A nice young man rang this morning

hopeful1, are you sure it was O2?

I got a guy, a few years ago, who politely and enthusiastically told me all the benefits of pomegranate, as supplied by him in capsule form. I declined to buy any and he suggested I could look at his website.

About one year later he called again and asked if I had seen the website. I had and I helpfully suggested that he should get a secure payment system on it, rather than rely on people phoning him, or answering calls like mine, and then handing over their card info.

I was very concerned that he could be losing trade because of people's reluctance to part with that vital info.

I think he was grateful to me for pointing it out.

I love these calls, they claim to be from Microsoft, the line is usually as bad as their English, I upset one guy by asking if he really worked for Microsoft how come they couldn't afford to provide a clear phone line and employ people who could speak clear English; another I wound up by asking which computer? they kept asking me to turn on my computer so I just kept asking right back which one, if I have a computer with a problem which one is it? they hung up on me!! Had lots of problems with my phone line and now I don't get the calls anymore.

Farnorth I'm not sure it was 02, could have been anyone. I don't do any business with cold callers. I go by the thought that if I want something I will go and buy it at my own prompt. Sadly can't trust anyone.

Perhaps I should have said they were claiming to belong to 02.

It's great to hear we are all very aware these are scams and they just want to take control of your computer so they can steal confidential information. Unfortunately an elderly lady in my area believed them back last year and gave them control..... police were involved and adverts went in local papers warning public of these scams.Love your reply bet his face was a picture.

A friend of my daughter's got one of those "You've had an accident" calls and sent into full blown "NOOOO!!!!!!! HOW AM I?????? NO, YOU MUST TELL ME - HOW AM I????????"

I had a cold caller one day and told him I had PMT, doh! DH said it was the quickest he's heard anyone hang up on me!

I meant PTS!

My usual response is to repeat the word 'hello' 3 or 4 times before hanging up.

Apparently my car has sometimes been involved in an accident. I tell them it wasn't me so, it must have been my husband. I can't believe he has been keeping things from me again, and it really is the last straw. That is it. The marriage is over!!

'Shall we have a few minutes talking about Jesus first' usually gets them to hang up!!

I hadn't realised so many people were doing this - how wonderful to know how often the tables are turned. My 'Microsoft' calls had stopped for a while but seem to have started again. Previously I quite liked to play with them and set myself (when I had time) to keep them on the phone for as long as possible. One poor guy ended the call with "madam you are very confused" before he hung up ... it appears they are less polite now.

I get phone calls every day from the same numbers, at first I used to answer them, most times I couldn't understand what was being said. Now I press the answer button, then just put the phone down, leave it for a minute or so, then find that surprise, surprise, they have gone, without waiting for me to speak. Quite rude of them, don't you think, after all, they were calling me!

My elderly neighbour in his eighties fell for a scam and lost about £1600. He's a lovely gentleman too.

I had same, 3 calls in one day or was it 4?
I went along and said I was doing as asked. Varying responses none so rude though. I have to say I found it a pleasant distraction in my lunchtime when working at home. Very cruel though to those not able

Oh what a laugh! The one I laughed the most at was what Tokyojo3 said about the conservatory 30ft high! I could just imagine the manager thinking about the £££ signs!

I don't answer if I don't recognise the number and wait for them to leave a message, they seldom do! Thank you all!

I feel sorry for people who are doing it as a job when it's all they can find and don't want to be on benefits. They get a lot of abuse on the 'phone and it must be difficult.

I feel sorry also for those who get conned and receive constant calls. My landline just rung and something told me not to answer it as I never get genuine calls. On using 1471 it was a number I didn't recognise with a Manchester code so I've saved my time as well as theirs!

Nuisance calls, the kind you feel sorry for stay are just that - a nuisance. People tend to either say 'no thanks' or just put the phone down on them. Not a job I'd like to do I agree - working in a call centre.

Con merchants, on the other hand, deserve any abuse they get IMO.

I'm glad to say Anya the gang that conned my neighbour into giving them his bank details were taken to court as it happened to others in the area. Poor chap, he's a lovely gentleman who is a carer for his wife and they are retired teachers so worked hard for their money and he's always very polite.

Good!

I answered the door to 2 Jovos just after being discharged from hospital. Told them I couldn't stop to talk as I'd been in hospital and wasn't feeling well. By then they'd noticed I was the hue of a daffodil and then taken big step back. One asked nervously what was wrong with me. I told him Hepatitus A and, looking horrified they rapidly left.

I have two response to cold callers, I either say ,,can't talk now , I am with my social worker!!or, if they are trying to sell me something , I ask them if they would be interested in a lovely table and chairs I am selling ,or a vacuum cleaner I don't need anymore,, they usually hang up quickly,
On one occasion I answered my phone and said, I am not supposed to be here. The wife is out and I am keeping her husband company, (not really)
I enjoy playing along with these nuisances , ?

As for computer nuisance calls, one hung up as soon as I asked 'Which computer?'. DD, who knows about these things and was having an idle morning, let one young man keep going for quite a while, giving random rubbish replies to all questions about her computer. Then shevsaid 'You have no idea what you are talking about, do you?' He hung up!

Crystalgrandma....thank you so much for the link....I'm still laughing after 10 minutes.

Certainly beats my "I'm the housekeeper,madam is out at the moment" routine.

When I told a young man selling double glazing that I lived in a cave and had no windows or doors he just said ..WOW that's amazing!