Automated nuisance calls have become festive now

@Asylum (47893)

Manchester, England

December 4, 2015 3:39pm CST

We have all received many automated telephone messages asking if we have had an accident at work or informing us that some government scheme may grant us a free cavity wall insulation etcetera. Many of these have been around for a few years and the identical tape is played every time we answer the telephone. Today I received the free boiler call, which suggests that I may qualify for a brand new free boiler, which I know will not happen because I do not claim any benefits. This time the recording was slightly different because Jingle Bells was being played in the background. It seems rather desperate to attempt to attract people by trying to create a festive atmosphere.

15 people like this

14 responses

@Rollo1 (16676)

• Boston, Massachusetts

4 Dec 15

Merry Christmas! You've won a free home insulation inspection and if you qualify, you can purchase our new home insulation kit! Someone tried to sell me free solar panels last night. Free to talk about, expensive to install.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Dec 15

One of the favourite deceptions is to offer a free consultation or assessment, but word it elusively.

2 people like this

@euphie (573)

• Ballymena, Northern Ireland

6 Dec 15

I don't get as many as I used to - maybe because I see it as a game to see how long I can keep them on the phone especially the Microsoft scammers...

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

6 Dec 15

The majority now tend to be recorded messages, so that is no fun any more.

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Dec 15

@euphie The majority offer the option to press 5 to speak to someone or press 9 to stop further calls.

• Ballymena, Northern Ireland

8 Dec 15

@Asylum A lot that I get are the 'press 5' for an operator, so depends on what mood I'm in..

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@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

5 Dec 15

I get so fed up with those nuisance calls, and playing festive music wouldn't make me any happier about them.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

It certainly failed to endear me to the prospect of buying anything offered.

1 person likes this

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

5 Dec 15

funny thing. I get these on the dispatch lines at work.... like really? trying to sell the tech's dispatch line creams, or get a vote?

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

I often got such calls at work before I retired. It is annoying enough receiving these at home without them telephoning work as well.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

@Jessicalynnt I rarely have any use for the landline because my mobile phone is more convenient, so I have often unplugged the telephone for days. Of course the calls still arrive because the line is connected to my printer which is fax capable, but they get a modem screech for an answer.

1 person likes this

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

5 Dec 15

@Asylum work I just hang up grumbling. we dont at home, got rid of the land line, and put all the cells on the do not call registry, that got rid of most of them

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@garymarsh6 (23979)

• United Kingdom

5 Dec 15

We do not get them on our home phone as it is ex directory and I have also registered with the phone preference service although I get them on my mobile from time to time. I tend to string them along a bit when it is a person on the end of the phone!

1 person likes this

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

@garymarsh6 I usually have fun wit he ones ta telephone and claim to be working or Microsoft. As soon as I begin to explain why they are unable to see my computer they tend to hang up on me

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

I was appalled when I first received such a call on my mobile phone. This is the absolute extreme.

2 people like this

@garymarsh6 (23979)

• United Kingdom

5 Dec 15

@Asylum I adopt a very patronising tone asking them oh perhaps you could tell me all about the accident I have had seeing as you know more than I do. They soon put the phone down Barry!

1 person likes this

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@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

4 Jan 16

Thankfully I seem to have avoided those so far.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Jan 16

I am very surprised to hear that anyone has managed to avoid those pointless telephone calls.

1 person likes this

@mysdianait (66005)

• Italy

5 Dec 15

When I was in UK four years ago I remember there were many of those calls. When I returned here I got rid of my landline and have only my mobile phones and I never receive any calls of that type on either of them. I guess I am missing out on hearing the Christmas music too. How sad - NOT!

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

I can always redirect those calls to your mobile.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

@mysdianait I shall just pick a number at random. It may be long shot but I could guess the right one by chance.

1 person likes this

@mysdianait (66005)

• Italy

5 Dec 15

@Asylum Not without knowing the number methinks

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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

4 Dec 15

The only nuiscance calls I get are wrong number calls. We've not received telemarketing calls in such a long time, partially due to no landline.

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Dec 15

Oh what pity, that means you will miss out on all the background festive music.

@sofssu (23660)

•

7 Dec 15

I used to get similar call before i registered on the no call registry. I have done that for both my landline and my mobile phone. They find odd hours to call you and i found it very annoying.

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

7 Dec 15

Yes, they do seem to know when to call and cause the greatest inconvenience.

1 person likes this

@Marilynda1225 (91013)

• United States

5 Dec 15

I am just happy that I have the ability to see who is calling and can let those nuisance calls go straight to voice mail. High Five for the inventor of caller ID

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

I keep thinking of buying a new telephone with a caller ID display.

@poehere (15123)

• French Polynesia

6 Dec 15

God I am glad they don't do that here. I would hate to answer my phone to such a call.

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

6 Dec 15

These calls can certainly be very annoying, especially if the telephone rings just as you are about to go out.

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

6 Dec 15

@poehere The majority of my contacts always use my mobile phone number, but the hospital insists on calling my landline.

1 person likes this

@poehere (15123)

• French Polynesia

6 Dec 15

@Asylum The only calls I basically get here are from my customers. Most of them use my cell phone so it is no big deal for me.

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

5 Dec 15

Perhaps they are trying to convince you that this is not the same old nonsense. I don't get any calls like this anymore. Our Do Not Call List seems to be working, fingers crossed.

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

Sadly I could still hear the recorded message playing at the same time.

1 person likes this

• Alpaugh, California

5 Dec 15

:-)

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

As soon as you give out any details they end up on a list which is sold to numerous companies.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

@Gr8bit That seems a ridiculous system because it would stop friends or relatives telephoning you from a hotel.

1 person likes this

• Alpaugh, California

5 Dec 15

@Asylum Tell me about it, I bought a BT call blocker phone but it blocks every call until you put the number in, so say I forgot to put my sisters number in I would never know she called

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@JudyEv (381815)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Dec 15

I get really annoyed with these types of calls. I usually say I'm house-sitting, especially if they can't even pronounce 'Evans' properly.

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

I expect that every recipient dislikes this intrusion, but at least I am getting a little festive music these days.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Dec 15

@Marilynda1225 The music was in the background hi a recorded message was being played.

@Marilynda1225 (91013)

• United States

5 Dec 15

@Asylum maybe the festive music is to distract you from the nuisance that will follow

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