Is it just me, or has there an increase in telemarketing calls recently? Maybe I got put onto some lists by virtue of my appearance at the CRTC telemarketing proceeding last May. I don’t think any new rules will help other than chasing call centre jobs out of Canada. But that decision was made in Parliament.
While I was at the gym this past week, we had some ideas about how to deal with those pesky telemarketing calls. Given that the discussion took place in a gym environment, the actual proposals have been laundered for publication.
Whenever the phone rings with ‘that dead-air silence’ at the other end of the phone, get ready to deliver one of the following lines as soon as the marketer comes on the line:
- Your call may be monitored for quality assurance. Have we answered all your questions in a satisfactory manner?
- Can you speak slower? What are you wearing? Have you been naughty?
- Can you clean up blood stains? Lots and lots of blood. Carpet, walls, the trunk of my car?
Let me know how these work. Your ideas are welcome.