Stopping cold calling?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Stopping cold calling?

allstarnz

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#33149 1-May-2009 00:42

how do I stop their seller monkeys from calling me every six months trying to sell their internet to me?

I am getting very irate with having to field a call from them, when I have no interest in joining their service, partly due to exaclty the above reason.

I am yet to tell one of them in no uncertain terms where to go, but am very tempted next time

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#211101 1-May-2009 00:58

This won't stop them calling but why not "bill" them for your time.

Setup an autodialler from your home number calling the 0800 number (0197/#31# 0800 89 2000) repeatedly and time how long you can hold the line open before it goes to a real person. It'll get very expensive, very fast for them. ;-)

Better still, use a mobile, ouch!

sbiddle

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#211119 1-May-2009 06:46

Reminds me of Seinfield eposode where Jerry asks a telemarketer for his number so he can call him back because he's busy. Guy won't give it to him so Jerry asks if it's to stop annoying people ringing them trying to sell them products!

Somebody was telling me the other day there is now a do not call list being set up in NZ. Anybody know more details of this?

hellonearthisman

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#211142 1-May-2009 09:36

I had a cold call from Slingshot too. I've been take off the list twice and it's not stopped them.
Oh I am also already a Slingshot customer, so why are they calling me anyway.

The last time they called, I said I was with Telestra/Clear and she asked, do I make a lot of international calls. I replayed "All the time", which she didn't understand and hung up on me. :O

I think they use it as a testing service to see if the cold callers are good enough to make the 1st level of the helpdesk.

zocster

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#211145 1-May-2009 09:39

I am unlisted and STILL gets the odd one, I think it was Singapore and they try every combination of numbers arghgh!!

Andy Ghozali Geekzone Member	E: andy@ghozali.ru M: +64 21 395 458 A: Andy's Business Services, 231 High St, Christchurch 8011, NZ
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xpd

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#211146 1-May-2009 09:40

Yes there is a DNC list active - since adding myself to it cold calls have dropped a lot.

Info here
http://www.marketing.org.nz/cms/Interest_Groups/4783

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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gumboot

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#211147 1-May-2009 09:41

The best way I found is to say sure, just hang on a sec while I turn the stove off, then leave the phone sitting there, check after about 10 minutes and they have usually hung up. Did this twice, the first time about an hour later a supervisor rang me back and started abusing me I laughed and hung up.

Haven't been cold called in nearly two years.

RockResearch

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#211166 1-May-2009 10:57

The problem with the list is that is purely voluntary. 'Responsible' marketers may clean their call list against it but many don't.

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nate

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#211170 1-May-2009 11:10

hellonearthisman: I had a cold call from Slingshot too. I've been take off the list twice and it's not stopped them.

Oh I am also already a Slingshot customer, so why are they calling me anyway.

That's awesome, they would filter out their list before they call you would think.

them: "Join Slingshot"
you: "I'm already with Slingshot"
them: "Join again! Get another phone line installed and get more broadband!"

hellonearthisman

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#211176 1-May-2009 11:30

RockResearch: The problem with the list is that is purely voluntary. 'Responsible' marketers may clean their call list against it but many don't.

I'm on that list http://www.marketing.org.nz/cms/Interest_Groups/4783
and I still get about one or two cold calls a week.

allstarnz

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#211448 1-May-2009 22:32

gumboot: The best way I found is to say sure, just hang on a sec while I turn the stove off, then leave the phone sitting there, check after about 10 minutes and they have usually hung up. Did this twice, the first time about an hour later a supervisor rang me back and started abusing me I laughed and hung up.

Haven't been cold called in nearly two years.

classic

I should try that.

Regs

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Snowflake

#211451 1-May-2009 22:37

next time they call turn the conversation around and try sell them amway, 'adult' toys, or try and join them up to some church and that might get them to end the call quickly

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heavenlywild

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#211478 1-May-2009 23:16

gumboot: The best way I found is to say sure, just hang on a sec while I turn the stove off, then leave the phone sitting there, check after about 10 minutes and they have usually hung up. Did this twice, the first time about an hour later a supervisor rang me back and started abusing me I laughed and hung up.

Haven't been cold called in nearly two years.

Excellent idea! Hahaha.

I think in such economic times cold calling is only going to increase as companies try other ways to make a buck.

coffeebaron

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#211645 2-May-2009 12:31

I don't really have problems with cold callers these days. Maybe it's because I have too many numbers for them to know which one to call :)
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Slingshot

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#213134 7-May-2009 12:29

Apologies for this.

PM your phone numbers and I'll speak the our sales manager direct.

Thanks

ScottH

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CB_24

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#213179 7-May-2009 14:18

We had one the other night, wife took the call and could hardly even understand or worse even hear them, not a good way of promoting your phone services.

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