Is there no pleasing some people

Had one of these cold calls the other day - they asked to speak to my DH - I started sobbing and said he had passed away that morning - hasty departure of caller!! (He's actually been gone for almost 4 years but they don't know that!)

That actually happened to me, my other home is a first floor flat in a conservation area and they tried to sell me a white plastic conservatory we are not even allowed white window frames

Elegran

If they want to sell you a conservatory, make sure you get all the details before asking them how they will build it for a flat on the sixth floor.

He-he! Some good suggestions here.

When the window replacement people call I tell them we have no windows. I'm sure they don't believe me but they don't usually spend too much time arguing!

Yesterday I told the caller that I had indeed had an accident but that it was my fault then spent ten minutes telling him why it wasn't my fault and how unfair it was that the people who I'd run into had claimed for whiplash when they'd been OK at the time but then I supposed they'd been contacted by one of those ambulance chasing companies and persuaded to claim.

I managed to do this without barely a pause for breath so the poor man had no chance to say anything until I had finished my tale of woe by saying that of course I was sure he wasn't an ambulance chaser

I answer them in Gaelic! Works every time although I do only pick up if it's international as it may be DD2 in Australia.

I was told yesterday by Mrs S in my singing group that when she had a cold call recently asking for Mr S, she replied 'If you want to speak to him, you will have to be clairvoyant'........

Caller departed.

I never answer the phone, when the machine takes over and says we are sorry we can't come to the phone right now the call gets terminated. Only two persist, solar panels and replacement boilers, they actually suggest I call them and arrange for them to visit. When hell freezes over they will still be waiting, what makes them think that pestering endlessly will result in a sale ?

I used to say I wasn't in if you see what I mean. Now have caller display and refuse to answer any withheld/out of area/international calls-if any of them are genuine they can leave a message and I'll get back to them. I'm currently receiving lots of prerecorded messages about windows/solar panels/boilers.

Last time I tripped (over DH's feet) I broke my shoulder! Could I have sued him?!

May I speak to Mrs Anno?

Sorry, I've never heard of her....

As for any of those unwanted calls, I usually say. "Oh, yes, hang on while I go and get my other half." Then put the receiver on the table and go and put the kettle on. They soon hang up.

I was a bit rude to a cold caller today and he said Oh Ma'am I talk polite to you ... I was taken aback so said sorry and told him to go get himself a cup of tea ,....... he hung up lol

DH has downloaded some of that awful onhold music. When they phone he says can I just put you on hold for a minute then he puts his phone next to the ipod and plays the onhold music and leaves it until they put the phone down.

Yes, I'm fine.

POMPA There is no sympathy because you made it sound too funny, I laughed at the thought of you going head first into the shrubbery, it sounded like something out of a comedy sketch.

But jokes aside hope you are ok, I tripped over my hair dryer wire the other day and thought I better be careful as I get older because I might not be as quick to save myself, Getting old glorious isn't it!!

Just had another phone call regarding my recent accident, they got so excited, they called in an expert (?) adviser, he got excited that I had not made a claim yet !!! Oh the disappointment when I told him I had tripped over a hose pipe in my garden. I at least thought he could have been sympathetic.

On holiday we used Booking.com to book hotels a coup,e of days ahead as we meandered up the coast. I obviously forgot to tick or untick the appropriate box as the email address I used now gets around 50 emails each day. Mostly for funeral planning and re-mortgaging. How did they know I was thinking of taking out an enormous loan to pay for my extravagant funeral?

I mean, until I made the mistake of giving my mobile number to the hospital

I didn't get even one single cold call on my mobile until I made the mistake of giving it at the hospital so they could add it to my records. The flood gates then opened!

We never got these calls prior to the accident. They knew the details so it must have come in some way from the police or their staff. I don't feel confident about complaining, I would be worried that in some way we would be listed. Presumably whoever passed on the info was rewarded in some way.

I'm not sure that they do know anything specific, I suspect they are just hoping to hit pay dirt. Certainly one call I received bore no relation to the only accident that I have had.
I don't remember the police taking my details at the accident I had. I suspect junior unscrupulous insurance company employees sell the details.

But, I now quite enjoy winding up the callers. (I'm sure you find it quite surprising that I could be so mischievous)

Interesting one Nonnie, I will ask my policeman SIL.

Nice to see a lighter thread sometimes.

Sorry to bring in just a little seriousness but how do these 'ambulance chasers' know? DS had an accident with DH in the car and the police came. They both gave their landline and mobile numbers to the policeman but the insurance companies have not been involved. They have both been inundated with calls about the accident. Surely the police should not have passed on this info?

Hope you recover soon Pompa, a stiff whisky twice a day does wonders as long as you take enough water with it!
recently on holiday abroad, we saw several old people fall over( they tripped but were ok.)A couple of days later, I tripped over a raised curb I hadn't noticed, flailed about and managed to recover, much to DH's amusement, pride certainly comes before a fall.