Hi again folks
This topic is meant to complement my other concurrent topic: “How to block Nuisance Phone Calls” where I give details re how to add your name to the “Do Not Call Register” by going to http://www.adma.com.au
I have taken the above steps outlined more fully in the above topic. When I went to the site and added my name to the “Do Not Call Register”, the site told me it will take around 6 weeks before I notice any significant decrease in the after-hours calls I’m used to getting. Time will tell, and I’ll keep you posted.
This site also tells me that taking the above step ONLY binds the 500 members of their Association. BUT what I want to know is how do I block calls originating from OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA?
I tried logging onto the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman @
http://www.tio.com.au
While this is an interesting site, it goes nowhere near telling me how to take preventative action.I feel the need to ask fellow forumites to UNITE, put our collective street-smartz together, and see if we can come up with a COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION/SET OF ACTIONS /BATTERY OF STEPS TO TAKE in order to bring peace and sanity back into our private lives.
Please, please, please feed back any tips /sites /actions you know about. I’m doing my bit to fight the good fight, but I need support and other ideas, resources, skills, contacts.
Looking forward to your abundant replies.[biggrin][buz2][buz2][buz2][cigar][cigar]
Greg
Hi Greg,
Good luck with it…
Sorry I can’t offer you any real advice though…We get lots of these Indian telemarketing calls, and they really “p###” you off!
Del
Just get an unlisted number. Had very few since we did that. Unless you are on some database which is being distributed (illegally under the Privacy legislation), they usually won’t get you
markk
Happy Hunting
http://www.kentscollections.comI had my phone number unlisted 6 months ago, yet alas, I still get these phone calls, more often than ever.
If you find a solution, post it here…..Good luck
You can always change your number and have it unlisted at that time (that way it should not make it to a mailing list)
OR get caller ID and bar the bad numbers or just don’t answer the “Private” numbers
markk
Happy Hunting
http://www.kentscollections.comOriginally posted by wilandel:
Hi Greg, Good luck with it… Sorry I can’t offer you any real advice though… We get lots of these Indian telemarketing calls, and they really “p###” you off! DelThanks Del and everyone
I’m determined to block this stuff, but I need everyone’s help and support. I’m gearing up to:
1. Go to my local State and federal Member of Parliament and ask them to ask questions in Parliament.
2. Ask Channel 7’s Kochie & Mel to “put it on the ROSWALL”. In particular, I want them to put the Labor and Liberal spokesmen ‘on the spot’ about the issue, demanding decent, fully accountable replies.It’s unconscionable that the http://www.adma.com.au “Do Not Call” Register is a self-regulating process, not a LEGISLATED REQUIREMENT. Our politicians are in it up to their armpits. They support it, and we need to make sure they suffer enough to take the necessary steps. HOW DARE THEY!!
We need the Ombudsman on board, but because they’re a “party of last resort” we need to demonstrate that we’ve first tried to resolve the issue with our Phone companies. I’m ringing mine, and putting it in writing so I can demonstrate to the Ombudsman that I’ve taken all the required steps before contacting them.
Can I ask you guys to ring your phone company, demand a response in writing, and post their replies here? I’m sure they’ll just refer us to the adma, and try to hide behind them, but we need all such responses in writing first. How many unscrupulous, unregistered marketers are there, and HOW DO WE CONTROL THE SALE OF OUR PRIVATE INFORMATION TO OVERSEAS TELEMARKETERS?
Should we run a Petition on this site? Any other ideas?
Cheers
GregIt will be tough to legislate against calls originating in another country – particularly if they use predictive diallers from a database and haven’t purchased contact lists. They may just have programmed in all phone numbers from e.g. 02 8000-0000 to 02 9999-9999, and they record which are valid and dump those that are not.
This can be done with any half decent CRM system – the person calling you follows a script on the screen and enters your response so a profile starts to build.
Most companies in Australia give you the choice to opt-in or opt-out of marketing but you have to read the fine print to find out which is the default.
Does this sound familiar? This happened just this evening…
Indian voice:
“Hello, am I speaking to the account holder for this phone? Yes? Your number had been picked and you’ve won a new mobile phone + accessories pack and a CD player.”Me:
cool“Now just give us all your personal details, work numbers, income levels, leg length, number of fingers, hair colour, etc”
huh? why?
“So we can complete your application for the mobile phone plan.”
application? what application? i made no application.
“You have to make an application to get the phone and CD player”
yeah right! thanks but i have 2 mobile phones and more cd players than i can listen to at once.
anyway, this went on for another 5 minutes before i impolitely said no thanks.
I’m no longer nice to people like this anymore, they ring up and try to sell you things you don’t want while you’re trying to figure out what they’re saying. I say stop wasting my time.
