Telephone Preference Society - what is the point of it?
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Have any other money.co.uk users registered with the TPS? I ask as I did so some yaers ago and have not seen a reduction in sales calls especially calls for my father-in-law who passed away three years ago and despite alerting the TPS to this, I am still receiving calls for him.
I fail to see how they prevent unwanted sales calls especially given that this service is funded by the direct marketing industry, whose very existence is based upon marketing their clients services to the populace by whatever means they can.
If you do attempt to register a complaint with TPS against repeated sales calls unless you are able to provide the name, address, telephone number of the company calling you, it would appear that you cannot proceed with your complaint and how often do these callers offer that information (?) and if you are to ask for this they simply hang up!!
Yet again another 'consumer' body that lacks any real clout or bite!
Responses (4)
Very interesting, Parchester!
I've considered registering with the TPS, but friends and family have given mixed reactions to its usefulness. Even the review sites give mixed reports.
One thing that bothers me is that it can also prevent calls you do want getting through! An old boss of mine told me that she couldn't get through to any of the staff if she called us using the company phone!
I've registered with it but still get some sales calls. I didn't realise that they weren't able to do anything if you don't have all those details. Like you say it seems ridiculous and completely pointless.
I am registered with the TPS and at first it did cut down on unwanted calls, but the TPS website states: "...as TPS registration only prevents marketing calls, organisations will still be able to call you for the purposes of genuine market research." - and thereby lies a get-out. I have recently had numerous calls, all with a time gap which means they are computer generated and almost certainly from an Indian call centre. The caller states that this is not a sales call and he/she would like to ask some questions for market research. Oh yes (in sarcastic voice). I will certainly not answer questions to a cold call and these are becoming more and more frequent. TPS is useless against these calls.
Yes, Sidesalad, this is what many of my family and friends have told me. Rather defeats the purpose, doesn't it!
I don't get any cold calls at all, I don't know what the problem is lol!! =]
Maybe you scare them off, Hetley! ;-)
If you want some, I can give the ones I get your number...
lol! erm... yeah, about that... no thanks =]
I get one call once every 2 weeks from a debt company calling for somebody with a very weird foreign name. But I'm getting O2 to change my number and pay me compensation too. not bad considering I paid £0.07 a month for the last quarter as well as getting of the £90 moving fee, it's just too easy!
Ok, Hetley, since you're not that keen! Lol!
Wow, you're an example to us all...what's your secret?!
I found that when I'm agressive and a bit of muppet to them on the phone, they do what needs to be done to resolve the issue but don't go out of their way.
So... I befriend them whilst their 'searching the system' lol! Had a chat with a guy at directline about his first car and how he's in debt. He then told me how direct line work their insurance quotes which was quite interesting. O2 have good service anyway but because I have 2 mobiles with them as well they are never too pushy anyway. They charged me the £0.07 for 3 months and then tried to back date it, I just said it was their fault and I'm not paying it. Then complained that I was wrongly advised about an energy coming to my house so booked a day of work and he only wen to the exchange. So they didn't charge the £90 either (even though I didn't book a day off). They are so used to people being an arse to them that if you do it politely you get all sorts of goodies!!
I'm always polite, but don't seem to get those kind of goodies! :-(
I'm registered with TPS and I get no cold calls. However, I'm x directory so that may be the reason?
However, I'd like to know how to stop unwanted text messages. That really winds me up. (actually, I'll ask a question about that!)
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I think it often stops 'with held numbers' or at least it is meant to!
I am just angry that they keep asking for a man who died three years ago and when you ask them to delete this information, they hang up!!
I can see why you're angry, Parchester...and the very least the callers could do is apologise and carry out your very reasonable request.
Also the TPS should do as you request out of decency. Why on earth don't they consider it an exceptional circumstance?!
I thought it just meant you were taken off the legitimate calling lists for big companies. I didn't realise it blocked withheld numbers.
It must be horrible to get calls like that Parchester.
I should add that I'm ex-directory, registered with the TPS and still with held numbers from sales people get through. My real beef is that these faceless people with indistinguishable accents keep calling for a man who died three years ago and won't take his name off their database's. There should be a central place where detahs can be reported to and by law all marketing lists have to change to reflect this.
I know of some people who have been caused needless distress by sales people whom ask for a person who has recently died and rather than sensitively agree to take the name of, appear to get some morbid delight in constantly hounding people.
This isn't and can't be right and any marketing company that continues to promote their interests over and above those of the people whom they are calling and intruding into their lives, should be made to harshly suffer the consequences of their actions.