Anyone that upsells (especially British Gas and Talktalk), and fucking cold callers who lie about who they are
1) 'Hello Mr Essy, we see you're coming to the end of your first year of gas service at *high value* and want to offer you at *lower value* instead, including water supply maintenance for free'
'That's higher than the value without the water supply maintenance, isn't it?'
'..maybe'.

Repeat by post, mobile phone, home telephone and every time I contact them for other purposes (like fixing the boiler). Just fuck off, thanks..

Talktalk, for having the gall to charge for paper based statements then stuff my letterbox with offers for their shitty broadband and call packages I don't want.

2) You get precisely one (1) opportunity to sell to me, or at work before I become unsympathetic. Cold calling must be a horrid job, but if you're going to lie about who you are (especially recruitment consultants and advertising salesmen) I won't be impressed. Be honest and you'll either get a polite refusal or passed on to someone. I remember your company name, and your voice on subsequent calls - don't take the piss.
(EssY, Fri 28 May 2010, 0:18, 8 replies)

Then take it up with the directors of the company
Don't take it out on the phone monkeys who are reading a script for minimum wage. Believe me, they don't want to have a part in it either. But they have to, or they'll lose their job.

Quit your bitching and man up, it's just a fucking phone call.
( SugarSpunSister Yeah, whatever, Fri 28 May 2010, 0:36, closed)

It's a fucking annoying phone call distracting me from work every five minutes
As I said - one call is fine. I'm sympathetic about that. Repeated calls are not - if we said no the first time, another call is not likely to change things. I'm not rude unless the phone monkey starts taking the piss - do that and I will start to waste their time.

Advertising is one thing. Outright lying is another.
(EssY, Fri 28 May 2010, 0:49, closed)

So don't answer. Sign your number up to anti-spam lists. You can't expect them to predict you won't be interested unless you take steps yourself
Politely ask them to not call again, they won't, by law. Also by the sounds of things they'll be more than happy to cross off one more grumpy wanker who can't see the chain of command in a company.

Seriously, it's a phone call, they're not crawling through your windows forcing you to sign up for their shit. A simple "no, sorry" will suffice.
( SugarSpunSister Yeah, whatever, Fri 28 May 2010, 13:17, closed)

I'm liking the way this is going
*gets deckchair out*
( broadsword w⚓, Fri 28 May 2010, 13:22, closed)

but my phone hits me over the head with a brick every time it rings
(O.o)
(likeajackhammer, Fri 28 May 2010, 13:38, closed)

You're not really reading my post, are you?
My home phone is on the TPS, and you still get called by some of the (unprofessional) idiots. Work phones can't opt out.

I'm perfectly polite the first time someone calls, and if it's of interest I'll forward it. After all, the perfect sales call is one where the salesman gets a sale, the buyer obtains a product or service they're interested in and everyone goes away happy.

What's not on is that either the salesman lies about what they're offering, or after receiving a polite no, or even a polite explanation about precisely why you're not in the market for their product, continues to call in the hope that someone will say yes.

Now, I asked someone else about this, and they suggested that perhaps I wasn't cut out for cold call sales - which is no doubt true. Perhaps repeated irritating cold calling is part of the job.

Still, if your job effectively means deliberately irritating me or someone else, don't expect me to be overjoyed about that.

Perhaps if you have lie about what you're offering, you really shouldn't be offering it (advertisers, recruitment consultants, phone and utility suppliers please note)
(EssY, Fri 28 May 2010, 17:53, closed)

Yeah, you're not listening to what I'm saying
Say no. Ask them to not call again. Granted they might call up a few more times, but I assure you (and I do speak from experience) they're not doing it because they want to, or because they find it hilarious giving you a slight inconvenience. They're doing it because they have to, because they've got Satan for a boss who is breathing down their neck 24/7 asking why they're 1% off target. They're doing it because it's their job, and they're trying to feed a family or keep a roof over their head. They're not doing it through pleasure, and they're certainly not doing it just to piss you off, so give them some common courtesy and don't call them jobsworths just for trying to earn a fucking wage. If they are lying to you, it's because they're made to.

If you really have such a huge problem, write to the CEO, ask to be removed from the list, and they will. Every company has a no-call list, put yours on it. Just really, stop whining about people who are doing a shit enough job as it is, without having to put up with the demonising it causes.
( SugarSpunSister Yeah, whatever, Fri 28 May 2010, 21:17, closed)

you're both right
Hi
(nom - nom nom nom, Fri 28 May 2010, 21:26, closed)