Thread: Nuisance calls purportedly from Telstra/Austel

I turn it around on them, and try to sell them timber or pens or anything else I can think of, when they so no they're not interested I get pushy as hell to the point they hang up on me.

Originally Posted by shedbound

I turn it around on them, and try to sell them timber or pens or anything else I can think of, when they so no they're not interested I get pushy as hell to the point they hang up on me.

I've done that and got them to hang up, also sworn at them and hung up, also simply hung up, told them I'm not interested etc. They still call back again and again.

I was actually hoping that maybe someone else had already followed up on this and could answer some of my earlier questions.

After all, each time they ring we still have to drop everything and answer the phone and listen for a bit to find out who it is. In my case, more often than not that means dropping everything and running about 20m in from the shed for nothing, about every second day. Actually, it's more like 60m when I think about it. I neither need the exercise nor the annoyance.

I don't get many valid calls - these characters outnumber the valid calls ~ 9 to 1.

No. They can't access your PC/router via a phone call.

They are either trying to churn you to another provider or simply get your credit card details.

Valid reps will always confirm your account details - date of birth, customer billing address sort of stuff.

The last call that I had like that had an indian woman's voice - so I treated it like a phone sex call, in between leading them on that I was interested. She hung up on me!

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

No. They can't access your PC/router via a phone call.

They are either trying to churn you to another provider or simply get your credit card details.

Valid reps will always confirm your account details - date of birth, customer billing address sort of stuff.

The last call that I had like that had an indian woman's voice - so I treated it like a phone sex call, in between leading them on that I was interested. She hung up on me!

Thanks for that. I didn't really think they could access my computer, but just thought I'd ask. I won't bother turning off the modem each time now.
They've never mentioned changing to another provider - they always say they are Telstra, my current provider, or Austel. They've never asked for any CC or other details, either.

I just got another call from the same guy - asked if I'd finished my meal, then launched into his spiel again.

I interrupted and told him to shut up and listen to me for a minute, then went on to say that these were just nuisance calls, that I am on the 'Do Not Call' register and so they are also illegal. Said that I would ring Telstra directly in the morning and that they could tell me of any changes to my billing.
Also told him that I have his phone number and would pass that on to Telstra as well. (I don't really.)
Finished by saying to never call this number again, then hung up.

Do you think this will stop the calls? Of course not. Worth a try though.
(I will ring Telstra in the morning.)

I sure wish my phone had a means of blocking certain numbers, like my email 'Blocked Senders' list.
Edit: Does anyone know if landline phones can be bought that do have this feature?

Can't block them in any practical way. They are typically VOIP calls and can originate from essentially any number in Australia, sometimes even from hacked business PABX systems.

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Can't block them in any practical way. They are typically VOIP calls and can originate from essentially any number in Australia, sometimes even from hacked business PABX systems.

These calls appear to be from an Asian call centre, but that doesn't change what you said. If they're using VOIP or hacking another connection, no go.

Pity, while it's uppermost in my mind I just did a quick search on eBay and found some phones with caller ID and call screening, which I assume means the ability to block calls from a landline or mobile.
Just sent one seller a message to verify this. Sounds like it wouldn't help though.

In order to do the blocking, the calling party needs to have calling number ID enabled, otherwise it just comes up as 'Private number'. I'd dearly love to block all calls that didn't provide caller id, but I have one relative that has a private phone number, plus many government departments have calling ID turned off. Since I refuse to have a mailbox, I need some way to be contactable!!!!

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

In order to do the blocking, the calling party needs to have calling number ID enabled, otherwise it just comes up as 'Private number'. I'd dearly love to block all calls that didn't provide caller id, but I have one relative that has a private phone number, plus many government departments have calling ID turned off. Since I refuse to have a mailbox, I need some way to be contactable!!!!

Oh. I thought only the party being called had to have caller ID enabled, and of course, I'd have to pay Telstra extra for the service.

I'm considering getting rid of the landline altogether, simply unplugging it, and switching to VOIP.
I used to use Skype a lot online for voice + vid, not the phone though although I have one. Then I could give my Skype number/ID to those I want to call me and ignore everyone else.

Edit: Or do Skype calls still come to my landline number? I never did learn anything about the Skype phone, just used my microphone and a webcam.

No idea with Skype. Never used it. Too 'facebooky' for me.

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

No idea with Skype. Never used it. Too 'facebooky' for me.

According to my brother, who keeps trying to talk me into using the Skype phone, it operates just like a normal phone, at a tiny fraction of the cost, using VOIP. No need to use the other Skype features.
I used to use Skype video conferencing for a bike club I belonged to, for $10/month. It's good for stuff like that. Cheap, worldwide video calls. You get to see what everyone looks like and can have live 'Show and Tell'.

I keep losing or dropping mobiles, that's why I don't have one of them.

Looks like there's no answer to my problem except possibly a private number on the landline.

These people must be getting my number from the phone book, because they always know my name.

Whenever I receive a telemarketing call I ask them for their card number. They ask what card do I mean. I reply that I take visa or mastercard, I accept either.

They typically ask why I want the card number, to which I reply that it is for the $50 fee for calling this number. This usually gets a "why is there a fee" type of question. I reply that if they give me their card number I can tell them.

It usually comes out like a monty python sketch but it usually gets me on to THEIR do not call register.

Give it a try.

Doug

Originally Posted by doug3030

Whenever I receive a telemarketing call I ask them for their card number. They ask what card do I mean. I reply that I take visa or mastercard, I accept either.

They typically ask why I want the card number, to which I reply that it is for the $50 fee for calling this number. This usually gets a "why is there a fee" type of question. I reply that if they give me their card number I can tell them.

It usually comes out like a monty python sketch but it usually gets me on to THEIR do not call register.

Give it a try.

Doug

I like this idea Doug.

I've heard of a case of someone sending bills to senders of junk mail by post, for handling costs. It was on Current Affair or similar some years back. The surprising bit was that some companies actually paid the bill. (Possibly without looking at it too closely.)

Well, surprise, surprise - the data entry for the phone directories is keyed in India. So someone working in the data entry company just copies and sells off the data for a quick rupee.

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Well, surprise, surprise - the data entry for the phone directories is keyed in India. So someone working in the data entry company just copies and sells off the data for a quick rupee.

I didn't know that. So they don't even need to get a copy of the phone book.

I had a friend years ago that worked for a phone marketing company and they used to rip up a Melbourne phone book and give their callers a section each to work through.

When I ring Telstra tomorrow, I'll ask about a private number. That seems to be the most likely answer to the problem.