anti-telemarketing script....

[ohiominnie]

In response to the person who posted how to get past company's phone trees and speak to a human, I also wanted to share this site.

It has a script for talking to telemarketers (after all, don't they all have scripts?)

I have done this on several occasions and it's a crack up. I usually give them the "I'm not interested" line and if they continue to push, I go into the script.

One time I got all the way down to the questions about what toothpaste the guy recommends and did he think having healthy teeth were important for his job before he really questioned WHY I was asking so many questions!

Anyway, check it out. Have some fun if you have a few extra minutes some day!

http://www.xs4all.nl/~egbg/counterscript.html

 

[disneynutt1225]

That was hilarious! I sent the link to one of my friends who constantly "annoys" the telemarketers when they call.

 

[shades]

I worked as a telemarketer when I was 16. It's a very difficult job. I doubt anybody that is a telemarketer really likes their job and these jobs don't pay more than minimum wage. Some may get some type of "bonus" if they successfully get someone to buy what they are selling.

I know phone solicitations are annoying - but, they are trying to earn a living, too. Rather than tease them, I'd recommend telling them "no thank, I'm going to hang up" - and then, hang up. On the rare occasion they may return your call out of spite - then, let the games begin and pull out your script. Just my 2 cents;o)

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

The best solution with a telemarketer is to tell them, "No thank you and please have me removed from your list" If they are told that you want to be removed they have to do it immediately, they immediately stop the spiel, and they will never call you back.

Lee Ann

 

[ohiominnie]

I worked as a telemarketer when I was 16. It's a very difficult job. I doubt anybody that is a telemarketer really likes their job and these jobs don't pay more than minimum wage. Some may get some type of "bonus" if they successfully get someone to buy what they are selling.

I know phone solicitations are annoying - but, they are trying to earn a living, too. Rather than tease them, I'd recommend telling them "no thank, I'm going to hang up" - and then, hang up. On the rare occasion they may return your call out of spite - then, let the games begin and pull out your script. Just my 2 cents;o)

I don't doubt that it's a hard job. I'm sure more often than not people say no or hang up on them. My gripe is when they can't take "no thank you" as an answer, but they always have some sort of comeback (scripted) In real life no one crams anything down anyones throat even if they don't want it (well, not in my experience anyway)......I wouldn't offer something to someone and when they said "no thank you" come up with 8 reason why they SHOULD take it and they should take it RIGHT NOW.

Just respect my "no thank you"....

 

[Jeanne B]

I dislike telemarketers just as much as everyone else but I hear where shades is coming from also. Ten yrs ago I spent 11 months (11 months too long!!) working in the telemarketing division of a company and it was the worst job I ever had. I'm no salesperson and I definitely wasn't made out for telemarketing...in my last few months there I remember being on a phone call in which I didn't attempt to "overcome" the customers objections, which is what we were ALWAYS expected to do, and as it turned out my manager was in the listening room listening to my call (you never knew when they were listening). She stormed up to my desk as I hung up and needless to say it didn't go well...you don't know how bad I wanted to get up and walk out the door but I had a family to help support (I was in my early 20's with a 2-yr old) and it just wasn't an option at that moment. Fortunately I was able to quit a couple of months later but it's definitely a high-pressure job and some people are cut out for it and others aren't and I'm definitely one that was not cut out for it.

With that said though I'm still looking forward to reading the link from ohiominnie.

 

[Junebugwv]

I want to tell telemarketers, "Not interested, please remove me from your list." But, they ALWAYS ask for my dh, who is rarely home. I am incredibly nice to these people and you can hear their appreciation in their voice. Yesterday, I received a call at 8:07 AM and I was very nice, but I wanted to say, "May I please have your supervisior's home number so I can call them at 8:07 on their day off?"

 

[shades]

I "sold" carpet cleaning - it was "new" at the time and called something like 'drychem'. I hated that job and I needed the money because I had to pay my own car insurance when I turned 16 or lose my new found independence (car keys;o). I can't remember if I ever sold anything - I got lucky and got a new job working in junior fashions at Montgomery Wards

Anyway - I'd rank that job up there as one of the top worse 3 jobs I've ever done and I've had some bad ones! (I am retired "enlisted" and have cleaned more than my share of toilets and picked up more cigerette butts & trash than I care to remember;o) Telemarketing is even worse than working at KFC - back when the workers had to cut up the chickens! It's because of my telemarketing experience, I'm more patient with those who call here at inconvenient times.

