Cold telephone call

Oneputt
Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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edited April 2016 in General Chat #1

Couple of days ago had a telephone call from a guy who said he wanted to buy my FIT agreement  for our solar panels.  He said he would pay a substantial lump sum, we would still own the roof and the panels but they would take the payment, contract would
be changed to their name.  Told him not interested.  Talking to BIL later he had the same call and out of interest ask them for a price, it was derisory, about a third of what he would earn (tax free)  in the next 20 years!  Anyone else had calls like this?

Comments

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #2

    How've they got your number Oneputt?

    photo 78301b06-7bdd-45fe-8ae2-d4d2cae14135_zpssi5htrez.jpg

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #3

    No idea, although judging by the amount of info they seem to have I wouldn't be suprised  if they didn't have some connection with the major power suppliers.   They did seemed to know an awful lot about us and our current tariffs etc..

  • milliehull
    milliehull Forum Participant Posts: 4,760 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #4

    I have a nasty feeling that some companies share contact information (for a price?) with other companies Jill.

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #5

    True Milliehull and that's why I refuse to give a telephone number unless I absolutely must.  My stock answer would be "If you need contact details then okay but, if you have my address, you can't have my phone number as well.  If you need to contact me
    then write." Happy

    For those that insist on a telephone number, I give them an old mobile number that I don't answer or keep charged up.  Wink

    photo 78301b06-7bdd-45fe-8ae2-d4d2cae14135_zpssi5htrez.jpg

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #6

    Problem is they already seemed to have everything.  I suspect they are calling people on the higher rate of FIT payment.  If people ask for an email address I give them a bucket address I have so our main mail addresses don't get stuffed

  • milliehull
    milliehull Forum Participant Posts: 4,760 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #7

    True Milliehull and that's why I refuse to give a telephone number unless I absolutely must.  My stock answer would be "If you need contact details then okay but, if you have my address, you can't have my phone number as well.  If you need to contact me
    then write." Happy

    For those that insist on a telephone number, I give them an old mobile number that I don't answer or keep charged up.  Wink

    photo 78301b06-7bdd-45fe-8ae2-d4d2cae14135_zpssi5htrez.jpg

    Write your comments here...

    Good idea Jill.

  • Rubytuesday
    Rubytuesday Forum Participant Posts: 952
    edited April 2016 #8

    Nearly every time we buy something they always want your email,telephone , post code ect

    now we are X directory if I have to give our home number i make a point to them saying they must tick the box refusing to give them permission to contact me for canvassing, doesn't always work but I recieve very very little amount of calls, in some cases
    we have given our mobile if I recieve a canvassing call I blast them and then block there number,

    so it certainly sounds like your power supplier has given your details to them, 

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #9

    Yes, there's a lot of money to be made selling names, addresses, telephone numbers and Email addresses to third parties.

  • tombar
    tombar Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited April 2016 #10

    WinkCalled Freedom of Information Act

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited April 2016 #11

    Which, of course, contradicts the Data Protection Act!

  • tombar
    tombar Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited April 2016 #12

    Totally agree redfaceWink

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #13

    I'm absolutely sick of cold callers.  It doesn't matter how many times we join blocking sites and not allow our number to be shared by companies, they still manage to get through.  These days I just stop them mid sentence and tell them we don't take calls
    from companies,then hang up.

    David 

  • milliehull
    milliehull Forum Participant Posts: 4,760 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #14

    We noticed a big increase in cold calls when we swapped over to Sky a few years ago and we have always wondered whether they shared our contact details with various companiesUndecided. 
    We swapped back to Virgin about 18 months ago and the calls have gradually reduced and luckily we don't get too many now. I was told by the Telephone Preference Service that they can only block calls that originate in the UK and many of them don't.

  • Freelander359
    Freelander359 Forum Participant Posts: 107
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    edited April 2016 #15

    We had several calls a night for a long time until we bought  a call blocker phone and now the silence is bliss....... It wasn't very expensive and definitely worth every penny.  You can opt for no international calls and no number withheld ones. Friends and family can still call as usual.

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited April 2016 #16

    I speak welsh to them, stops them in their tracks and they are the first to hang up.

  • Kerry Watkins
    Kerry Watkins Forum Participant Posts: 325
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    edited April 2016 #17

    We let the phone go to answer machine. Surprising how no message is left!

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #18

    Thanks for all the responses.  I know how to deal with the run of the mill cold calls, PPI etc,. A lot of cold calls we get are trying to get us to buy solar panels, when we explain that we already have panels they tell us they will remove our details from
    their listings, but never do.

    This particular call has not the norm and the amount of information held by the caller was more than I would have expected from a cold caller.  Anyone else who has panels just beware of these company's

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2016 #19

    You wouldn't beleive the number of calls I get to my mobile asking for Neil Fay, whoever he is. Yet I've had the same mobile number for thirteen years. Half the time these companies have rubbish contact databases.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #20

    I do get a few unwanted texts on my mobile, British Gas wants a meter reading but I'm not with them, a Dentist keeps reminding me of missed appointments but they are 180 miles away, weekly I get asked if I'm going to the 'Dockside nightclub' at the weekend Undecided Am I missing out here! I think I'd look a little out of place Laughing

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited April 2016 #21

    We let the phone go to answer machine. Surprising how no message is left!

    We do the same. 

  • jeffcc
    jeffcc Forum Participant Posts: 430
    edited April 2016 #22

    I speak welsh to them, stops them in their tracks and they are the first to hang up.

    I am with you there cariadon, only difference is i answer in czech as i dont speak welsh but same effect!!Laughing. Use left and right arrows to navigate.

    Jdi pryc a Neotravuj me ( go away and stop bothering me)Laughing. Use left and right arrows to navigate.

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited April 2016 #23

    I tend to use plain english. Words that that have the plainest of meanings and are expressed most forcibly. One day a chap rang me back to complain about my language - he got another earful, silly litlle idiot!

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