Broker calls have always been an annoyance, but recently it seems to have been accelerating. I guess a combination of desperation to make bonuses combined with hope that people are looking to put money back into the market.
I really hate being rude on the phone, but it seems to be the only thing that gets these guys to stop calling. So if anyone has advice on what to do or say to stop the calls, I would appreciate it.
Recent responses that worked.
Broker: "blah blah blah . . . I cant trust you to keep an open mind, can't I?
A: No you can't, I am a very closed minded person.
Broker: If I could double your money in the next 6 months, you'd like that wouldn't you?
A: No I'd feel terrible and wracked with guilt.
Broker: You agree with what I am saying right?
A: Yes I do agree. And yet I am not investing any money with you. Ever.
Broker: Hello, I represent Blood Sucking insurance company...
Me: I'm not interested.
Broker: I have not even started!
Me: That's right. I am not interested in anything you say.
Broker: But...
[Hangs up]
I use your first answer a lot Minsky.
Fucking Primerica.
Usually I do the following (not with brokers... for some reason they don't call me, but other cold calls selling shit):
Caller: Hello, I'm calling from Phone Harassement Inc. and....
Me: I'm not interested. Please remove me from any lists of numbers you may have. I don't want you to call me.
Caller: But we have a....
Me: Please remove me from your phone list. Bye.
*click*
I don't know what gets you off the list of being called, except "the do not call list" helps, or is supposed to. Some of the callers I've told to remove me from their list, and they say they will, but the calls/mail still comes from the same group. Same with junk mail when I get frustrated and tell them to remove me from their mailing list.
So I pretty much just hang up on most solicitation calls now. If it's a group I subscribe to I may listen for a bit, but it's rare that I'll give anything or buy something. I'll give by mail if I want to give, and there are charities I do give to. I have no patience with the unwanted "nuisance" calls I get from everywhere else. I don't give the callers any grief, I realize they're just doing a job, but too bad, I don't care to have my phone ring because of these calls. Many of these calls are made to many phones at once, or something like that, and even if you answer you'll get no response sometimes. So sometimes if I answer the line is just tied up for a few minutes, or it gets messed up in some other way as the call cycles through, or what ever goes on at their end.
I screamed at Telus one time and they stopped calling (knocks on wood) ... They were always calling while I was eating dinner. I told the guy Look I don't care what kind of great offer you have for me, I'm happy with my current setup. I'm not changing ever. Take me off your call list or I'm calling and reporting you to the police for harassment (I think he'd already hung up by that last bit.)
I wouldn't have made any such call. too lazy. no interest in talking to law enforcement.
I simply say "Sorry, I'm not interested". First time never works, second time almost always does. I don't wait for them to speak, I talk over them. I don't think I'm being rude, I'm just trying to save them the effort.
It is annoying when people call, but sometimes they offer good deals and it is worth listening.
I usually listen then ask them to send me something in the mail so I can see the terms in print.
they never do that. most are not allowed to.
"I'm sorry I don't take cold calls, goodbye!".
Regrettable that one has to be so abrupt; but, from being quite rare, these calls have increased in frequency.
I don't pick up the phone if I don't know the number or don't want to speak with that person. :mellow:
Quote from: garbon on September 03, 2009, 12:35:47 PM
I don't pick up the phone if I don't know the number or don't want to speak with that person. :mellow:
Same, actually. If it's important they can leave a message.
You guys actually get cold calls from real people? The few I've gotten are always a machine asking me to hit 1 to lower my interest rates or something.
WHat I hate are the cold calls from companies you have a pre-existing dealing with. My bank is particularily bad for this. I generally like dealing with them, but they insist on calling every few weeks...
Quote from: garbon on September 03, 2009, 12:35:47 PM
I don't pick up the phone if I don't know the number or don't want to speak with that person. :mellow:
Same here. I rarely pick up the phone anyways if I don't know who it is, or if I think it's a solicitation or sales call.
I seem to be getting a lot fewer of these though. Maybe something's changed due to the economy. Or maybe that I never answer so after a few decades/centuries the callers finally give up and actually do remove me from their call lists?
I do seem to be getting far fewer applications for credit cards in the mail, for instance, which I was assuming had to do with the financial economy before.
If I pick up an unknown number and its a marketer I hang up immediately without saying anything.
I think they outlawed that kind of calling here. I never had that at least. Sometimes the bank where I have an account calls and asks whether I want to have a talk with them but I always just postpone that for another year. ;)
@ Neil. sure I get real people. usually some nice man or woman from Bengal or New Brunswick.
Quote from: Barrister on September 03, 2009, 12:56:23 PM
WHat I hate are the cold calls from companies you have a pre-existing dealing with. My bank is particularily bad for this. I generally like dealing with them, but they insist on calling every few weeks...