K&R
You can dream, so dream out loud. – Bono (Acrobat)
Originally posted by ANUBIS:It will be tough to legislate against calls originating in another country – particularly if they use predictive diallers from a database…. They may have programmed in all phone numbers from e.g. 02 8000-0000 to 02 9999-9999, record which are valid and dump those that are not. This can be done with any half decent CRM system -the person calling you follows a script on the screen and enters your response so a profile starts to build.
Hi and thanks again to everyone
Anubis, I’m impressed with your specific, detailed knowledge. Are you in the direct marketing industry, or have you just picked up your knowledge re predictive diallers /CRM systems etc around the traps?
Do you know any other websites apart from the http://www.adma.com.au one with its “Do Not Call Register”?
Cheers
GregHi Greg,
Have worked in marketing and CRM over the years so you pick up the odd trick along the way
Membership of ADMA isn’t compulsory so it will only block actual members. From memory though the US is looking at introducing a law that makes everyone an automatic opt out and permission needs to be obtained specifically to contact with marketing – now that would be nice.
It’s hard to beat these clowns – my parents get calls constantly. I have a silent number and have never had one. It’s a pain but it might be worth changing your number and making it silent (about $3 per month).
Originally posted by ANUBIS:…. I have a silent number and have never had one. It’s a pain but it might be worth changing your number and making it silent (about $3 per month).
Hi Anubis
And thanks for your expertise. Re changing my numbers and making them silent:
1. We have 2 landlines, 2 mobiles, stacks of letterheads and business cards already printed and extensively distributed.
2. Scrapping all these phone numbers and learning new numbers by heart is an issue with us.I also feel changing these numbers and making them silent is like admitting defeat. The “Keyboard Warrior” in me wants to give Telstra /Australia Post /Ombudsman etc etc a decent shakeup before I accept defeat.
I hope you’re happy to keep lending your expertise and street smartz if we need to call on you.
Cheers
GregIn the UK I believe it is possible to bar all calls where the number is witheld. The person making the call is re-directed to a message telling them that they need to unblock their number. That would be very good. Why can’t we block calls from specific numbers / places.
When asking to put the topic on the Roswell. Ask them to find out why Kochie has such a huge chip on his shoulder about New Zealand. It borders on racism
Hi Folks
A quick progress report. It’s now 6 days since Niki & I put our names on the “Do Not Call Register” at:
And guess what? We haven’t received a single unwanted phone call, fax or sms in that time!!! Yahoo!! Is it just coincidence, or did our actions get a quicker response than the 6 weeks it says it takes on the Australian Direct Marketing Association site?
Pity help the next poor sucker who slips through my net and phones me! I’m waiting like one of JRR Tolkein’s monster spiders to pounce! [angry2][angry2][angry2][angry2][angry2][biggrin]
Cheers
GregWell I have the best strategy and fix of all.
1. Can you give me your number so I can call you back??
2. Whatever question they ask say one word – he he.
3. Say you work for the tax office and ask for the company abn, keep repeating.
Be a pain in the ….. soon you will be off the list, give me your number so I can try it … just kidding !!!!!!!!
PhilOriginally posted by resiwealth:
I have the best strategy of all.
1. Can you give me your number so I can call you back??
2. Whatever question they ask say one word – he he.
3. Say you work for the tax office and ask for the company abn, keep repeating.
Be a pain in the ….. soon you will be off the list, give me your number so I can try it … just kidding !!!!!!!! PhilHi Resiwealth
Your strategy works BRILLIANTLY!! I just got off the phone with an extremely persistent Indian lady who rang twice, only to have me tell her “Goodbye” and hang up on her as soon as she opened her mouth. When she rang for the THIRD TIME inside 5 minutes, I was so desperate, I tried your strategy! (how’s that for a “backhanded compliment! [biggrin]
Guess what happened? She was GOBSMACKED! I’ve now printed out your post and blutacked your one-liners above my phone so I’m ready to ambush the next blighter who harasses me. I almost felt sorry for her….. NOT!! [biggrin][biggrin][comp][comp][comp][comp][comp][comp][comp][comp]
I’m working on my anger. Turning it into a GAME like you suggest sure makes it more FUN!! [biggrin] After all, it’s their money, and using verbal legerdemain sure beats the hell outta frustration! [cap][biggrin]
Thanks again for the brilliant one-liners. Anyone got any others?
Greg
Tell them your on another call and if they give you their home no you will give them a call later very politely. They usually say they can’t give their home no. Then i say well now you know how the #$@%
i feel.And hang up.
Robobrilliant resi.
Thats the way greg……….making others angry is much more fun.
Other good phone conversations are:
“…..oh my god, my appendix has burst…can you call the ambulance ……..aaaaargh….”
