difference between goods and services, it's free then? No, you pay a fee if you win. So you've broken the law twice then, any more? What? You called someone on TPS and then claimed to be giving something away which you weren't, do you want to go to prison and get your company into trouble? In the end I told him I was a law teacher and he was lucky he phoned me as if he'd phoned a solicitor in practise they'd have been only too happy to make an example of him and to never ever tell lies and break the law or he'd get himself and his company into trouble. He seemed truly grateful, the last guy just laughed at me but he was English...
Reply #4872. Jul 12 12, 8:44 AM
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| lesley153
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That would have been worth recording!
I've had brief conversations with one particularly persistent insurance broker.
"You asked us for a motor quote - would you like us to update it?"
I don't remember doing that.
"Ah no, it was a gentleman, on this car... "
He didn't buy it. How long ago was that?
"About six months ago."
On another occasion, a similar "would you like to continue this beautiful friendship" sort of opening sentence.
Thank you but no. Are you on TPS?
"Yes."
So am I.
End of call. :)
I know Prof Gary has scared the living daylights out of cold callers, as well as impoverishing their employers. Is it about time I tried that now? |
Reply #4873. Jul 12 12, 9:46 AM
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Professer
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Did that today with someone on my mobile it should after a row i had 2 months ago be on a do not ring list, is a different service to tps that had my number on record.
I had a call on my home phone which is x directory only family and certain trusted friends like lesley have it. Was a solicitors asking about a neighbour of mine, so before he could start and aske questions i tore into him got the name and number and web address of the company that gave my home ex directory number.
Rang the company a nice cherful hello from young lady, said i need to speak to someone in authority as my solictor needs a name of the person we are to sue for giving out my private number thats ex director girl burst into tears said please hold i will transfer you, i was said the same to the woman who i was put through she apologised profusely said my numbers would be removed immediately and i would not get the hassle again. She did ring me 19 minutes later asking if i wanted my spare mobile number removing as well said yes and not had any calls since
Reply #4874. Jul 12 12, 3:28 PM
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Professer
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oops forgot to Say YES Lesley do it is only way to stop them :)
Reply #4875. Jul 12 12, 3:29 PM
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| lesley153
|
You made a receptionist cry? Hard!
Yes I've got your numbers and I haven't sold them yet. :)
There are other ways. Saying you'd love a conservatory and you live on the 18th floor would work. I know someone who said he wanted a curved conservatory, with salt-proof glass, to fit round a lighthouse.
There's been a plethora of calls from government departments falling over themselves to "advise" me about loft insulation. My loft is lagged, thank you.
"When was it done - do you know how thick it is - is it up to current specifications?"
Three months ago.
*silence*
There's also no speaky Ingle: I am the maid or butler or au pair: my parents aren't at home: can I afford it on my old age pension?
I wish we didn't have to think about getting rid of people: I wish they'd stop lying to me about what they're doing and get a proper job. Definition of proper job: anything that involves their not phoning me. |
Reply #4876. Jul 12 12, 7:59 PM
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| C30
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I won't vouch for accuracy of exact words, was at least 15 years ago, however.........scenario:-
0300.........sleeping peacefully..........phone rings. My wife answers it, phone being her side of bed......
Caller............Can I have a taxi please.
Wife..............Certainly, where would you like it?
Caller............gives address.
Wife..............Well try telling that to a 'kin TAXI FIRM!
slams phone down. Bless her, she is not at her best when awoken from slumbers! Lol
Phone rings:-
Caller.............Can I speak to........gives "Ethnic Minority" version of name.
Me................ Not unless you are clairvoyant, no.
Caller............Pardon?
Me................ He died 12 years ago!
Phone rings:-
Caller..........Is that Mary?
Me..............Do I SOUND like a "Mary"?
Caller..........No need to be abusive.
Me..............I'm not, I am being sarcastic!
Phone replaced.
Good innit?
Reply #4877. Jul 13 12, 1:28 AM
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Professer
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Like it C30, think i might stand as a MP at the next election, on the stop cold calling phone calls party.