If the telemarketer gets pushy - you always have the option of hanging up. I don't enjoy getting these calls, either - but, I "understand" that this is a job for these folks. That tired, old joke about "can I have your home phone number so I can call you back while you are at home...." - isn't really funny to those of us who have done this job. I'm sure telemarketers experience phone calls while they are at home, too. Just be thankful you can be home at "traditional" hours and enjoy dinner with your family. Telemarketers typically work evening hours. Off my soapbox

 

[justcruisin]

I tell them, "Sorry, he doesn't live here any more".

I did this once to a co-worker of DH who thought I kicked him out!

 

[HaleyB]

I had a job in telemarketing too, and I have no mercy on them when they call my house. 75% of them are breaking the law when they do so either because we are on the do not call list, have asked them not to call, or they do not leave valid call back info.

I quit the job I had because I knew we were trying to rip people off and I wanted no part of it. There are always choices. I was supporting a small child at the time and it was a tight job market, but I knew if I did the right thing I would be ok.

 

[treesinger]

I tell them, "Sorry, he doesn't live here any more".

I did this once to a co-worker of DH who thought I kicked him out!

I love the script!

Ever since the "do not call" list was started by the gov't, I have not received a single uninvited call. I'd rather re-grout my tub for eternity in plumber's purgatory then be a telemarketer.

And personally, telemarketers are invading, however harmless and distant, my private time and personal space. The excuse that "they have to do it" doesn't fly with me. People that do this choose to do so knowing what it is they are doing and well aware of what the public's perception is of telemarketers. If you are/were a telemarketer, you put yourself in that position and you get what goes with the territory. That includes the reactions of people that REALLY don't want to be bothered and some of them have rather...creative...ways to express their dissatisfaction.

I sell furniture for a living. We're a low pressure store, so I don't hear the negative comments as much as I used to at other jobs. I've heard the word "vulture" more times than I can count. Do I complain? No. It goes with the territory. Do I like it? No. I'll glower for a minute, then let it roll off of my back. I've made my bed and I sleep in it. If I don't like my job, I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in that position.

 

[shades]

I love the script!

Ever since the "do not call" list was started by the gov't, I have not received a single uninvited call. I'd rather re-grout my tub for eternity in plumber's purgatory then be a telemarketer.

And personally, telemarketers are invading, however harmless and distant, my private time and personal space. The excuse that "they have to do it" doesn't fly with me. People that do this choose to do so knowing what it is they are doing and well aware of what the public's perception is of telemarketers. If you are/were a telemarketer, you put yourself in that position and you get what goes with the territory. That includes the reactions of people that REALLY don't want to be bothered and some of them have rather...creative...ways to express their dissatisfaction.

I sell furniture for a living. We're a low pressure store, so I don't hear the negative comments as much as I used to at other jobs. I've heard the word "vulture" more times than I can count. Do I complain? No. It goes with the territory. Do I like it? No. I'll glower for a minute, then let it roll off of my back. I've made my bed and I sleep in it. If I don't like my job, I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in that position.

I've sold furniture for a living, too. I didn't care for that job, either. I've also had - what I believe to be one of the most difficult sales jobs there is - I was a military recruiter. Now...let the flames begin;o) It was a "job" and I was passionate about my product and what it has to offer. But, talk about some horrible phone calls! I knew parents didn't want me to call their homes and try to convince their kids to join the military. However, it was my job - and I had to get it done so I could go home and spend time with my family. Some of the kids I put in the military are becoming quite successful, too! Ok...let the flaming begin if you must But - please keep in mind - I'm RETIRED now and not calling your homes anymore

 

[salmoneous]

My gripe is when they can't take "no thank you" as an answer, but they always have some sort of comeback (scripted)

Don't give them a chance. The second you realize it's a telemarketing call say, "No thank you; please remove me from your list; good-bye" then hang-up.

 

[nowellsl]

Caller ID - Priceless!!