I got a call from an SBC/AT&T guy, which made me listen for a second to make sure they weren't disconnecting my phone or something. He got his pitch in and it sounded like a killer deal on internet. I hesitated, and he made it even better. I thought, "here is a major company, I should be able to trust the guy" and switched my ISP.
Total mistake--the guy lied about a bunch of key terms. Three months later I cancelled the new internet and went back to my old provider. The SBC/AT&T people didn't argue or put up a fight at all after I told my story--I'm guessing I wasn't unique. The first and last time I've bought from a telemarketer.
Quote from: Neil on September 03, 2009, 12:44:33 PM
You guys actually get cold calls from real people? The few I've gotten are always a machine asking me to hit 1 to lower my interest rates or something.
We are important to them. They tell us while we wait 30 minutes on the phone.
"I never buy something by the phone. Point me to some website with the relevant information."
Quote from: Jos Theelen on September 03, 2009, 01:41:40 PM
"I never buy something by the phone. Point me to some website with the relevant information."
This is a good one and I have used it on occasion.
Here it is mostly insurance or papers, most others are illegal.
With insurance I merely point out what my current company is and they excuse the trouble and hang up :)
Thank Hod for organised labour and their insurance companies.. the money making kinds can't compete and they know it :D
V
FUCK, I *HATE* these calls.
Indian woman: "Sir, we're calling in regards to an overdue balance on your credit.."
Me: "NOT INTERESTED. TAKE ME OFF YOUR LIST."
Sure enough though, they call me again and again and again. I have no clue where those...toweleheads got my number from.
Quote from: Jaron on September 03, 2009, 02:28:44 PM
FUCK, I *HATE* these calls.
Indian woman: "Sir, we're calling in regards to an overdue balance on your credit.."
Me: "NOT INTERESTED. TAKE ME OFF YOUR LIST."
Sure enough though, they call me again and again and again. I have no clue where those...toweleheads got my number from.
:lol:
Vintage.
I'm not allowed to answer the phone anymore. :( If female, I would tell the operator she has a sexy voice and ask if she'd like to hook up sometime. If male, I'd ask questions like "Is this Greg?" "Where's Greg?" "How did you get this number" "put Greg on the phone". In essence I'd ramble on as long as possible before they would hang up.
"I already have an investment account and am happy with it."
The neat thing about this statement is that it's actually true. :)
Of course, it never gets the guy to actually hang up, so I usually hang up before he finishes the next sales hook.
Quote from: Caliga on September 03, 2009, 03:09:56 PM
"I already have an investment account and am happy with it."
The neat thing about this statement is that it's actually true. :)
Of course, it never gets the guy to actually hang up, so I usually hang up before he finishes the next sales hook.
That is quite delicious indeed.
Also, for AmeriKKKans only:
http://www.donotcall.gov (http://www.donotcall.gov)
I don't have that kind of problem. The only phone line with my name on the contract doesn't have a actual phone at its end. It's for DSL only.
Quote from: Caliga on September 03, 2009, 03:09:56 PM
"I already have an investment account and am happy with it."
That never works.
QuoteOf course, it never gets the guy to actually hang up,
See told you so. :)
Quote from: Caliga on September 03, 2009, 03:17:04 PM
Also, for AmeriKKKans only:
http://www.donotcall.gov (http://www.donotcall.gov)
There are still massive loopholes. If your phone number is being used for business, you can't add the number to the DNC list. If it's a survey and not for profit, it's not blocked from numbers on the DNC list. If it's a political campaign, it's also not blocked from calling numbers on the list.
I don't get cold calls most of the time, but I absolutely HATED making them. Our scripts were scummy, misleading, and the newsletters we were charging $300 a year for were mostly for information that could be found for free with a half hour of free time and Google.
Also, polling interviewers are not covered by DNC lists. Which is good, otherwise I would be out of business. :smoke:
Not that I call, of course. Philosophy undergrads and teenage munchkins do the dirty work for me. :menace:
As a philosophy undergrad and former telemarketer (for the Ballet, mind you :bowler:), the easiest/best negative response was: "Please take me off your list." Once those magic words were spoken, we would just put DNC (do not call) on the card and retire it.
The worst strategy was "This isn't a good time right now" or "I'm busy right now." The protocol in that case was to say "Ok, no problem" and then call back daily until we got a definitive response.
Quote from: Caliga on September 03, 2009, 03:09:56 PM
"I already have an investment account and am happy with it."
The neat thing about this statement is that it's actually true. :)
Of course, it never gets the guy to actually hang up, so I usually hang up before he finishes the next sales hook.
If you ever want some amusement, tell them that you're independently wealthy, and then shut them down while they scramble to try and rob you.
