Well, it might have been a call-centre...
Carphone Warehouse's landline monkeys (is it TalkTalk? I can't remember) phoned me one night a couple of years ago... I was actually thinking about changing from BT so was interested. The conversation went a bit like this:

"Hello?"
"Hi there, this is Carphone Warehouse, talking about our new landline service"
*various blurb and details*
"Ok, sounds good, can you send me some info to think about it then I'll get signed up"
"Sorry no, you can't have the info until you sign up. Let us get you connected now, then you'll receive all the info you need through the post"
"Hmm, that seems a bit strange. What if I want to think about it?"
"We're Carphone Warehouse, you can cancel at any time without obligation"
"Hmm..." (dubiously)
"So, your bank - is it Lloyds or Barclays?"
"er, Lloyds" (followed immediately by a mental facepalm)
"Great, and your account number and sort code?"
"Haha, no hang on - I'm not giving those out over the phone!"
"But we're Carphone Warehouse, there's no risk!"
"I'm sorry, I've got no proof of that, I'm not giving you those details"
"You want to speak to a manager?"
"Ok"
(a slightly different voice comes on the phone)
"Hi, this is the manager, you don't want our plan?"
"No, I want it, but I'm not happy about giving out my bank details over the phone, so I want you to send me some more info, and a form I can fill in to send back to you to take the contract out"
"But this is Carphone Warehouse! There's no risk!"
"So you say - for all I know you could be a couple of Indian guys in the phonebox at the end of my street!"

He seemed quite annoyed by this and started on the whole "there's no risk" spiel again, more vehemently this time.

I cut him off with "Listen - I've had a long hard day at work, you're trying to sell me something and now you're giving me a hard time. I don't need this, bye", and hung up.


Apologies for lack of funnies, although I hope "for all I know you could be two Indian guys in a phonebox at the end of my street" makes one or two of you smile - it cheered me up at the time :)
(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Tue 8 Sep 2009, 17:13, 3 replies)

They do this!
At BT as well, I've always got half a mind to accept their kind offer, but they'll never just bung me a leaflet in the post...
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Tue 8 Sep 2009, 18:04, closed)

Curses...
"Come on Sanjay - the bastard's got us sussed..."

*wanders off*
( snee held his breath since, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 8:34, closed)

Sadly far too many companies operate like this
Even the supervisor was a twonk. At the end of the day the best solution is to hang up. Better still register with www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/ then whenever a call centre phones you make sure you get their address and report them. Also if you are being persistently bothered by a particular company call the police and report them as a nuisance caller they will soon stop.
( Big Ian has stopped changing his sig, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 11:11, closed)