We get them regularly. Most times I have a little argument with them; tell them that our phones are not with Telstra so why are they calling us? It is interesting that they tend to ignore anything said to them as they are reading from a set patter.
They also say they are from Telstra and our Internet is going to be switched off. Same thing as our ISP is not with Telstra.
Anyway, the trick with these type of calls is to say "Hullo" once only then wait. After a few seconds of silence the call will drop out and you will get the dial tone. Sometimes the caller will say 'hullo' a couple of times but because they will have an accent don't answer and they will hang up.
I have been getting at least 3 off these calls every day on the house phone while in Wonthaggi and the same two voices every time. One asked me the other day if I am having a problem with windows cos his records say I am. I said I had only cleaned them that morning and could see out no problem then I hung up.
Many moons back when I had a land line at base camp I always answered the phone "Wonthaggi Morgue, you kill 'm we chil 'm" My mates wife rang one morning to say my mate had died over night. Egg on face time. I have never answered the phone like that since. It's a simple "Hello, Doug speaking".
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
The current ones going around are both "Telstra" & "ATO".
I saw in yesterday's Tnsv Bully where an elderly woman lost $1300 to "Telstra" ($1000 worth of iTunes cards & $300 taxi ride from one side of Townsville to the other) - the other more expensive sales of iTunes cards were stopped by astute supermarket & PO staff.
Doug, I've found some of these clowns to be quite rude - they often hang up on me when the conversation gets "interesting"!
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
Often I just tell them im busy and need to put them on "hold" for a moment & drop the phone and leave them to their own devices. Lol.. They just love it when you waste their time.
Since moving over to the NBN the answering machine on the landline audibly calls out the number while to the person on the other end only hears the tone that tells them that our phone is ringing. If we recognise the number we pick it up immediately. As soon as it switches over to the message bank and the voice prompt starts 99% of the unsolicited callers will hang up for those people who start talking if it's someone you know or something important you can then pick it up. I figure that for those people who call and don't want to talk to an answering machine then it couldn't have been that important anyhow.
Back in around 1979 we owned and operated a Motel. One night we got done for two TV sets. The assessor came and I realised that they were insured for $400 BUT replacement was $450!!! I told the assessor I would up the cover to $500. I rang our insurer and kept getting an answering machine!! Before I managed to get through we lost another two TVs!!! I argued with the insurance company and told them if my company has to use an answering machine instead of a receptionist I would not use them. They confirmed with bthe assessor who I told them what I had said, so the paid $400 for two TVs and $500 for two TVs. Anyway I ended up even.
You would think Telstra would do more to stop these calls . So many not using their home phone due to unwanted calls . In fact our phone just rang .. Didnât answere .
Telstra, electricity and solar panel sales people constantly ring telling me I have a problem with their service and unless I follow their instruction, I'll be disconnected. You'd think the genuine suppliers along with the Tax Office/medicare etc., would crack down on these nuisance calls.
It doesn't pay to comment to the caller because they're recording your comments while they read from a script.
Talk about a one way conversation - obviously they cannot hear you until you ask to speak with their supervisor/manager etc. Then you get a horrible description of where to place your fingers! Not nice.
So come on Telstra, Solar Panel Co's, ATO and the rest, do something. They're probably making money from these callers.
I cannot block the callers on the home phone but am able to block these numbers on our mobile's.
I enjoy telling Solar Panel callers I already have a panel and batteries which are ample for my needs (I don't tell them these are fitted to my motorhome).
Just letting you know, you're not alone with this problem.
I argued with the insurance company and told them if my company has to use an answering machine instead of a receptionist I would not use them. They confirmed with bthe assessor who I told them what I had said, so the paid $400 for two TVs and $500 for two TVs. Anyway I ended up even.
