Recently I've been plagued with a Manchester number phoning me and telling me I've been involved in an accident. No matter how many times I tell them to go away they keep phoning. Well today I was ready for them. I said yes I did have an accident a couple of weeks ago but it was a little awkward to speak on the phone atm. If they could phone back on another number I'd be more than happy to talk to them. I gave them the number on which to phone me. It was the number of Tayside Police Headquarters. Hope they enjoyed the conversation.
Like it ... As long as they dont name you as the person causing them to waste police time I seem to get quite a few of the "calls about my accident" or from "BT" or "Microsoft" telling me I have a virus on my computer/ Telling me I have a faulty internet connection etc. I just dont know how to legally get rid.
I get them around this time of year because it is not long since my car insurance renewal and I had an accident 4 years ago (which was settled as knock for knock) which is still on the record because although you only declare them for 3 years I haven't changed insurers since. Clearly they are just selling the record of everyone who has a claim on their record. I am going to use that line next time they ring though. Quality.
I'd very much doubt there will be any come back on me. Firstly the maggots only have my mobile number not my name and I'm sure they will talk to a civil clerk and not Dicks on of Dock Green. Hopefully the fright might put them off phoning me although the satisfaction of shouting FK Off is Always there if they continue to phone.
We used to get nuisance calls. I contacted the Police and they advised me to buy an Acme thunderer referees whistle. When a number came up we didn't recognise a long blast on the whistle saw the caller end the call pretty quick.
I tell them I was in the ‘supposed’ accident, and when they ask where and when it was, I reply that as a result of it, I suffer from amnesia.
Best one I had was years ago when an 'Asian' sounding gentleman called 'Michael' !? called to tell me that he worked for 'Windows' and that I had a virus which they could fix but needed remote access to my machine. I assured him I had no such thing several times and there was absolutely no way that I would allow him, or anyone else for that matter, remote access to my computer. After he kept assuring me it was not a scam, I pointed out that "Windows" is an operating system not a company and I knew this because I was , at the time, an MCP+MCSE (a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer). he then told me -delightfully- to "F*ck off then" and hung up.
Yeah, they're definitely not looking at a list of people with a claim on their record. I get calls as well and my record is clean. The only accident I've ever been in was 1) 15 years ago and 2) on my dad's insurance and 3) in a different country (so insured in a different country as well). They just ring whoever and see if they are succesful. They're not spending money on getting an accurate list.
The E in MCSE is Expert - they tried but are not legally allowed to call it an Engineer. Scoff MCSE Productivity, Cloud and Server, MCP Exchange. VCP DCV. First time I got the call, I talked them from memory through the desktop of a Linux OS - that confused them for a while until they hung up on me. Second time I talked through the operation of the landing window.
Interesting - I passed mine in 2000 . Interestingly my certificate and docs did say Engineer so not sure when they had to stop using it. I would be so out of touch with it all now as and ended up working in IT/ Telecoms/CTI Genesys Outbound then onto VoIP all of which had very little to do with anything I learned on the MCSE courses. I dont even think QoS signalling came into use until after that date. I do remember we had a really rude acronym for learning the 7 layers of OSI involving lady parts and how to satisfy them. Have you still got the the 'cheesy' gold blue and black lapel that came with your certificates when you when you passed all the units? Typical Corporate American stuff.
They've stopped with the pin badges (still got an old one lying around I think) and the certificates - although you can download them. Its all pretty crap, but it keeps the job pimps and management happy. You don't need to bother with the OSI layer anymore - thats too difficult for the kids
I do - it means I dont get marketing calls from anyone reputable just the scam ones who dont care - some of them even come up number witheld.
Just as well if - I'll send you the acronym we were given to learn it - High class establishment I trained at tha' nose.
After May, the quote that *should* work is "Under the terms of GDPR I request that my personal information is deleted from your systems.". Make a note of who they are, and after the second call report them to the ICO. They should then be investigated and face a fine for breaching that reputation - this could be millions...
If I have time my favourite game with them is to string them along (without giving any information about anything). If they hang up before I do, I've won. That's what usually happens!