” singing na na na na na na na na nan ana nan ann ….BATMAN! ” repeatedly.
Parrot and mimic every question they ask you but in a BEE-GEEs voice.
Answer a question with a question like:
Ask them the times tables starting at, what is 1 x 1?
Ask them rhetorical zen questions like “if a tree falls in the wood and no-one is around, what sound does it make?
Or the Austin Powers classic, just cut off all their questions with uh. zip-it. nada. eh. zoop.
Tell them that their mum would be better qualified to answer that and would they like to speak with her as you’re in bed with her at the moment. (heavy panting works well)
Ask them to hold and then start humming Kylie Minogues “Locomotion” or any other song that gets stuck in peoples heads for days.
Fake an vocal orgasm with “oh baby,,,,OH Baby,,,,OH BABY……” in response to all questions.
Answer all questions with “I don’t know” or “Why?”
Tell them you are happy to help if they would just answer a short survey you have for them!
Animal Noises work well.
Screaming MAY DAY …..MAY DAY…. as soon as you realise its marketing.
Recite the Lords Prayer with hysterical yelps and screams of terror.
Say very slowly …..” I know who you are and I’m going to hunt you down”……….end with an evil laugh.
Explain you would much rather discuss entymology and ask if they too are amazed at the migratory flights of the eastern equadorial butter moth?
Blast an air horn into the phone speaker.
Excuse yourself and then gargle a glass of water for as long as they will hold the line.
Start ordering as if you are at a MacDonalds drive through. Change your order from a large to medium and then back to a large thick shake. If you are really adventurous you could make fake static noises.
Live, Learn and GrowLifexperience
And one more:
Pretend you have a hearing problem and keep asking the caller to repeat themselves. eg “Sorry dear, you’ll have to speak up a bit, I can’t hear you” Once you’ve said it about 10 times they get a bit frustrated and give up.~jo~
Hi All,
Anytime I get one of these unsolicited marketing calls, even if it’s the Red Cross asking for donations, about 10-seconds into the call you just know, so I just talk right over them and say “I never do any business or make purchases over the phone. Thank you.” Then I just hang up.
I’ve never had anyone call back.
Now if you really want to get onto BLOODY ANNOYING let’s talk about e-mail spam.
I have had the same e-mail address with Ozemail for nearly 8-years and associated with that master e-mail address I have several sub-addresses which are used for our property business and individual persons in the household which are variously used on personal and business dealings, letterheads etc.
Due to my gross computer and Internet illiteracy 8-years ago I stupidly downloaded everything that caught my eye and as a consequence my master e-mail address got onto databases which means that today I get approx 100 spams per day.
I eventually got fed up so I called Ozemail tech support to see what could be done about it.
What I suggested was that we could delete the master e-mail address (which is the only corrupted one) and change it for a new one.
Ozemail Tech tells me that if we delete the master e-mail address we have to also loose the sub-addresses as that’s how their computers are set up. Cannot move sub-addresses to new master address.
After much disbelief that in this day and age of technology they could not just tell the computer to do what I was asking and even threatening to close my accounts and move to another ISP here I am stuck between a rock and a hard place coz I want to keep those sub addresses but I don’t want the spam.
Tech then suggested that I use the free Ozemail option of them filtering my mail for me and making the decision about what I actually get sent through each day.
When I said that I deal with a lot of new people from all over the world with my business and did not really feel comfortable allowing a computer to make those decisions for me, I was told that Ozemail keeps all filtered spam for 4-weeks and that once per month I could log in and go through them to see if there was anything I wanted to keep before they were deleted forever.
I asked him to do the math of 30-days x 100 spams per day and then figure out how long it would take me to sift through 3,000 e-mails once a month.
He shrugged (if you can do that over the phone) and said, “well those are your choices I can’t help you any further”.
Incidentally I am still with Ozemail, so I can keep my sub addresses, but I now filter all incoming mail through a program called Mail Washer. There’s a free version online, but the paid for version is much better because as you start using it and marking things for deletion and bouncing it begins to learn what’s good and what’s junk.
Phew, that’s a long 2 cents.
Cheers, Nobleone.
[biggrin]
“Making mistakes is just another another tool for learning.”
Originally posted by Nobleone:…After much disbelief that in this day and age of technology they could not just tell the computer to do what I was asking and even threatening to close my accounts and move to another ISP here I am stuck between a rock and a hard place coz I want to keep those sub addresses but I don’t want the spam….
I find that sort of thinking equates to that of someone who buys one of Steve’s books, reads it and then is incredulous when they can’t find CF+ property within 5 mins drive of their middle class suburban Sydney home.
Computers aren’t really magical and often what seems to be the simplest thing can be very difficult to try and implement…
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. If you don't have an account, you can register here.
