Sales calls

[Smudger105e]

My wife and I are Virgin Media customers, we use them for phone, TV, broadband and a mobile. My wife is the named account holder, and from time to time we get calls from VM that go along these lines..

VM : may I speak with Mrs Smith**
Me : certainly
VM : Good afternoon Mrs Smith, before we can proceed with this call we have to run through some security questions.
Mrs : OK, fire away.
VM : What are the first and fourth letters of your Virgin media password?
Mrs : I don't know
VM : Oh, why not?
Mrs : I did not know I had a password.
VM : Well unfortunately we are unable to continue with this call.
Mrs : You rang me!!
VM : Sorry, Goodbye.

No matter how often we tell them, we continually get these calls, which are presumably sales calls. Has anyone else had this problem? How do they tackle it? Should we try asking them their mothers maiden name to check they are who they say they are?

** Not necessarily my wife's name.

 

[SS4]

A caller on the phone could be anyone from a legitimate caller to a phishing scam - point is I have no idea which.
A good one is to ask them is to use details on the letter - the company's VAT registration number, their registered address, their inbound phone number, the date you started the contract/last letter sent out.

For sales calls Data Protection questions wouldn't be necessary unless it was to upgrade her account. You can give out non-identifying information and maybe information available to the public. It annoys me when people hide behind what is a good piece of legislation because they can't be bothered with good service.

 

[Greenback]

It annoys me that I receive unsolicited phone calls where I am asked to verify who I am. As soon as they ask me to confirm my addres or anything the call is at an end!

 

[John Webb]

I'm a Virgin Media customer as you are and I've never had such a phone-call from VM, let alone one asking for details of bits of my password. Sounds rather suspicious to me! Have you caller indentification enabled on your phone or have you tried 1471 to get the calling number? You may find it wasn't VM calling after all!

 

[Tomonthetrain]

I'm a Virgin Media customer as you are and I've never had such a phone-call from VM, let alone one asking for details of bits of my password. Sounds rather suspicious to me! Have you caller indentification enabled on your phone or have you tried 1471 to get the calling number? You may find it wasn't VM calling after all!

I treat sales callers like I treat politicians. With a huge resounding

 

[bb21]

I'm a Virgin Media customer as you are and I've never had such a phone-call from VM, let alone one asking for details of bits of my password. Sounds rather suspicious to me! Have you caller indentification enabled on your phone or have you tried 1471 to get the calling number? You may find it wasn't VM calling after all!

Exactly. I would urge extreme caution. Why would VM ring the account holder and then ask for security details? They rang her after all and not the other way round. Also how is the OP supposed to know they are who they claim to be?

More than just a little suspicious.

 

[swj99]

I'd write to them or email and tell them you don't want any sales calls at all.

Also, if they ring you, (assuming it really is them), there's no realistic way they can prove they are who they say they are.

When I've had calls like that in the past, I've refused to answer any security questions, and said, "If it's important, write to me !" They sometimes say, "We can't !". Either way, end the call, it's your time they're wasting, and you're entitled to tell them not to call again.

I even had my mobile phone company sending me sales texts, until I instructed them to stop it.

 

[12CSVT]

To stop unsolicited calls such as these you can call the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 07 007 07 (automated service)

Other useful numbers
BT malicious calls advice line 0800 666 700.
Nuisance call advice line 0800 661 441 (24 hour).
To block calls from a specific number 0800 800 150 (Mon-Fri 08:00 - 21:00, Sat 08:00 - 20:00, Sun 09:00 - 18:00)

 

[starrymarkb]

I'd ask them for a reference number and call them back on the main Virgin number. If it's a genuine call they will be happy to oblige - if it's phishing then they obviously won't be.

I keep getting calls asking for a Mr D - but rather then apologise when I say I think you have the wrong number they just put the phone down (and call again the next day)

 

[richw]

Dpa is only required if they're calling about your existing account and data they hold about you. Your account number is classed as unique personal data so they wouldn't be able to disclose that prior to completing dpa.
Regarding 1471 many companies dial outgoing calls from geographic numbers (01/02 prefixes) yet only have their 0800/0845/0844 numbers in public availability.
If your worried advise them you will call back to their advertised numbers. A password is not acceptable as a dpa question unless it is confirmed in writing between customer and the company (virgin in this case).

 

[Greenback]

When I've had calls like that in the past, I've refused to answer any security questions, and said, "If it's important, write to me !" They sometimes say, "We can't !". Either way, end the call, it's your time they're wasting, and you're entitled to tell them not to call again.

That's pretty much the conversation I have had on a few occasions. They don't seem to grasp that I don't care if they can't speak to me, or write to me, because I didn't ask for them to call in the first place!

I had a job where I had tor ing people up and make an outpatients appointment for them at local hospitals. I never asked for any personal information, but some still refused to deal with me probably because they thought it was a sales call) and wanted me to write to them. I thought this was quite understandable and was happy to do so.

