Phone rings ... no-one there ...

[Jonny_Darko]

I get it a few nights a week. I found out it is EGG - it sounds like someone hangs up and for a few weeks I thought that was what it was, but a few seconds later there's some kind of click and then a rep says hello.

 

[Zarjazz]

I get it a few nights a week. I found out it is EGG - it sounds like someone hangs up and for a few weeks I thought that was what it was, but a few seconds later there's some kind of click and then a rep says hello.

Well I've actually done some work creating these call centre dialer's (you can shoot me later) so I know how lots of them work.

The reason for the 'silient calls' is that to get as many of the reps on the phone at any one time lots of the systems uses something call 'predictive dialing'. Basically all that means is at any moment there are several numbers being dialled and if they connect its transfered to a waiting agent (this can actually take a few seconds and is not always instant). If no agents are free, call is hangup and you hear nothing.

Legally, the centers are only allowed to make 5% silient calls at maximum out of all the numbers they dial. Also they cannot dial that same number again within the next 7 days. Naturally some companies are more honest than others about this

However they do all cross reference against the Telephone Preference List so I highly recommend this option!

 

[Doh_boy]

Legally, the centers are only allowed to make 5% silient calls at maximum out of all the numbers they dial.

Unless the engineer accidently sets it off at full-speed and it then manages to silent call a couple of thousand* in the 30 seconds it was set off before someone had a heart attack and shut it off.






*A very large number (it was a new machine and this story dates from around the start of this year) but I've forgotten.

 

[Cask]

Just got a dodgy phone call from someone claiming to be from BT. They phoned up reminding me about my unpaid phone bill (I usually wait till I get the red reminder bill) and asked if I wanted to pay it over the phone by credit card.

Had all my alarm bells ringing for a couple reasons, mainly because I was wondering why should BT care whether I pay it now or over the net in a few days, and secondly because someone might have intercepted my reminder bill (which I've been expecting any day now) and would have had all the information that she had access to like my phone number, amount on the bill etc.

I definitely thought it was dodgy but maybe I'm just being paranoid.

 

[anattic]

Just got a dodgy phone call from someone claiming to be from BT. They phoned up reminding me about my unpaid phone bill (I usually wait till I get the red reminder bill) and asked if I wanted to pay it over the phone by credit card.

This may be legit since BT have started "active-reminding" instead of the red bill. (El Reg coverage here)

 

[Tom]

If anybody cold-calls you asking for credit card details, tell them to fuck right off.

 

[~Yuckfou~]

If anybody cold-calls you asking for credit card details, tell them to fuck right off.

Indeed.

Well I've actually done some work creating these call centre dialer's

You should bugger yourself with a dildo made of barbed wire while whipping your cock with nettles tbh.


I've had this recurring again even though I'm on telephone preference. Some fucking Mobile company using an Indian call centre. It went on for a week until I final spoke to someone. You don't want to know what I said, the calls have stopped.

 

[WPKenny]

...You don't want to know what I said...

TELL US!!! TELL US!!!

 

[~Yuckfou~]

TELL US!!! TELL US!!!

It would get me banned, and I know how much you all would miss me
You would be having sleepless nights, your appetite would go. You would stop concentrating at work, and not giving your partners any attention. It would probably end in a nervous breakdown and people jumping off car parks. No I can't do that to you people.

 

[nath]

You should bugger yourself with a dildo made of barbed wire while whipping your cock with nettles tbh.

I am reminded of the fabulous Bill Hicks' speech informing people that if they work in advertising they should terminate their sorry existence most promptly.

You're both right.

 

[Ch3tan]

PM me what you said to the call center please yuck