 

[JenniferW]

I laughed hard with this one. Not sure I'd actually want to talk to the people, I'm more for the take me off the list mentality.

Thanks for sharing!

Jenn

 

[BostonTink85]

Caller ID - Priceless!!

Not sure how telemarketing companies work, but I worked at my college last year and we called alumni for donations to the college. If the person didn't pick up we called them again (sometimes the next day) and when people got mad and said that we called every night, obviously knew because of caller ID lol, we couldn't really say anything but sorry we'll take you off the list. But what everyone wanted to say was if you just picked up your phone the first (or second or third, etc.) time and just said to take me off the list then we wouldn't have kept calling. Again I'm not sure about how telemarketers systems work, but that's how our program was, it just kept refreshing the lists to try to get in contact with the people. But we were never forced to keep pushing, and I wouldn't ever do that . Luckily I have a new job this year

 

[disneymom3]

We are on the do not call list, but have had some issues lately. I had a mortgage broker call me and when I told her we were on the list and she should not be calling, she said "Well, I have read the law and I am able to call because I am offering a service, not selling something." I said, "Well, that may be, but I am a Realtor and let me tell you calling people on that list is not the way to win a client because they will perceive that you ARE selling them something and that turns them off. Our office has a policy of not calling anyone on that list regardless of what we claim our goal is." She got huffy and hung up on me. Okay.....

The other problem I am having is charity calling. Apparently they are exempt from the list. The last one was calling for the policeman's benefit something. While I totally support the police, I have heard that they don't actually get a lot of that money and regardless of that our charity giving budget has already been determined for the year. I told her we had already decided where our money was going and she just kept going. I finally said, I didn't want to be rude, but she was being rude to me by not listening to the fact that I had said NO and I was hanging up now. I don't have enough time to go through a script but it is a funny read. I just warn them before I hang up on them.

 

[kmp1191]

I agree...thank goodness for caller ID.
Earlier this summer, the phone would ring and when I'd answer it, no one would be there. This happened several times over a week. Sometimes two or three times a night. I knew it was a telemarketeer because of Caller ID. Finally, I got fed up with being hung up one, so I called them. The first couple of times, no one answered, but I kept calling. Finally someone answered. I asked to speak to a supervisor IMMEDIATELY! The girl on the other end transferred me. The supervisor couldn't believe that I called them! I told them that I was tired of being called every night 2 or 3 times, and hung up on. I told them that I was on the DO NOT CALL LIST and if I recieved another call from this number, that I would be filing a harassment report. Let's just say, I was pms-ing pretty bad and she couldn't get a word in edgeways! She finally apologized and I hung up on her!

My husband was laughing so hard his eyes were watering. The funny thing is...we haven't recieved ANY telemarketer calls since that night!!

 

[etwinchester]

Years ago I would receive calls from MCI 3 times a week (some were early morning, late nights, weekends).

The first week I told them "no thank you, please remove me from your list" and they told me it would take about a week so I then hung up.

The second week, they called again. I got rude and told them that it was the age of technology and press the delete button or put marks next to my name "DO NOT CALL".

By the third week, I had all I could take (still calling me 3x a week). They called once again and I informed them of my previous conversation of removing my number or making the notation. They told me there was a notation made so I asked them "why did you call me then?". They hung up on me after I said that... I'm sure there was no note and they just said that since they needed a quick response.

On the fourth week, they were still calling and I informed them I would be filing harrassment charges. I did contact some offices (don't even remember who it was now, telephone commission or whomever) and they sent letters to MCI and I got copies of the letters stating that they would prosecute them also.

Tada, the phone calls finally stopped. People shouldn't have to go to this extent... Now I have caller ID and I'm on the Do Not Call list so I haven't gotten any more calls this dramatic (I've moved since then as well so I have a new #). Still, I shouldn't have been harrassed to this extent!

 

[nbodyhome]

I have a cousin who plays with them - pretends to be really interested and then keeps them on the line (maybe even tells them to call back at a time he actually won't be there, which his wife hates!). I have heard him, it is actually pretty funny. Of course, not to the telemarketer - but I can't stand being called, and so I don't pick up unless I know who it is.

Denise