New telemarketing phone scam (with Australian accent!)

[Sturdee]

I don't object to legitimate callers, but I would much prefer to call THEM.

All these kind of calls could be either scams or legit. What I do is to tell them immediately that if they are not scammers trying to fleece me but instead legit to put their proposition in writing and mail it to me and if I wish I may get back to them in writing in due course.

Seems to work for they never write to me.


Peter.

[dabbler]

Dabbler,

I get that. My point is that these institutions do indeed ask for personal details (read the post from Cliff immediately preceeding mine) ... and quite routinely ... primarily due to privacy legislation.

Would I prefer they discussed my information with someone else ? Of course not. Besides .. its illegal.

However, when the calls arrive from blocked numbers, I don't think its unreasonable to be cautious. They identify me, but I have no way of identifying them.

I don't object to legitimate callers, but I would much prefer to call THEM.

Apologies Glenn. I meant to quote both posts (and should have checked I had). I wasn’t suggesting you didn’t understand the need for basic ID.

Just to add to your last point re: you initiating the call. In our case, we recieve an increasing number of calls verifying transactions, usually small international internet transactions. Checking for card fraud.

Calls from CBA (debit Mastercard) are real people from known numbers.
Calls about our credit Visa are automated and have no caller ID.

[Skew's_Girl]

Skew and I get a lot of calls about 'Our Telstra Number" [insert strong Indian accent here] We don't HAVE a telstra number.
I'm polite most of the time. Only once, after a long descent into fury with an aggressive insulting Indian, when he asked me to "put my husband on the line" because 'he could talk some sense into him' did I lose my mind. I went shamefully bat- screaming postal.
You can ask Skew. It was scary.

Usually I'm "Thank you for your call, however we do not have a Telstra line. I am not interested in changing anything about my plan and request that you place us on your Do Not Call register. I hope you have a good day." and hangup.

Recently, when they called back the next day I make a point of saying:
"I requested yesterday to be placed on your Do Not Call register. Since my request is not being respected, I need your Name, agent ID, Business name, location and contact number to file a complaint with the Ombudsman." "Oh, i'm so very sorry, i will put a note on your file. so sorry" "Very well then, please do so, and do not call here again."

We'll see if that worked.

[smidsy]

What I find funny is when Telstra themselves call, my standard reply to them is that I would not use Telstra if they held a gun to my head.
Now that's a pretty definitive statement, it's not a maybe or an I'll think about it, yet they still want to argue - yes they're salesman, but doesn't sales training include knowing when to give up and move to the next call.
Cheers

PS: I've been with iinet 14 years and I worked for Telstra for 6 months and saw how badly they treat their staff so I am very anti Telstra...

[JDarvall]

I don't really care about the accent whatsoever. Could be a nice international student living in Australia for all I know.

So in an attempt to deal with the annoying time wasting (a dash from the shed, boots off without letting dogs in etc) I usually start with something like…..

' hi, you sound like a really nice person. I understand your just doing your job, and I respect that your trying to make a living, but I'm not interested. have a nice day, goodbye' . (Have to try and remember to try and say it really quickly else they'll cut in between sentences)

anyway, if they push after that, then its clear there to blame and hang up….nicely…. and put something different into my head as soon as possible.

Or you could maybe start talking dirty to them. But maybe that could backfire. They might actually like it. (insert some kind of smiley here)

just an opinion. I'm not an expert on telemarketing avoidance techniques. 2 cents worth.

[crowie]

Here's another similar thread...love Skew's Girls response but was on the floor laughing at the one "Dalboy" put up on the thread....

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...58#post1802658