Saying that the person who rings faces 10 years inprison their boses for making them gets 20 years.
I must admit i did many years ago now do just what has been said wirh a conservatory company, even met the guy outside when he was due to arrive was red faced and annoyed, he came to sell me a consrvatory on 10th floor of flats i live, as i gave the address as 60 then the road name not the building. Apparently he drove from Nottingham. to see me lol :) 50 miles both ways and at rushhouron way home.
Reply #4878. Jul 13 12, 2:04 AM
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| lesley153
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It's very good, Ray - I like your wife's style.
One of my well-documented phone calls went like this:
My husband's died. What shall I do about his card?
"Have you got his authority to discuss his card?"
No, he's died.
"Well we can't normally discuss a card without the authority of the cardholder. Are you sure you can't just get him to come to the phone?"
I rang another company that kept writing to Mr A Husband, to tell them they were wasting their time because he wouldn't be reading anything in a hurry. The next letter was addressed to Mr A Husband, deceased.
You've got my vote, Gary.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Had lunch is a small, unprepossessing, but very busy town centre cafe. Good food, good value, good service. You only had to look up, and someone would be there.
The best thing about it though was that we could have a conversation at normal (restrained, British, "keep your voice down, dear") volume, as everyone else was doing. There was a very simple reason for it, and it wasn't magic. There was no music. Bliss.
My hairdresser used to have music playing all the time. They said people often like to have confidential conversations with their stylist, and the music stops other people hearing. No it doesn't because you have to talk louder to be heard. Last year, someone in there twigged that it didn't work, and now they don't bother. Bliss.
Gary, I might be standing against you, on behalf of the If-I-want-to-listen-to-music-I'll-go-to-a-concert-or-put-a-record-on party. |
Reply #4879. Jul 13 12, 4:35 PM
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Jakeroo
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I happen to have a very high-pitched voice and people on the phone (i.e. STRANGERS) often mistake me for a child. I can't count the number of times I've answered "hello" and the first question is "is your mommy or daddy at home?". So a) it's obvious it's nobody I know, ergo b) it's also nobody I'm interested in talking to. My usual response is "well gosh, I don't know, I guess you'd have to call them at THEIR house and find out" .... (click).
We have a national "no solicitations" call program in this country. You have to sign up for it ON THE INTERNET. That's fine for my generation and younger, but it doesn't help people my parent's age who don't have computers. So I've signed up my mom, because although I really don't give a rip about what she does with HER money, I'd still like her to spend it on something she actually WANTS lol. But I can't do anything to help all the other folks her age and I'm afraid there are an awful lot of seniors being taken advantage of, sigh.
The "no callers" thing DOES seem to work though. If they give me the opportunity to reply (or leave a message) I just say "we are on the national no-caller list. My telephone records every phone number received. If you OR an auto-dialer phones here even ONCE more I WILL consider that harrassment and will file suit". "Oddly enough" I've never gotten another call from those numbers. But even MORE "oddly enough" one of those callers was our LOCAL (i.e. Canadian) telephone company (who apparently thinks they don't have to abide by Canadian law) who were trying to sell me a cellphone service. What they didn't bother to check into is that I cancelled my previous cellphone with them due to the fact you couldn't get a real person to help you with anything, was all "voice" activated (but all you ever got was a computer voice saying "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you are saying, please repeat".. ad nauseum). So imagine what trouble I had to go through to actually get in contact with a REAL person in a supervisory position and tell them that I had cancelled my contract, that THEY in fact owed me money (because I always pay my bills in advance, silly me) that I never wanted another call from their company EVER and that I wanted a refund of my credit owing or I WOULD sue. Result? They've never phoned me again, but they've never sent me a refund either LOL
My husband, despite being of Irish descent, doesn't have much of a temper really. He prefers to "toy" with telemarketers and "joke around" wrong numbers. A few years ago, our phone number was one digit off a popular restaurant (at the time). Some person called long-distance to book a reservation and wanted to know what the special was going to be for that day. He replied "Well, the wife and I are probably having spaghetti, but you're welcome to come over!"
Reply #4880. Jul 13 12, 5:31 PM
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