who do I need to shout at?

[lightwood]

On the phone yesterday afternoon chatting to a friend and I hear the beep of another call coming in...it's my business phone, so I'll call him back...
its a robot asking me to answer a survey about the election. No point even speaking to the robot. So I hung up, and go to call back my mate.
...the blasted call wont stop. I hang up 5 more times, no joy, I can't stop the call.
I unplug the phone after a couple of minutes, and either it finished, or that stopped it.

Who do I shout at about this ?

Regards,
Peter

[Master Splinter]

No-one.

Political calls (just like those calls from Indians in "Mel-bun, maaat" warning you there is a virus on your computer) are not within the scope of the 'do not call' legislation.

My approach is not being on the electoral roll; hopefully that means my phone number won't be selected.

[burraboy]

Who do I shout at about this ?

I'm annoyed with all the non-addressed political mail through the mailbox, despite having a polite 'No junk mail' sticker. Tell me who and i will shout with you.

[Timless Timber]

If you wish to stop most of the junk mail - a no junk mail sticker won't work unfortunately.

If you put a sticker on your mail/letter box that says "Australia Post Mail ONLY" - THEN the junk mail deliverers are instructed NOT to deliver to that letter box.

In a previous life I delivered the free "community newspapers"...

The contract stated that you are to ignore all "no junk mail" stickers - because community newspapers are classified under Australia Posts system as "newspapers, periodicals and magazines" (and not junk mail). Then the paper owners get paid to insert junk mail (advertising brochures) into the community newspapers, so as to skirt the "no junk mail" rules.

If you put the "Australia Post ONLY" sticker on your mail box, it then becomes an offense to put anything into it not bearing an Australia Post stamp (or frank mark), into the mail box. Even community newspapers cannot go into letter boxes marked with "Australia Post ONLY" according to the delivery contract!.

Zillions of people mistakenly think "no junk mail" stickers will keep their mailbox free of all the advertising crap...the advertising brochures delivery contracts instruct them to deliver to all mail boxes not bearing an Australia Post Only sticker.

Without that sticker your a sitting duck.

[Sturdee]

When I was delivering pamphlets I was advised that all political material is exempt from being junk, similar to the do not call register exempts all calls from political parties.


So all political brochures must be delivered regardless of a persons preference for junk or no junk on their letterbox.


Peter.

[doug3030]

On the phone yesterday afternoon chatting to a friend and I hear the beep of another call coming in...it's my business phone, so I'll call him back...
its a robot asking me to answer a survey about the election. No point even speaking to the robot. So I hung up, and go to call back my mate.
...the blasted call wont stop. I hang up 5 more times, no joy, I can't stop the call.
I unplug the phone after a couple of minutes, and either it finished, or that stopped it.

Who do I shout at about this ?

Regards,
Peter

I know it wont work against the robots but I have a very effective way of handling the human unwelcome callers.

me: Hello

them: (says something that identifies them as a telemarketer or similar)

me: can I have your card number please?

them: card number? what card number?

me: visa or mastercard? there is a $25 fee for this call.

them: thank - you (hangs up)

Some stay on longer but no matter what they say i just keep telling them that I cannot talk unless they pay the fee.

I actually enjoy nuisance calls now

It gets me onto THEIR do not call register!

Cheers

Doug

[Master Splinter]

...or my solution. The slot in the letterbox is covered by a "This mailbox is not in use." sign. I love writing "(physical address only)" when putting my address on something.

It really confuses some businesses and government departments.

[jimbur]

...or my solution. The slot in the letterbox is covered by a "This mailbox is not in use." sign. I love writing "(physical address only)" when putting my address on something.

It really confuses some businesses and government departments.

Trouble is they just roll all the junk together and hurl it over the fence into the wettest patch. Looking for letter boxes is too hard.

[Enfield Guy]

When I was delivering pamphlets I was advised that all political material is exempt from being junk, similar to the do not call register exempts all calls from political parties.


So all political brochures must be delivered regardless of a persons preference for junk or no junk on their letterbox.


Peter.

I have a sign on my letter box stating "No political propaganda No junk mail"

The insolent fool who is wanting to become my local member recently decided to ignore that simple request. Unfortunately he did not see me on my balcony enjoying a cool frothy beverage.

When I asked what the #*%# he thought he was doing. He looked up quite startled and attempted escape.

I went down and had a good long yarn with him about the need to respect the simple wishes of the community. He now has a clear understanding of the meaning of the word. He will not do it again I can assure you. I thought that 40 mins learning was all he needed.

Catch the dills and give them a mouthful.

Another tactic that I am told works rather well is to collect a weeks worth of newspapers, take them down to the office of the offending individual and dump them on their office floor. Tell them at this time that seeing as it's ok to dump their crap on you, when you clearly request for that NOT to happen, you figure it's perfectly ok to dump your crap on them. Make it perfectly clear why you are doing it. They will stop.

Cheers

[doug3030]

I went down and had a good long yarn with him about the need to respect the simple wishes of the community. He now has a clear understanding of the meaning of the word. He will not do it again I can assure you. I thought that 40 mins learning was all he needed.

Another pet-hate of mine on a similar vein:

Most of Melbourne's public transport is vastly inadequate and the one exit from Hoppers Crossing railway station is no exception. This narrow path and inadequate number of machines to swipe off your ticket is grossly overcrowded in peak hours.

Yet, around election time there will always be some aspirant for election there standing in the middle of the chokepoint, making it even worse. Big grin on its stupid face, trying to engage people in conversation and handing out brochures when all the people want to do is go home and not block off their fellow commuters.

When they offer me a brochure, I decline and explain that I will be voting for the candidate who can identify a problem and fix it, not the one who is stupid enough to think that standing in the middle of it making it worse will make people want to vote for them. They are obviously not the bright candidates because even after being told they come back again and again.

Doug

[Master Splinter]

How to quiz your local political candidates:

Me: "So you want to be our local member?"

Candidate: "Yes!"

Me: "Sorry. I don't vote for people who want to be politicians - they are obviously unsuited to the job."

[Bushmiller]

On the phone yesterday afternoon chatting to a friend and I hear the beep of another call coming in...it's my business phone, so I'll call him back...
its a robot asking me to answer a survey about the election. No point even speaking to the robot. So I hung up, and go to call back my mate.
...the blasted call wont stop. I hang up 5 more times, no joy, I can't stop the call.
I unplug the phone after a couple of minutes, and either it finished, or that stopped it.

Who do I shout at about this ?

Regards,
Peter

Peter

You could try just leaving the phone off the hook and walking away. This would have the double benefit of not having to listen and possibly tying up the robot for an indefinite period.

One solution I heard was that somebody had a grandchild who was not yet able to talk, but really enjoyed using the phone. Any unwanted callers they gave the phone to him. He thought it was the most wonderful institution in the world and the caller rarely lasted more than 30 seconds apparently .

Regards
Paul

[jimbur]

An article is in the Age this morning about the robot pollsters - not unfortunately about the invasion of privacy they constitute. However, surprise is expressed at the difference between their prophecies and those of the established pollsters. I wonder if Peter is listed a a "don't know"

[Sebastiaan56]

I got rid of local hopeful by asking why they wanted to be called a "local member" ) the more religious ones don't get it which is just as funny.

[jimbur]

I got rid of local hopeful by asking why they wanted to be called a "local member" ) the more religious ones don't get it which is just as funny.

It was one of the sources of amusement for my grandfather in his later years to complain if candidates didn't call to see him - then, when they did, he would complain at their wasting his time. Ah, the simple pleasures of old age.