My inner anarchist

I am too then. On the advice of DD2, if a website insists on having a phone number when I don't think they need one, I enter 01001001001. Their computer sytem is happy because it has the required number of digits. I'm happy because I've foiled the nosiness.

See, even on GN that number of digits is 'recognised' as a "phone number". It has gone blue! Hahaha!

Computers like zeros and ones. It's their language.

oooh you little devil

Chuckle McChuckle.

I have had to fool my computer with a street or road name, when buying items, When it wants a name and won't let you go past it I have to put A865 because no roads have names here

Same problem here, hebridean. We aren't on a street. Our address is just the house and the village. I shove in the name of the nearby stream if the computer system can't cope without a street. Keeps it happy.

Me too - have to juggle with my address sometimes as no number and no road, just house name and area.

That's excellent, I like that

In 1981 I was Census Officer in the Marshlands of West Norfolk. One of my assistants lived at 'The house next to the one with the red gate on the road to ........' The postman never failed to find them.

When we were having our house built we received a house warming card to

The White Van
The Building Site
Next to the Westford Inn
North UIst

My sister once had a postcard with a street map drawn where the address should have been. The gentleman had visited the house but could not remember what the street was called. The map showed the house in relation to the nearest pub and main road and the card was delivered the next day

When asked for an email address, I put mine in but end it with '.co.uk'. rather '.com' - that flummoxes them

A lot of e-forms insist on a county so I receive mail addressed to .... London, London. Keeps the computer happy.

I have had a lot of problems because my road has no name, just a number and a sign saying 'Col de Terramont' (mountain pass of Terramont, which is the next village). My flat is past the sign showing the end of Habere Poche and before the sign for the next village. I went to the mairie and looked at their planning map, and found a name for this little area, so now I fill in everything I can when asked my address. The postwoman has no problem in delivering my mail - mine is the only English name in the directory and everybody knows me as 'La Dame Anglaise'. I often wonder how they find all the houses in the maze of tiny streets in some of the medieval towns.
When I sign petitions, if they don't accept my French post code, I put my sister's code in England - she would be amazed if she knew how many petitions she has signed!
I am delighted by the tip on putting in a telephone number, as UK sites often refuse my French number.

Brilliant thread - such a laugh. I shall adopt the telephone advice given by Bags. I loathe giving out my mobile number, and the land line usually only rings these days when it's a pest of some kind or other.
My inner anarchist was let lose when my youngest daughter had issues with the DVLA but work hours meant she couldn't phone them. I became her. My sister once masqueraded as her son who was living abroad and needed to speak to the DVLA/Insurance company etc. When she phoned and explained he was under 21 and abroad, and she was his representative on earth, i.e. his mum, no-one would talk to her. In desperation, she phoned and when asked are you ** she said yes, I am, and no=one challenged this 50 plus woman as not being a young man. All 3 of mum's daughters began to masquerade as her when her deafness and lack of sight made it hard for her to speak to the bank etc.

I've been my mum and daughters on the phone and I'm often DH online.

Here's another tip. When speaking to a computerised drone on the phone, just repeat, after every request for information that has no relevance to your needs whatsoever (which is often the case), say 'customer services'. Just that. It may take about 6 goes, while it goes through the recording, but I've found it very successful.

Been doing 0001000's for a while now since being given the tip. It's only a computer!

Fab ffinochio -

Forgot to say that after saying 'customer services', you actually do manage to speak to a person.

After insuring with xxx i realised they make their profit on the phone calls... 8p a minute clocks up if you are having a complicated conversation. Now if it looks like going on a bit you only have to say "this is a terrible line can you call me back" and they are very obliging.

another good bit of advice JessM.

All advice duly noted and put in my little black 'how to beat the ....' book. Thank you

That with the tel number is brilliant! My post code comes before the town's name and M&S have difficulty with that although the staff from DHL mangage to deliver.