 

[90019]

I treat sales callers like I treat politicians. With a huge resounding

You make them take part in a televised freakshow talent show? :?

 

[maniacmartin]

Feed them false data and see what they say. If they aren't really VM, they will be unaware

 

[Tomonthetrain]

You make them take part in a televised freakshow talent show? :?

Yeah

 

[SS4]

Feed them false data and see what they say. If they aren't really VM, they will be unaware

If you're not careful you'll end up making Mr Flibble very cross

 

[LE Greys]

I tend to use one of ten strategies for dealling with what are definitely sales calls.

1. Put the phone down immediately (only if I'm annoyed, and it risks breaking things)
2. Ask them never to call again and then put the phone down
3. Tell them they're wasting their time
4. Leave the phone off the hook, then go away and make a cup of tea (it's not my money I'm wasting)
5. Answer every question with 'Mind your own business' or some other such useless answer
6. Pretend that I'm somebody else
7. Pretend (?) that I'm mad
8. Make it look as though I have no use for their product (for instance, someone called my to try to sell me wine, so I said I was a Methodist and started lecturing him on how much land is used to produce alcohol and how many hungry mouths that land could feed)
9. Start talking away about various (fictional) aspects of my life
10. Give them a lecture on the entire history of the ECML from George Hudson onwards - or whatever other random topic I can bore them to death with

The goal of all of this is to make my 'opponent' hang up first. Unfortunately, I can't do what my great uncle used to do, start speaking to them in Urdu to see what happens.

 

[33011]

I was listerning to my local radio station the other day and there was a man who kept recieving calls from a company sales person and got fed up with it. So he decided that he would talk to them making a note of the time the call was recieved and ended then he started invoicing them with a bill for his time. They refused to pay it so he took them to a small claims court and won.

 

[9K43]

First thing, my telephone number belongs to me, I pay for it so I have a policy of giving my number only to people who I want to give it to.
I am ex directory.
If I have a form to fill in no communication data is given, eg email/mobile number/home phone.
That means only trusted people ring me so my phone never rings.
If people want to communicate with me, they can do it by writing to me, end of.
If some one called me and asked me form my name, the phone goes down.
Also if someone knocks on my door, I run upstairs and do not answer it.
Thats my data protection act, and it works.

 

[richw]

First thing, my telephone number belongs to me,

No it doesnt. You rent the number from the telephone line provider. Hence why you pay line rental.

Also you will find that for certain items you are contractually required to keep a company with up to date contact numbers, mortgages instantly spring to mind, have within the agreement that you would be in breach of the mortgage by failing to provide a contact number to the mortgage company. They would not share this information with any other companys without written permission however.

 

[Clip]

I wish I would get a sales call. Been on me own this week as the missus is away and ive got a little lonely not being able to talk to someone of an evening that isnt ensconsed on the seat next to me in the pub.

 

[90019]

First thing, my telephone number belongs to me, I pay for it so I have a policy of giving my number only to people who I want to give it to.
I am ex directory.
If I have a form to fill in no communication data is given, eg email/mobile number/home phone.
That means only trusted people ring me so my phone never rings.
If people want to communicate with me, they can do it by writing to me, end of.
If some one called me and asked me form my name, the phone goes down.
Also if someone knocks on my door, I run upstairs and do not answer it.
Thats my data protection act, and it works.

Paranoid much?

 

[Phil6219]

If I am honest I am too polite when I end up with an unwanted call, I politely find a way to end the call however sometimes my patience gets rather tested and I find the following rather amusing.

1 - When answering survey questions come up with useless answers such as

Caller: What make of dishwasher do you have?
Me: The wife, she washes the dishes
Caller: What make of vacuum cleaner do you have?
Me: I don't have one, we don't have carpets
Caller: Ok well who is your electricity supplier?
Me: I don't have one, I have my own diesel generator
Caller: Would you like to know about...
Me: Before I answer could I just tell you about a religious experience I had last weekend whilst out snipe hunting on my own? (Then proceed to talk for 5 minutes about nothing then say "Thank you" and hang up).

2 - Tell the caller a complete history of the Class 47 Diesel Locomotive
3 - Pretend to be insane
4 - Pretend to be senile and deaf
5 - Deny everything
6 - Read off my entire collection of train numbers complete with names, liveries and locations

One for actual cold calling visitors is to invite them in to see my collection of oddly shaped teapots, should one oneday accept then I would refuse to allow them in unless they know Bernard the master potter...

One way which I did used to do was to pretend something was very wrong, I stopped this after hearing about the guy pretending to have a heart attack whom the caller then (rightly) called the emergency services and sent them to his address...

