Whirlpool

I hate telemarketing any day of the week but have persisted in being polite when it comes to 'local' companies.

Twice this month I have had calls from Telstra attempting to have me switch to their company. The first time I politely explained to the person on the other end that I wasn't interested and could he please have my name removed from their call list, his response was to hang up in my ear and leave me with an engaged tone.

Again tonight someone from Telstra rings; yes I'm in the middle of my dinner and I busted my ass all day at work from 6am this morning and after this small dinner break with my family I will be doing another solid 5-6hrs of work but I remain calm and polite, a similar scenario occurs, only this time I explain that I'd previously asked to be removed from their call list, to which the chap responded we're just trying to make your phone bill cheaper for you to which my response was thank you but I would really like to be removed from your call list, again the person on the other end hangs up in my ear.

Now Telstra, if this is how your marketing department trains it's staff you really are a bunch of freaking morons, do you think I will EVER in a pink frapping fit pick your rude ass company? NOT ON YOUR NELLIE!

Whatever it is, writes...

Twice this month I have had calls from Telstra attempting to have me switch to their company. The first time I politely explained to the person on the other end that I wasn't interested and could he please have my name removed from their call list, his response was to hang up in my ear and leave me with an engaged tone.

Same thing happened to me about a month ago...I was very polite on the phone and advised him that they called me 5 times already and that I would like to be removed from the list...He raised his voice said "were not the only call centre in australia you know!" and then hung up...

So i lodged a complaint with Telstra and they said they will investigate and gave me case numbers and everything...

Make a complaint straight away!

Oh yeah and if Telstra ever call again, before saying hello I will ask for their employee id...

One thing I find funny is Soul's latest advertising. They say at the end "You will never have to speak to Telstra again."

But if you change from Telstra they will call you all the time asking you to come back, so how can the advert be true...

Whatever it is, writes...

NOT ON YOUR NELLIE!

Grow up. www.donotcall.gov.au.

MisterEd writes...

But if you change from Telstra they will call you all the time asking you to come back, so how can the advert be true...

You don't have to speak to them - you can just hang up on them :)

Whatever it is, writes...

Twice this month I have had calls from Telstra

Most of the time it isn't Telstra, or Optus, but marketing companies who are just resellers. I just say "Sorry, not interested" and hang up - it's not that difficult..

I find that if you abuse them, they tend not to ring back.

(Before anyone whines, I have absolutely no sympathy for salesdroids working in call centres. Zero. If they don't like it, they can work elsewhere.)

bambbbam writes...

Most of the time it isn't Telstra,

quite true - I recently had a call from someone "Representing Telstra" so I asked what company he worked for.

He said "blahblah marketing company" so I hung up on him.

Whatever it is, writes...

Now Telstra, if this is how your marketing department trains it's staff you really are a bunch of freaking morons, do you think I will EVER in a pink frapping fit pick your rude ass company? NOT ON YOUR NELLIE!

The calls are made by companies such as TSA Group ( www.tsagroup.com.au ).

Telstra contracts companies to do telemarketing on its behalf.

I also received a call from Telstra recently. (or whatever sales company is pretending to be them...). Trying to move my phone service back over to them.

I advise them "no thanks, its a requirement of my internet provider and telstra don't provide the same download quota".
The rep on the other end then sounded like they got a bit angry and spat back at me "how do you know that telstra don't offer it, what's your download limit now?".. to which i reply
"i have 60GB onpeak and 60GB offpeak.. so 120GB a month".

They then just hung up on me, not even a "ok thanks for your time" or anything...

Is it just me or are they getting ruder and ruder each time?

oscyaki writes...

Telstra contracts companies to do telemarketing on its behalf.

Nope, they also do some telemarketing themselves.

I am not sure if this works. A friend sms me this telstra number 1800039059 to optout telstra marketing calls. If not, go get a silent number.

michael j writes...

Grow up. www.donotcall.gov.au.

I find it really retarded that a Government website makes it so hard for a person to submit an online application form. I continuously got the captcha letters wrong, and after 3 attempts diligently told me I should try to ring them to register my numbers...

I think their captcha needs more of a visual difference between upper-and-lower case.

oscyaki writes...

The calls are made by companies such as TSA Group ( www.tsagroup.com.au ).

Telstra contracts companies to do telemarketing on its behalf.

TSA do not sell for telstra... they are an airtime reseller.. poseing as telstra.

I can usually tell if a telemarketer calls or not before they even open their mouth. As soon as I pick up the telephone and there is a slight silenced pause after i say "Hello?", I hang up straight away. It's usually the result of their call center queue system getting ready for the call. This results in them thinking the line is busy, and they never call back.. I won't have to do it any more hopefully due to subscribing to the Do Not Call Register.

Whatever it is, writes...

Now Telstra, if this is how your marketing department trains it's staff you really are a bunch of freaking morons, do you think I will EVER in a pink frapping fit pick your rude ass company? NOT ON YOUR NELLIE!

I can just imagine the Telstra execs reading whirlpool. lol.

`DaJ0Pe writes...

TSA do not sell for telstra... they are an airtime reseller.. poseing as telstra.

They do winbacks for Telstra at their Murray St centre. One of my friends works for them there and does home phone and BigPond telemarketing.

michael j writes...

Grow up.

Oh, sorry, ur right, my sense of humor is a little immature along with my sarcastic undertone. BTW grown ups spell their names with capital letters xP

Whatever it is, writes...

Oh, sorry, ur right, my sense of humor is a little immature along with my sarcastic undertone. BTW grown ups spell their names with capital letters xP

Hmm, you have an issue with my first name not being capitalised, yet you use the words "ur".

I think you should post something more constructive.

bambbbam writes...

I just say "Sorry, not interested" and hang up

I just hang up, they're a bunch of parasites. I hate telemarketers and doorknockers (charities are the worst offenders)

They should pass a law where all Australian telemarketers must have a caller ID that when dialled will get you to someone at the call centre where you can ask for the supervisor and make a complaint.

I'm sick of rude telemarketers hanging up on me. Especially when you dont know their company name or how to contact them back to make a complaint!

~pi~ writes...

I just hang up, they're a bunch of parasites. I hate telemarketers and doorknockers (charities are the worst offenders)

The religious fanatics come to the door with little children in tow. Makes it difficult to throw a vat of hot fat over them.

Alex R. writes...

They should pass a law where all Australian telemarketers must have a caller ID that

recently our outbound centre (telstra) have had to give an actual number show up on the customers phone rather than the 4 x's so the customer can call back , didnt get the info why but assuming some change of law

drahcir writes...

recently our outbound centre (telstra) have had to give an actual number show up on the customers phone rather than the 4 x's so the customer can call back , didnt get the info why but assuming some change of law

I assume it's under the new Do Not Call Register Legislation which requires that telemarketers now identify themselves and who they work for.

New regulations were also passed recently providing greater control over telemarketers (what times they can call) etc etc.

As has already been mentioned you can register your number with www.donotcall.gov.au to stop some telemarketing. Unfortunately charitable callers and political callers can still call if you are on that list.

Under the new legislation companies like Telstra are held responsible for telemarketing companies they contract with so that also covers telemarketers in India etc.

Cronessa writes...

Unfortunately charitable callers and political callers can still call if you are on that list.

i believe if you are a customer of xyz company they can still call you as well

I assume it's under the new Do Not Call Register Legislation which requires that telemarketers now identify themselves and who they work for.

yep that sounds right, it also takes a bit of the hassle out of wether or not a customer believes we work for telstra or not