Smart Getaways
After weeks of annoying, frustrating, rage inducing calls from Smart Getaways, and to just about every body I could find that's meant to deal with telemarketing harassment, I've finally given up and decided to waste their time as much as they've been wasting mine. Now when I pick up the phone and hear the tell tale sounds of an international call, I pour myself a glass of wine, find myself a comfy chair, and keep them on the phone as long as I possibly can questioning them about their offers, asking about their destinations, and generally sounding as convinced, but unsure as I possibly can before politely declining their offer and hanging up. So far this ploy is not working; I'm still getting what sound like cold calls from varying operators, but at least I'm not shaking by the end of them. The other night I even asked the operator if he could call back in an hour as I was in the middle of cooking dinner. Sadly he didn't, which considering the first ever call I'd received from the company and the way the operator almost begged me to listen to him, was disappointing.
I feel mean doing it; I mean, the operators are just trying to make a living. But I've tried polite, I've tried firm, and I've tried rude, and they just keep calling. My seven year old son has even got in to the game. When he answers the phone and someone from Smart Getaways asks to talk to Mr or Mrs ****, he'll start playing dumb, or put the phone down and run around the house giggling for five minutes, after which there's never anyone on the other end of the line. Hubby just hangs up. He says that's what I should do, but I've tried that; they kept calling.
Next week I'll probably be angry again, but since they're an Australian based company and I've been told there's not much anyone can do about the calls, I'll just have to ride it out. It's either that or spend sixty odd dollars to change my phone number, and there is no way that company is going to induce me to spend a cent - even if it's not on them.
I feel mean doing it; I mean, the operators are just trying to make a living. But I've tried polite, I've tried firm, and I've tried rude, and they just keep calling. My seven year old son has even got in to the game. When he answers the phone and someone from Smart Getaways asks to talk to Mr or Mrs ****, he'll start playing dumb, or put the phone down and run around the house giggling for five minutes, after which there's never anyone on the other end of the line. Hubby just hangs up. He says that's what I should do, but I've tried that; they kept calling.
Next week I'll probably be angry again, but since they're an Australian based company and I've been told there's not much anyone can do about the calls, I'll just have to ride it out. It's either that or spend sixty odd dollars to change my phone number, and there is no way that company is going to induce me to spend a cent - even if it's not on them.
8 Comments:
I wouldn't think there's any point getting a new number, because a machine will get round to dialling it eventually.
What happens when you tell them to go away, or ask them what it will take to make them go away? Do they go daft on you, or tell you to send a written request in triplicate to an address in Inner Mesopotamia?
By lesley153, Aug 18 09 11:27 AM
I usually don't answer them, especially if they call while I'm sleeping. I finally got fed up, told one that I didn't want what they wanted to sell me, and that for the record some of us work nights and I'm sleeping. A different person called the next day. There is no escaping them.
By rayven80, Aug 18 09 3:43 PM
I can see you relaxed and chatting ainenei. :)
It is frustrating!
We occasionally get calls from Smart Getaways et al and sometimes there's a message on the home answering machine! - and they fax us 'weekly specials'!
I have a friend who when asked by a cold caller "Could I have a minute of your time, sir?" blandly replies "No" and hangs up!
His son is mortified that he is so rude. I encouraged the son to answer the phone more often!
We always have a lag on these type of calls and after picking up the receiver (at home) simply replace it.
My kids (aged 20 and 24) pretend they either can't understand what the call is about - not surprising sometimes as some accents are not understandable, or say (in little kid voices)'Mummy and Daddy aren't here' - no matter Where We Are. lol
By MarchHare007, Aug 18 09 7:12 PM
I've just started doing that.
"May I speak with the person who is responsible for the gas and electricity bills?"
It's obviously fishing, because they don't say who they are, and they don't even have a name, so I just say "No" or "No thank you" or "Not today" and they say "OK; thank you" and go away. Feels good.
One day I shall remember to say "Please take me off your list." Be interesting to see how they respond to that.
By lesley153, Aug 19 09 5:21 AM
lol Lesley.
I'd forgotten about the about the 'May I speak..' scenario. Steve's Mum says she can't help because she's only the housekeeper! :)
And years ago, our surname was mispelt - still made sense and we left it because essentially it left us 'unlisted' so to speak.
So I can tell if it's a phone list print out as well by the address the caller uses if they are trying to personalise the call.
They do get confused if I tell them it's the wrong number!
As far as asking to be taken off the list - American Express! I rang the the number they provided in order to be removed from their mailing list (and the chatty and very cheery contact happily removed my name) and then told me depending upon what list AmEx bought next - I would probably be called or mailed again....And I was!*fume*
By MarchHare007, Aug 20 09 10:53 PM
Must remember to try that - I'm only the housekeeper, babysitter, burglar. Or "Mummy isn't here," but in my normal voice. Why bother putting a childish voice on? As long as they get the message, it doesn't matter how it's conveyed.
I am from a generation which was taught that it's rude to ignore someone who's talking to you. A lot of children now are taught to ignore all strangers, because all adults are potential child abductors and axe murderers. (It'll be interesting to see how these children cope when they need help, attempting to reconcile the warped doctrine with the helpful adult in front of them, or when they're older and need to find their own friends, without Mummy's help. But I digress.)
I think we need a balance. It's rude to disturb people who haven't asked to be disturbed; it's not rude not to want to talk to a stranger who has made an uninvited phone call. We are perfectly within our rights not to answer the phone or the front door.
By lesley153, Aug 24 09 12:26 PM
A week later and guess who I've just got off the phone with?
By ainenei, Aug 25 09 2:59 AM
... er ... give us a clue: is it a company, rather than a private caller? and does it have words like ... ooh ... lemme think ... "getaways" and "smart" in the company name?
By lesley153, Aug 25 09 5:56 PM