Annoying Sales Calls
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
Canada
January 10, 2008 7:47am CST
Just received a call from my bank. They want to sell me 'hospital insurance'. You know, in case I get sick or something horrible happens to me or the family. So I said Sure send the information so I can review it before making a decision.
"Sorry Ma'am, let me sign you up and we'll send you all the information you need."
Well I'm not about to sign up for something without reviewing it first so I declined. She informed me that the first month was free so I could review the information and if I didn't want to continue with the policy all I had to do was call the toll-free number!
No Thank You!! But even after politely refusing her offer, she starts asking for my address to send the information since the first month is free. So I decline again and she insists again.
I've worked in call centers, I know the policies. First No you try again, Second No you thank them and hang up. Some centers even ask for three Nos but this lady kept insisting and insisting.
Drive me completely up the wall!
6 people like this
13 responses
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
10 Jan 08
I worked for a call center for about a week but I quite because I did not like pressureing people into things they didn't want in the first place.
There policy was you kept trying though you are given instrucions on everything they say what your respose should be.
I usually just say no and tell them to put me on their do not call list and then hand up.
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
I usually ask to be put on the do not call list as well but that never stops them. I didn't want to request it this time because it's from my bank.
@ersmommy1 (12587)
• United States
10 Jan 08
The no call list is good. But most people don't realize 2 things. One it doesn't apply for market research call centers. People doing polls and surveys for different companies. Why because they aren't selling anything. And 2 if you have done any kind of business with a company or a company affiliated with the one calling, they can call you. People need to read the small print. And it varies from state to state.
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
I'm aware of that fact however I'm in Canada and the rules are a little different! Thank you for sharing
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
10 Jan 08
Just curious, don't know if this is just in America, but can't you put your phone number in the "do not call" list? It's a site you go to and when you registar your number, people can't call you for so many years..
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
10 Jan 08
ugh, sorry to hear that. Then maybe caller id or answering machine?
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
It doesn't work the same way in Canada. Every company has their own do not call list, it isn't national.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
10 Jan 08
We are on the no-call list so we dont get many calls. But i find it funny that salespeople can get around it if you have a "relationship" with a company such as telephone, bank or cable. I dont like the idea of a bank trying to sell me insurance. It is bad enough when they try to get you on financial things. Nuts to that!
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
The odd thing was that I couldn't scan the information before making a decision. It's like giving me a car, saying I can test drive it for a month but I can't look at the contract, the fine print or know it's features first.
@anonymili (3138)
•
10 Jan 08
What interested me most about your post is that you said the call was from your bank. If it was from your bank wouldn't they know your address already? So why would this annoying sales agent be asking for your address to send the info to? YOU didn't call her or ask for the info in the first place and if she was really from YOUR bank one would assume she would already have your address!
Bahhhh you're too polite. I would've put the phone down long before it got to the stage of her hassling me for so long. God save us all from these overbearing sales people. A couple of no's should suffice, otherwise it's harrassment!
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
That's where the call got weird. I requested she send me the information, she seemed eager to since she was signing me up but needed my address. I did say to her she should have it already so she said she needed to confirm it but for security purposes couldn't read it to me. I can understand that only to a certain extent.
I'm not always polite but the deal sounded interesting enough to read over the material she refused to send me. So too bad, sorry, goodbye! LOL
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
10 Jan 08
I guess I'm just a horrible person. I don't even bother listening to them. I always just hang up. LOL
I would especially hang up if they got testy like this person did with you.
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
You're not a horrible person, you are just strong and determined not take their crap! I admire that! LOL
@ersmommy1 (12587)
• United States
10 Jan 08
I was an assistant supervisor in a call center. And worked in them for many years before that. I know that it is frustrating for the customer. It is equally frustrating for the employee. That is why there is such a high turnover rate for jobs in call centers. It is a high pressure environment.
