Fun with telemarketers...

[Kit-Ginevra]

Managed to totally screw up two of them in two days by becoming 'Kitty's Compensation'

Them:Hallo Mr.Kitty,I'm calling about a compensation claim.
Me:Super.Do you have your claim code?
Them:No,I'm calling about compensation for misselling PPI,so is this that something that would affect you?
Me:Yes,that's something we deal with.Do you have your claim reference?
Them:No,I'M calling YOU about compensation.Are you not interesting in claiming PPI?
Me:But that's what we do-all day-so we wouldn't need your help
Them:We're a specialist compensation advice team.
Me:WE'RE a specialist compensation advice team.
Them: *brain obviously hurting* Oh there's been a misunderstanding somewhere.We'll make sure you don't get called again and your number's off list.

[BookstoreEscapee]

lol

I just added my cell phone to the do not call registry. I don't know if it'll make a difference but it's worth a shot. I got three calls from the same number today, the first two within half an hour of each other. I never answer them but god they're getting annoying.

[mjr]

I don't know if it'll make a difference but it's worth a shot.

In my experience, it makes a small difference.

The calls seem to increase for a short time after I update my resume online on the different job boards.

[Jester]

There was one time about 20 years ago when I was stoned out of my mind (a rare event in itself) and we got a call on our landline (I did say it was 20 years ago!) from a bank doing a survey. So not a telemarketer trying to sell something, but still, a call I didn't need or want. So I fucked with the young lady conducting the survey, saying all kinds of weird, random bullshit. Actually had her cracking up for a good 20 minutes.

My mother has the best defense against telemarketers. The phone is in my stepfather's name, and my mother never took his last name. And she is almost always the one answering the phone. Which means the typical telemarketing call to my parents goes something like this:

"Hello, Mrs. Smith!"
*click*

Because, of course, there is no Mrs. Smith.

[Dreamstalker]

My mom had been getting calls all summer from a loan outfit letting "Mr. John Smith" know that his loan had been approved (first thing she did was check with her bank and credit report, then call Loan Outfit to verify that the caller did not work for them and report it). Then asks me if I had bought us a condo (I wish).

One day, she decided to get evil. Her cell phone exchange is the same as a major city's (with a lot of government buildings) area code, and the whole thing is a pattern that lends itself to transposition and wrong numbers.

Mom: "Hello." (in best 'serious government agent' voice)
Caller: [loan approval spiel, we already know the caller doesn't work for who he says he does]
Mom: "How did you get this number? Who is calling?"
Caller: "Is this Mr. Smith?"
Mom: "No. Who is this?"
Caller: [continues with spiel]
Mom: "This is a secure government line. I advise you to hang up immediately, this incoming call is being monitored and logged."
Caller backpedals quickly, falls over himself apologizing and assures her that the number will be taken off "their" list.
Mom: "Thank you, sir." *click*

If I had been home I could have created some 'official' sounding background noise (I was at work when this happened, she texted me with the details). This was in August, and there have been no further calls from that set of numbers. Or any other obvious telemarketing calls either, come to think of it.

[mjr]

If one were a polyglot, you could switch languages and really confuse them...I used Google Translate...don't hurt me...

Telemarketer: <spiel>
You: "¿Habla Español?"
Telemarketer: ???
You: "Parlez-vous français?"
Telemarketer: ????
You: "Anata ga nihongo o hanashimasu ka?"
Telemarketer: <more frustrated> ?????
You: "Sprichst du deutsch?"

[Erinesque]

I really confused one, by asking, in Russian, for them to speak Russian. They were extremely confused!