Posted by Max_Bedroom on Wed 4 Nov 09, 3:07 PM to Max_Bedroom's blog.
I have been getting loads (and I mean loads, four or five a day) calls from an Asian based call centre, trying to get me to swap power companies.
I have employed various tactics, from pleading with them to remove me from their database, to singing, to shouting, to hanging up - all to no avail.
So today, I altered tact.
The phone goes. I answer. There is no-one there - their technology causes a delay of about five seconds before someone speaks
Call Centre Operative: Hello, Mr XXXXX?
Me: Hello, can I ask you who you power provider is?
CCO: Pardon?
Me: Can i ask you who your power provider is?
CCO: Yes, that is what I am calling about.
Me: So, tell me, who provides your electricity:
CCO (very confused), mutters name of company
Me: They are an excellent company. However, the marketplace is very competitive at the moment. Would you like to discuss changing your provider?
CCO (totally flumoxed) : No, not really.
Me: Well neither do I mate.
CCO hangs up.
No calls since...
| 4 Nov 09, 3:16 PM unusual_suspects 4 yrs  |
Good one. I should do something like that as we get way too many. I wouldn't mind but I can hardly understand them | |
| 4 Nov 09, 3:21 PM jen001 UK(HD), 8 yrs  |
my grandad pretends he hasnt spoken to anyone all week and that they are the first person who has ever called, he tells them about peeling his potatoes whilst holding the phone away from his ear to stop them hearing his and my nans sniggers they have stopped with the double glazing, now the rest to get rid of and he can watch the cricket in peace! j xx KINKY 5 : Kristmas 2 ---- Saturday 5th December 2009, 5pm - 10pm www.kinkyinleeds.co.uk | |
| 4 Nov 09, 3:22 PM Max_Bedroom 5 yrs |
They have some sympathy from me. As annoying as it is, they are being paid a pittance, are poorly trained, and have to take a lot of abuse. Sometimes, to my shame, from people like me if they catch me at the wrong time. It is the people running the companies that are the fuckers, not the poor bastards who sit on the phone all day... Trouble is, I get 20+ every week, and it really grinds after a while... I believe in the certainty of chance. | |
| 4 Nov 09, 3:30 PM Twinkletoes 5 yrs |
If you register your phone number with TPS you should no longer get these types of call. Some slip through, usually the automated ones, but since registering my number haven't had any 'human' cold calls. | |
| 4 Nov 09, 3:45 PM DoraExplorer UK(CO), 4 yrs |
Yep, TPS should work ok. Only ones I ever got now are the automated ones and even thats once in a blue moon. I dont have a quote so I'll leave this bit blank...........cos I dont want to use up space till I have something really good to put here | |
| 4 Nov 09, 4:45 PM Exoplanet UK(WR), 2 yrs |
The tragic thing is that it's completely impossible to establish any humane channel of communication, because "this call may be recorded for slave-driving *ahem* training purposes". To be honest I've never found it annoying, as long as I can marshal a good firm "No, sorry, I wouldn't be interested in that" *clunk*. I try to be kind to cold callers, for the same reason I tell Big Issue sellers to keep the change. I used to do a lot of data-entry temping, and thought of my keyboard skills as the thin line that separated me from perdition. Edited 4 Nov 09, 5:00 PM by Exoplanet | |
| 4 Nov 09, 6:04 PM GazUK1963 UK(B), 6 yrs |
Like it  .Gary. Everyone who lives dies, but not everyone who dies has truly lived. | |
| 4 Nov 09, 10:09 PM polyanna UK(CV), 4 yrs |
*grins* The post gets my vote, and I used to work in a call centre doing *almost* cold calling. "That didn't hurt. That didn't hurt. That didn't hurt. That hurt! (Do it again)" | |
| 4 Nov 09, 10:16 PM Miss_Pink UK(EN), 3 yrs |
Brilliant! I cried laughing!! We are TPS registered so don't get many, definately recommend TPS, but love this solution. | |
| 5 Nov 09, 10:33 AM Max_Bedroom 5 yrs |
I have found out this morning that we registered with TPS a long time ago - which makes these calls even more annoying. I think I will revert to an old tactic, and put my five year old on the phone to them - he loves chatting to anyone... I believe in the certainty of chance. |