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
Not only are the calls high pressure but the whole call center environment is. The only reason I quit my job was because they refused to provide me with an amplifier. I had a very bad ear infection and lost a lot of my hearing in my left ear. By the time I got their response to seek a hearing aid, my infection had cleared. This was the last straw for me. All they had to do was open the supply room door and hand me the proper equipment!
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
I get those as well. I have a Visa bank card, and my bank or rather a lady who reported to be from my bank credit card company, but lives in India, phoned trying to get me to get the add on policy if I was sick and could not work, and naturally neither of us understanding each other - if I buy something on credit and have not paid in advance before I charged, there is a fee.
Now with my Mastercard, they have been trying to sell me hospital insurance, and send me out a form, and some are so tricky that you really think it is the bank calling instead of someone from India trying to sell you insurance. I usually have to say no and hang up or give it to my husband, it seems they will take no for an answer when they hear a man's voice.
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
Sometimes it's fun to play with their mind too and turn the questions around. I've done that. Especially when it's so obvious they are reading from a script. I'll ask them their opinion, why they chose this job, if they enjoy it, all questions they are not allowed to answer! It's so funny to hear them squirm. But honestly I do feel for them!
@dfinster (3528)
• United States
11 Jan 08
I can't stand pushy sales people. Thank goodness for caller ID because if it says "out of area" I know it's a telemarketer and I don't bother to pick up the phone. I hate it when they call in the middle of dinner or early on a Saturday or Sunday morning when I'm sleeping in.
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
11 Jan 08
Sometimes I will receive this kind of call and I never understand where they get my information. My bank also offered this for me but I am not interested in it at all. As I don't trust the insurance companies. Yes, it's quite easy for you to give them money and they ensure you quite a lot of benefits. However, once you are really in trouble, I don't think they will give the money back to you as easy as you give them.
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
11 Jan 08
Well as long as you have a copy of the contract and you have read every single fine print there is, you should be ok. Sometimes getting the money is a hassle, I agree since you have to prove so much but in the long run, it's worth it. After my car accident in November, I would never consider driving a car without insurance. We were so well taken cared of, rental car at our disposal, extra money, caring people, well worth it!
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
10 Jan 08
Hello dear friend. I can understand how annoying it is when the salesgirl kept calling and calling, especially in the case when you have no desire to get any service from them at all. I am sorry for the annoying call to you, dear friend.
But let's think it from a different angle. I mean, from the angle of the salesgirl. I think that any company needs such a employee like her, who is so persistent and patient in doing business and trying to sell their goods and service. I am sure that she would do a good job when she could persuade one customer after her hard work. lol.
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
Well when you put it that way, I'm sure this company is darn proud to have an employee like her! Way to go for pushing people into purchasing what they don't want! LOL gosh!
@princessa200145 (616)
• United States
10 Jan 08
i hate sales people calling me for anything i say no and if they are insistent i just hang up on them most of it is bs and i am not going to give out important information about my finances to anyone i hate it when they even call on sundays give me a break
@glitzypurple (1477)
• Philippines
10 Jan 08
They do that all time! I've received tons of calls from credit card companies offering me hospital insurance, life insurance etc... When I say no, they talk and talk making it hard for you to butt in, they just go on and on..! Makes me think that I'm just wasting my time so I keep on saying no. hehe.
1 person likes this
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
I've had this one company call me constantly to consolidate my credit cards. Didn't matter how many times I told them I didn't have any, they still insisted. As if it's impossible to believe someone doesn't own a credit card! LOL
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
10 Jan 08
Sales calls are so annoying! So are the election recordings that have been going on lately! My husband and I only use cell phones so we aren't running into this problem much, but when I am at my mom and dad's house..they get SO many!
There is usually that long pause while you are being connected to someone, I would say hello only once, if I got no answer I would hang up.
Now with my brother being Iraq, that no longer works. When he calls it comes up, "Unknown Caller" and there is the time delay. So, I can't use that method anymore, I would HATE to accidentally hang up on my brother!
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
• Canada
11 Jan 08
Oh that would be horrible! It's not easy to get through in the first place!
