I have several ways of handling cold calls, most of them polite. I've just used one of my (usually) more successful ones. It didn't work.
Caller: is that Mrs Stott? (She's my alter ego),
Me: I'm afraid she died last week.
Caller: is that Mrs. Stott?
Me: no. I've just told you. She died last week. She's dead. I'm her sister.
Caller: oh. Well. If you're her sister, can I speak to you?
Me (incensed): but I'm grieving! My sister has just died! You're being very insensitive!
Etc.etc. I was quite upset. This has never happened before. They usually ring off, and, on a good day, I get condolences, too.
I'll have to think of something else for next time (though - some weeks ago - telling the ambulance chaser that I'd lost both legs was quite fun).
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It must be an awful job. I wonder if they have any success at all.
ReplyDeleteI just say I'm busy and press disconnect.
Of course, you are right,Adrian. But we do get an awful lot of these calls, often several a day.
DeleteI simply hang up as soon as it becomes obvious what they are.
ReplyDeleteI often do that too, Jenny.
DeleteCold callers have become rarer in Germany since our legislation has changed years ago to make them really illegal. We still get them, yes, but not many - at least I don't get many, and I usually end them very quickly with "I am at work" (which is nearly always true).
ReplyDeleteBut when it comes to insensitivity, I remember how I went to the bank after Steve had died, to dissolve his bank account. The first two people I spoke to didn't quite know what to do, and sent me to someone else. After I told the third person why I had come, he was the first one to say something along the lines of a condolence. You should think nobody ever dies, the helpless and unprofessional way these people were dealing with a widow.
Meike I had a similar experience after my husband died. A charity phoned to speak to him, and when I told them he had died the previous week, they asked me if I could help them instead.
DeleteThere is no need to be rude and foolish like you are towards these callers. They are trying to put food on the table for their family. Take the kind advice given by Jenny (above) and think about Adrian's comment.
ReplyDeleteLouise, I absolutely take your point. But I am rarely rude, although often expasperated. These calls com uninvited into our homes, usually at a really inconvenient time. We sometimes get several a day. This week, my severely disabled sister had a cold call when she was expecting one in repsonse to a medical emergency, and was very distressed. But I agree with Adrian that it's a horrible job. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteI try to be polite and I fully accept that they are just doing their job but sometimes they don't draw breath long enough for you to say that you're not interested.
DeleteColette, I had one the other day who was very rude to me (I'd been polite) and I did try to explain that this would not get him results. But he took no notice.
DeleteSome of these callers can be very rude and thoughtless. I just hang up xx
ReplyDeleteWhich is what I should do, Teresa. But I wish they could just be outlawed altogether.
DeleteWe have set our phone to block those numbers and also any withheld numbers from coming through. xx
ReplyDeleteWe blocked cold calls some time ago, but it didn't work, Joanna!
DeleteWe have a BT phone that allows us to block withheld numbers and any we recognised as cold-call numbers. This works perfectly. Perhaps you used Telephone Preference Service, which didn't work for us either.
DeleteI hang up too after a brief 'no thank you.' Luckily we don't get many of these calls but I can imagine how you feel if you are getting several a day. Of course it's so much easier on a mobile as I never answer a call if I don't recognise the caller.
ReplyDeleteHow true, Maggie. I have to the landline much of the time as we have a tall house and my mobiles always on the wrong floor. If I carry it about, it wears holes in my jeans pockets.
DeleteThese calls are most annoying. We get loads although we are registered with tps and now they come through on my mobile too.
ReplyDeleteIf they could be outlawed altogether it would make sense, L.
DeleteWe get far too many of these too, Frances. I'm usually polite and firm but some just don't take no for an answer. What a soul-destroying job.
ReplyDeleteYes,it is. it would be much better to employ these same people to carry out less intrusive forms of advertising, wouldn't it. I can't believe these cold call generate much in the way of business.
DeleteI am usually polite. They aren't though, are they? They know nobody actually wants these calls and must realise they're irritating at best and could easily come at an inconvenient moment.
ReplyDeletePatsy ,I had one very rude cold caller last week. I did point out to him that with this approach, he was unlikely to succeed. I think he put the phone down on me.
DeleteMy cold callers don't make it as far as speaking... that few seconds of silence is enough to warn me who it is. Mind you, your way sounds more fun!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a few seconds of silence is the answer, Wendy (are the answer, I mean. Pedantry rules!).
DeleteBuy a BT8500 phone and the problem will be gone for ever.
ReplyDeleteI'll look into that, Graham. Thank you!
ReplyDelete