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on September 03, 2009, 05:48:36 PM
As a philosophy undergrad and former telemarketer (for the Ballet, mind you :bowler:), the easiest/best negative response was: "Please take me off your list." Once those magic words were spoken, we would just put DNC (do not call) on the card and retire it.
The worst strategy was "This isn't a good time right now" or "I'm busy right now." The protocol in that case was to say "Ok, no problem" and then call back daily until we got a definitive response.
:yes: We used an auto-dial and were trained to be super-literal; pretty much anything that sounded like "later" was treated as a "5"- the system hung up and sent the number to the bottom of the pile. We were usually fishing for "14" (call back at a specific time, hopefully to get to the contact name with no questions asked). "12" (refusal) was saved for absolutely no chance of getting the person with the title we were looking for.
Responses that worked for me:
A. Thanks, already got one.
B. Please send your brochure/prospectus/offer to my e-mail address xyz@me.com. I will get back to you when I read them and I'm interested.
C. What you are doing violates regulation xyz and carries a penalty of a fine of 123. If you continue calling me, I will feel obliged to notify the authorities.
D. [YELLING]
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on September 03, 2009, 11:23:48 AM
Broker calls have always been an annoyance, but recently it seems to have been accelerating. I guess a combination of desperation to make bonuses combined with hope that people are looking to put money back into the market.
I really hate being rude on the phone, but it seems to be the only thing that gets these guys to stop calling. So if anyone has advice on what to do or say to stop the calls, I would appreciate it.
Recent responses that worked.
Broker: "blah blah blah . . . I cant trust you to keep an open mind, can't I?
A: No you can't, I am a very closed minded person.
Broker: If I could double your money in the next 6 months, you'd like that wouldn't you?
A: No I'd feel terrible and wracked with guilt.
Broker: You agree with what I am saying right?
A: Yes I do agree. And yet I am not investing any money with you. Ever.
Have you tried responding in Old Norse to them? Worked for me :)
Quote from: garbon on September 03, 2009, 12:35:47 PM
I don't pick up the phone if I don't know the number or don't want to speak with that person. :mellow:
Doesn't really work in a profession like Minsky's, where you may be getting a call from a client.
Quote from: Barrister on September 03, 2009, 12:56:23 PM
WHat I hate are the cold calls from companies you have a pre-existing dealing with. My bank is particularily bad for this. I generally like dealing with them, but they insist on calling every few weeks...
When they annoy me I threaten to move my current account, deposits and credit cards to their competitor and this usually buys me several weeks of quiet. :P
Quote from: Martinus on September 03, 2009, 06:20:06 PM
Quote from: garbon on September 03, 2009, 12:35:47 PM
I don't pick up the phone if I don't know the number or don't want to speak with that person. :mellow:
Doesn't really work in a profession like Minsky's, where you may be getting a call from a client.
Though really garbon's solution is the best for both parties. If they knew they were calling garbon they wouldn't want to talk to him either.
Quote from: Martinus on September 03, 2009, 06:17:56 PM
Responses that worked for me:
A. Thanks, already got one.
B. Please send your brochure/prospectus/offer to my e-mail address xyz@me.com. I will get back to you when I read them and I'm interested.
C. What you are doing violates regulation xyz and carries a penalty of a fine of 123. If you continue calling me, I will feel obliged to notify the authorities.
D. [YELLING]
C and D would work for the idiots employed at PBP. A would launch them into "rebuttal" efforts into pushing you to "compare it to the competition and see why ours is better." B would have gotten you spammed all to hell, and if you didn't order, you'd just get called again on the next round of marketing in a few months. :contract:
In my experience "B" works because they are usually reluctant to send you anything by e-mail/in writing before you agree to meet them in person, in my experience. Which only proves they are crooks.
Yeah, "I'm already a member/subscriber/etc" is a good one. You're not really supposed to accuse the customer of lying, just thank them.
48. How fare the gods? | how fare the elves?
All Jotunheim groans, | the gods are at council;
Loud roar the dwarfs | by the doors of stone,
The masters of the rocks: | would you know yet more?
49. Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir,
The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free
Much do I know, | and more can see
Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.
Usually they'd give up before I got to the second verse. :(
I get calls mostly from insurance brokers. I don't know about the US, but it is illegal for stock brokers to cold call people here (it is ok if you have an account with them).
If someone calls me, I *have* to pick up the phone. Because there is no caller ID, and that call maybe from my boss.
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on September 03, 2009, 06:34:56 PM
Yeah, "I'm already a member/subscriber/etc" is a good one. You're not really supposed to accuse the customer of lying, just thank them.
