Cold callers

[HotI]

How many phone calls do you get a day/week/month from cold callers? I have had 6 today. They just keep calling.

....pause... hello, is that Mrs Smith? (i don't share DH's surname 'Smith')

We used to play with them, then we got bored with that and would be polite and listen for 60 secs before saying we weren't interested. Now, i am just over them. Today, i am just hanging up after their first sentence.

I hope i don't get a real phone caller who pauses before speaking cos they will prob just get hung up on.

[LionsandBears]

Are you on the Do Not Call register? We are and dont get calls. We also have a silent number.

[~Hestia~]

We seem to get a run of them, say at least a call a day, then nothing for ages. I hang up as soon as I hear that pause.

[Amaunet]

I used to get 2-3 per day!!! Now I'm on the Do Not Call Register I don't get any

[my-three-monkeys]

We are on the do not call register and have a silent number, but we still get calls from a lot of charities because apparently they are exempt from both.....

[~me~]

We are on the don not call register here as well. We don't have a silent number. Don't get any unless it's from The Guide Dogs who I have purchased with before.
If there is a delay when I say "Hello" twice, I hang up straight up away.

[HotI]

we don't have a silent number cos last time i checked it cost $60 a year. Not on the do not call register yet, but it's getting more and more likely. when the do not call register first came out, i ws suspicious that it was just a way of 'them' getting your details, but it seems more and more people are on it now with few hassles.

[indie24]

I am on the Do not call register and the calls have gone down but I now get more charity calls.

[Cranky Kitten]

Ahhh, the liberty of not having a home phone....we go mobile all the way plus I am a notorious call-screener (if you block caller ID expect to have to leave a message and have me call you back).

The last time I had a land-line I had a silent number, so hardly ever got calls as I was very picky about who I gave the number to. Btw, having at one time worked for Telstra I can tell you there is a difference between "unlisted" and "silent" numbers. Unlisted is usually free and just means you're not in the phone book, where-as a silent number is a paid service where you aren't in the phone book *and* get automatic line blocking for caller ID - charities and such can ONLY get a silent number if you give it to them and if you are paying for a silent number and you do get calls you are well within your rights to complain.

[~Kaz~]

I second what Cranky Kitten has written about the silent number stuff. The only calls we get are from charities we give to and have provided our details to. To me, it's worth the extra money each month to save my sanity (btw didn't realise it was that much?).

I got an unsolicited call (apparently) from Telstra the other day and I refused to answer their questions. She was probably legit since I have just bought a new mobile phone but I'm not giving my d.o.b out to anyone who already has my full name and mobile number.

[OceanPrincess]

I'm on the Do Not Call register. Only calls I get are from charities. Who are apparently exempt, sigh

I did get ONE where they invited me to a seminar so I could get a free something, I interrupted and told them we were on the do not call and they hung up toot sweet!

[peanutter]

we have a silent number (it's free with our provider...) and we're on the Do Not Call register for both our landline and mobiles.

the only place I get calls from is the blood bank (no, I haven't donated in over a year - because I was pregnant and then surgery, which I told you last month, and the month before, and the month before, and ...) and my bank (gah!!) and someone from Priceline wanting me to get life insurance with them (WTF???)

but no cold calls

[luna moth]

None. We only have a VOIP phone though, maybe that's why?

Shame... I like messing around with them.

[Traveller]

I'm on the do not call register, and we have only had a couple of calls since we registered. I usually ask for the company name and then explain that I need it when I inform the do not call register that they have called me, and they hang up super fast

[Dansta]

we get them from time to time. i listen. then pop the phone infront of the telly or pat the cat. they dont seem to like "purrrrrr" as a responce or "I dont know who the father is" haha.

a bloke down the road from me is Indian he picks up the phone and if its an Indian caller...he goes on and on about his master and cannot speak his native toung. its friggin' classic. or "hello i do not want to talk to you. unless your family. if your selling some thing hang up and try, try, try again"

[peanutter]

back when I got those calles, sometimes I would tell them about Jesus.

or I would sing to them.

or I would tell them what my hourly charge out rates are, and ask for their details so I can bill them.

or I would ask for their direct line, mobile or home number so I can call back when it's a convenient time for me.

or I would ask them where babies come from.

there were lots of options.

buying whatever they're trying to sell me really wasn't ever one, though ...