Cold Callers

[poliphilo]

It seems to me- from my limited experience- that cold callers are getting desperate. I had one the other week who bounced off my defences and lost his cool and started swearing at me- and one today who told me that if I didn't answer his questions he'd just call me back- which could be construed as a threat. I'd like to think they're getting rattier because more and more people are stonewalling them and the business model they represent is close to collapse. I hope that's the case- because it's a lousy model.

Comments

[sovay]

I had one the other week who bounced off my defences and lost his cool and started swearing at me

Aaagh.

and the business model they represent is close to collapse. I hope that's the case- because it's a lousy model.

My cousin had a job once as a cold caller, under instructions to convince people to pick back up magazine subscriptions they'd let lapse. Inevitably it would turn out that the subscriptions had lapsed because the people they'd been purchased for were dead. It sounded like one of the worst jobs in the world.

[cmcmck]

I loathe cold calling and cold mailing in equal measure. It's a way to guarantee I will NEVER purchase anything from a company.

The local police give advice to call the police in situations like this and that must tell one something!

[poliphilo]

I try to handle cold callers politely. I'm aware that it must be a miserable way of making a living.

[poliphilo]

Calling the police seems a bit extreme. I guess that would be appropriate if the caller actually had a foot in the door but if they're on the other end of a phone line it's a fairly minor nuisance.

[cmcmck]

In my case, if they're on the end of a phone they're breaking the law- ex-d number and a TPS signatory.

[qatsi]

We're registered with TPS but I suspect that only stops the more reputable operators. We often get automated spam calls. As you say it must be an awful job, but there are some jobs whose passing we probably shouldn't mourn.

Likewise with chuggers. Some days I have to pass through three lines of them on my way to work. No doubt they are all good causes, but my patience wore out with the relentlessness of it some time ago. Charity - especially large, organised charity - can be just as ruthless as for-profit business.