General Chat

Yes thanks, the paramedics had to cut his clothes off and his cycling helmet was ruined - hate to think what would have happened had he not been wearing one, he had a brain scan which was ok. Liz

I had a call from somebody with a very strong South African accent which I couldn't understand. Just as I put the phone down on them I realized that I had heard that voice before.

It was the lovely black nurse who had looked after Fred at the cataract clinic the day before.

After I had called the clinic and grovelled quite a lot she explained that I was by no means the first to have put the phone down on her.

OH has mentioned that the Eastern Europeans have got into the 'Problem with your computer' game now.

He answered one call yesterday and one today.

:-D I had one of those once. Usually, I just lie and say I haven't got one,
Unfotunately for them, I was bored.

I asked them to hang on, (taking the phone with me), made a lot of noise opening the back door, it was lashing it down with rain (which I told him) pretended to go out into the garden, and said 'I'm at my computer now'. Can you tell me what's wrong with it? I was asked to turn it on. Ah, I said - hold on. Faffed around a bit, said I had the extension, 'But wasn't it a bit dangerous turning it on in the rain?'
He asked me where my computer was.
'Outside in the garden' I said, 'It's stopped working - you've phoned about the fault in my computer - shall I take it indoors?

....He put the phone down.....

Brian I don't think for one moment that you are racist, like most people you are now only to aware of bogus/hoax callers. We are getting so many around always around lunch time and early evening, they have become a real pest. There is no way that I would ever have hung-up in anyone prior to these call, even though I know the poor soul on ther other end is just doing a job I have started to hang up now.

There are little gadgets which can be bought for a few pounds which plug into the phone socket. You then plug yr phone base station or phone into the gadget.

These gadgets (depending on the one you choose) will (a) allow you to filter calls e.g. by creating a list of banned numbers OR ban everything except approved numbers. If you opt for the latter then "number withheld" will not get through which can be a nuisance. There are more advanced versions which allow you ban stuff based on the area code eg 0843.

I have a friend in the mid west whose phone sentry plays a wall of high volume white noise to unwanted callers. The USA does not have elf n safety, just 10 000 million maniacs I mean lawyers who do the job.

The second feature is that they can record incoming calls. If you use this feature then you need to say something like "this call may be recorded for training and quality purposes" (lol). Do NOT say "Lies and hald truths can and will be used against (the caller)."

I am not quite sure which if any laws are broken by using this stuff but it is very ez to source in the UK. It sure removes one of the major hassles of modern life. Do NOT source from outside the UK as stuff may not comply with UK power requirements on the line3 voltage.

It may amuse some of you to know that lists of people who have signed up to "no unsol. calls" are circulating in the usual places for fairly high prices. Why would people pay to access a list of blocked number ? (1) the regulations do not apply outside of the EU and (2) the number is "qualified" i.e. is working with a person on the other end. SO by asking to be taken out of unsol. calls you just become a target.

As with many things best option is do it yerself...

I can't remember the last time Ihad an unsolicited call. I'm starting to feel neglected. Why me?

Vera

send me your number - I'll make sure you get one :-D can't have you left out now can we

The last time I picked up on a 'scam' call, I kept telling him that I was intending to record the call, and did I have his permission.

Unfortunately for him, my responses didn't fit in with his script (or else he didn't understand) , and he was the one who hung up. Result!

My wife once opened the door to a young man holding a brand new bible in is hand offering to read her a passage from it.

She told him it was a nice new one he had but when it was as well used as hers he would be welcome to come back and read from it.

nice one!!!

Ann If you speak with a Welsh accent which is sometimes mistaken for Geordie which in turn can sound Indian, I might do a Brian and put the phone down on you by mistake but at least I would not feel quite so neglected.

Vera.

I just want to make you feel wanted :-D :-D

I am not racist in any way, but I have noticed this trick with a number of companies, especially insurance.
Quote lines ect are usually UK based, but I always ask if their Customer Service number is outsourced .
More often than not, their CS dept is outsourced to an Indian Call Centre.
Have you ever had to make a claim to one of them? It's a nightmare.

My neice died just over a year ago.
Each time her husband called to cancel her car insurance, he was answered by an overseas CS.
He rang them at least 5 times
He tried very hard to explain that the policy holder had died, but he was met with the same "scripted" response every time
"Only the insured person can cancel a policy... she needs to call or write to us herself"

Eventually, he rang the UK based quote line and insisted that they sort it out... which they did.

AnnC,
Just seen something very similar on FB.
Only this time the half naked person opened the door and said to the JW
" Oh! Are you here for the orgy"

oo that's nice - we'll have to let Paula's husband know :-D :-D

I hate cold callers even when I get a call from the bank from someone that actually works in the branch we use, if I wanted a loan or to change anything with our accounts I will call them.

But I hate rudeness even more, we have 2 ladies from the JW call at our house every month or so and have done so for the past 16 yrs, the first time they called I told them very politely that I wasnt interested, but I was polite and chatted to them I asked about their religion and they answered and gave me a booklet ( which I read) they also left 2 other booktower and I cant remember the name of the other one, 1 of the ladies was heavily pregnant and she had a toddler in a push chair. I dont often see them now as they mostly call when I am at work but they still leave their booklets. If I do see them I always ask after her chidren and she asks after my family I have never shown any interest in converting to be a JW. But still they call and harm no one. I have cringed with shame when I have heard some of my respectful and level headed neighbours be abuseful and thought it very funny to these lovely ladiesand ask myself why? Just say no thank you.

you had nice JW callers - not all of us had such callers - the last ones who called on me arrived at 9:00 am - when I commented that I thought it was rather early to be calling on people, specially people who are retired and "over the hill", they said "Well, it is the anniversary of the resurrectiom of our Lord" to which I said "I'm well aware of that thank you, I do attend church" I then got "Well we're pleased to hear that" Now that is what I call patronising

I don't have the cold call problem anymore - have 2 landlines and both are listed with the TPS - http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html.
There is another for global numbers.
Over 10 years now and it is still active

Recently did the same for my friend who is not so computer savvie - same result and he is now a happy bunny

Give it a try.....

So how do you register to block overseas numbers? Link please?

pretend to be hard of hearing and hard of understanding, ask then to repeat everything twice,
''sorry say 'gain''................... Spell it please''

Uh Huh...... hang on, what did you say?

Ok got tThat

what did you say ?


They will get bored before you