We played dumb, tried to sound "conversational," and asked what they thought of the cover article. :blush:
Seriously, I was stuck in one of those fired/quit situations because I was too ethical for the manager. We had a guy who would manually dial refusals and prank call them, in one case ordering 200 double cheeseburgers at a McDonald's halfway across the country.
Those of us who are sane and work as telemarketers hate the job and ourselves. Those who enjoy the job... are usually a pretty "special" breed.
Quote from: Martinus on September 03, 2009, 06:20:06 PM
Doesn't really work in a profession like Minsky's, where you may be getting a call from a client.
Oh when I get calls like that at work, I pickup and then hangup. Some might say that is rude, but I think they are rude for calling me*.
*Incidentally I feel the same way about those people who try to get you to sign up/donate money for the environment and people who beg you for money.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 03, 2009, 12:33:33 PM
"I'm sorry I don't take cold calls, goodbye!".
Regrettable that one has to be so abrupt; but, from being quite rare, these calls have increased in frequency.
Does Britain have a Do Not Call list? I'm on the one for the U.S. and I only receive calls from businesses that I already do business with.
Yes, it's called the calling preference service or something like that. I've signed up to it and it has eliminated about 80% of the cold calls.
One of my biggest problems though is with my bank. Whenever I move money around they get tremendously excited and get into contact. They want me to become a "private client" and receive their "free, independent financial advice". Now, I have enough money that it would be profitable for them to get their hands on it, but not enough money to get high quality financial advice for free (I'm not sure there is any such thing at all in fact).
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 04, 2009, 02:50:59 AM
Yes, it's called the calling preference service or something like that. I've signed up to it and it has eliminated about 80% of the cold calls.
One of my biggest problems though is with my bank. Whenever I move money around they get tremendously excited and get into contact. They want me to become a "private client" and receive their "free, independent financial advice". Now, I have enough money that it would be profitable for them to get their hands on it, but not enough money to get high quality financial advice for free (I'm not sure there is any such thing at all in fact).
If it is possible to get good financial advice, we won't get it from banks, even from so-called "private banking". I reached that conclusion after reading this -
http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_CH/ch/services/consulting/article/dfec586731101210VgnVCM100000ba42f00aRCRD.htm
(choose reconnecting for profit)
The study surveyed the really high end bank clients. Even they are not happy with the financial advice they get. They feel the banks are "product pushers". They don't think they are getting anywhere near objective advice. Simply, they just don't trust their bank advisors.
If even the billionaires don't get objective advice, us the little guys are just distribution channels.
Even if the bank as an organization want to develop a long-term relationship with its clients, the staff won't. They're just concerned with this month's paycheck.
I got tons of cold calls at home, always from South American people (I've never talked to a Spaniard until the "pass me to your manager" phase), all of them offering me swell internet deals or new awesome cell phone packages. I even got scammed once, damn sweet talking Argentinian lady.
The other day it got so bad I even disconnected the phone in order not to be bothered.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marcellosendos.ch%2Fcomics%2Fch%2F1990%2F11%2F19901112.gif&hash=7c9c3178f65f5cfc646e9b5c6ccfdf583cb7f6f5)
This thread has: inspired me.
The next time I get a solicitation via phone, I'll start singing The Major General's Song from Pirates of Penzance to the dude. :)
@ Warspite
:lol: It's great, my son quite often answers the 'phone now an they tend to give up because he keeps asking hem questions.
My standard reply which works is 'sorry, I'm just about to go out right now and I'm afraid there won't be a covenient time at a later date' The second half is vital because they ask for a better time otherwise
One time my mom got a cold call from someone trying to sell curtains or blinds or something, and she said "I'm sorry but we live in a cave" in an effort to get the person off the call. They STILL kept trying to sell to her. :huh: I think she ddi just hang up on them eventually.
Some gems from experiences with hanging around Kain and a couple other friends:
"City Morgue; you dice 'em, we ice 'em."
"Autobot Headquarters, Optimus Prime speaking."
Scream "BATMAN!" and hang up the phone.
Also, making up insane drivel is a good way to get telemarketers to take you off the list- the pitch person will try to run it through as a sale ("If it's not a no, it's a go"- solid answers only needed for "will you pay for this"), but even sleazy PBP's quality control wouldn't allow that sale to go through.
"Excuse me, I'm masturbating."
I don't get cold callers on my cell and since I don't have any old-skool phone I don't have the problem.
You guys should try unlisted numbers. Well worth it. I never get cold call telemarketers.
My phone number ends in 3338. I do get frequent calls for either:
1. a cab (same prefix, their number ends in 2228); or
2. domino's pizza (same prefix, 3339).
I should just take their order or promise a cab, instead of saying "sorry wrong number". The damn drunks that manage to mis-dial never apologize for disturbing me. <_<