As for passwords, Orange used to do my head in. They would ask for my password (when I've called them to pay my bill as sometimes it wouldn't go automatically) I would tell them I don't know it so they would accept my date of birth. Wow high security there :/ Also had issues with having someone pay on my behalf, seriously I'd be thrilled if someone would pay my phone bill on my behalf... Or drinks tab but I doubt there would be enough money in the world

Phil

 

[LE Greys]

If I am honest I am too polite when I end up with an unwanted call, I politely find a way to end the call however sometimes my patience gets rather tested and I find the following rather amusing.

1 - When answering survey questions come up with useless answers such as

Caller: What make of dishwasher do you have?
Me: The wife, she washes the dishes
Caller: What make of vacuum cleaner do you have?
Me: I don't have one, we don't have carpets
Caller: Ok well who is your electricity supplier?
Me: I don't have one, I have my own diesel generator
Caller: Would you like to know about...
Me: Before I answer could I just tell you about a religious experience I had last weekend whilst out snipe hunting on my own? (Then proceed to talk for 5 minutes about nothing then say "Thank you" and hang up).

2 - Tell the caller a complete history of the Class 47 Diesel Locomotive
3 - Pretend to be insane
4 - Pretend to be senile and deaf
5 - Deny everything
6 - Read off my entire collection of train numbers complete with names, liveries and locations

One for actual cold calling visitors is to invite them in to see my collection of oddly shaped teapots, should one oneday accept then I would refuse to allow them in unless they know Bernard the master potter...

One way which I did used to do was to pretend something was very wrong, I stopped this after hearing about the guy pretending to have a heart attack whom the caller then (rightly) called the emergency services and sent them to his address...

As for passwords, Orange used to do my head in. They would ask for my password (when I've called them to pay my bill as sometimes it wouldn't go automatically) I would tell them I don't know it so they would accept my date of birth. Wow high security there :/ Also had issues with having someone pay on my behalf, seriously I'd be thrilled if someone would pay my phone bill on my behalf... Or drinks tab but I doubt there would be enough money in the world

Phil

I like your style.

 

[district]

The last time I got an unsolicited sales call I recalled all the stations between Ashford and Brighton. They had hung up by the time I got to Doleham.

 

[BlythPower]

First thing, my telephone number belongs to me, I pay for it so I have a policy of giving my number only to people who I want to give it to.
I am ex directory.
If I have a form to fill in no communication data is given, eg email/mobile number/home phone.
That means only trusted people ring me so my phone never rings.
If people want to communicate with me, they can do it by writing to me, end of.
If some one called me and asked me form my name, the phone goes down.
Also if someone knocks on my door, I run upstairs and do not answer it.
Thats my data protection act, and it works.

That autodialler in Mumbai will get round to your number eventually... We are all Maria Christopher...

 

[90019]

No matter how often we tell them, we continually get these calls, which are presumably sales calls. Has anyone else had this problem? How do they tackle it? Should we try asking them their mothers maiden name to check they are who they say they are?

Please hold.

 

[SS4]

First thing, my telephone number belongs to me, I pay for it so I have a policy of giving my number only to people who I want to give it to.
I am ex directory.
If I have a form to fill in no communication data is given, eg email/mobile number/home phone.
That means only trusted people ring me so my phone never rings.
If people want to communicate with me, they can do it by writing to me, end of.
If some one called me and asked me form my name, the phone goes down.
Also if someone knocks on my door, I run upstairs and do not answer it.
Thats my data protection act, and it works.

Out of interest do you also spoof your IP and MAC address and access the internet via a VPN?

Sadly I'm not one of those people who manage to come up with such witty comments on the fly. I'm boring and say no thank you

 

[LexyBoy]

This usually does the trick

Generally my calls go along the lines of:
Caller: Hello, could I speak to Mr. LexyBoy?
Me: No

Usually just hang up but sometimes it's amusing to hear their responses. Another good one is to answer "yes" to every question... usually takes a long time for them to realise.

Most of my calls are from "Microsoft customer support" or BT. If the former it can be quite fun to troll them a bit since they're obvious scammers and can get quite agressive when they realise you've been having them on (they promised my wife once that "we have all your details including bank details so don't be surprised if your account is emptied tomorrow" before hanging up on her!).

Another favourite of mine is
Caller: Hello, could I speak to Mr. LexyBoy?
Me: HOW ARE YOU EVEN CALLING ME I'M TALKING TO A BANANA!!?!

 

[Geezertronic]

VM are always ringing me saying they can improve on my mobile phone contract and still persist when I tell them I have an iPhone 5 and do work on behalf of the Orange brand of EE... unless I am expecting a call off a company I won't give out any info

 

[daniel78]

They invariably ask "how are you?", as a way of establishing rapport I suppose. This is a good opportunity to tell them how depressed you've been since the wife left two weeks ago, taking the kids and dog, and how you've been sitting sobbing in the dark ever since, and how wonderful it is that you finally have someone who cares to talk to about it.


This guy is the master at this sort of thing, very funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OgWcwgB50