I received a call from a company called TNS – part of BMRB – today. They are doing a survey on behalf of local government about leisure services, so want to know what I do in my leisure time. I don’t do surveys so refuse. Once is fair enough. Twice irritates as I expect them to take no for an answer, by the third and fourth time, my patience is wearing thin. The answer as I informed the latest caller, is still no and will continue to be no.
Looks like as soon as the funds start coming in, I’ll be investing in one of these. I’m not sure how else I can stop the buggers disturbing me as they continue to do so after asking them not to and as a research company they are unaffected by TPS.
I’d be tempted to agree, and give the most nonsensical answers possible:
“What’s your preferred leisure activity?”
“I find the hunting of man to be the most fulfilling sport. It’s like outdoor chess… *sinister chuckle*”
I just utilise these calls to be hideously,but not obscenely, rude, obtuse, foreign etc and then I suggest that the people making the calls should seek to obtain a real and productive job.
It is petty and ugly, I know, but you will be surprised at how much it can lift ones spirits.
Don’t be silly. The cretins that work in these places would decide that you are some sort of threat and you’ll get those state thugs in body armour smashing in your front door at 5:00AM and eventually charging you for wasting police time.
If they catch me in the right mood, I don’t answer any questions but I do ask them questions about deeply personal matters (bank balance, penis size, implants etc). They rapidly hang up.
Rumour has it there are “annoying time-wasting bastard” lists kept and possibly circulated by these firms, and getting on it means fewer or no calls. Telling callers a string of increasingly implausible and obvious lies is a fun way to get on the survey time-waster list. Telemarketers are even easier: let them begin their patter and a minute or two in tell them to hold on for just a tick, then when you get back apologise for being distracted and ask them to start again from the beginning. Repeat at random intervals until they realise that you’re going to jerk them around indefinitely and hang up on you. My ambition was to break ten minutes but nobody’s called for ages.
I’ll give you a phrase spelled as you pronounce it-
“Dwee thim un sharad Saesneg”
Stumps 99% of pest callers and ticket touts, and you’ll win any legal battle if they think it’s offensive (and a counterclaim for them even suggesting that it might be).
If you can’t put them through to your own premium rate number, try something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl5uhjJFTiE
It’s getting to be a really intrusive thing now. I’ve changed my phone and now have all sorts of blocks on it.
I put them on to Mrs M! She gives all answers in Visayan.