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Random Digit Dialing spam

I have just been hit with a technique called Random Digit Dialing (RDD). I keep getting cold calls on my land line telephone which we use mainly for faxing. They mostly start with a long pause as, I suspect, the computer passes the call onto an operator and not as I hope someone is stealing themselves in preparation to speak to me expecting the inevitable loud retort! I find it immensely annoying that I have to wait several seconds for someone to speak to me - not a good start and then they always mention the name of some marketing research company which I have to ask them to repeat because its mumbled - every-time. Of course I have never heard of any of these firms but my guess is that they are offshoots of the sex chat line companies. The thing is this number is x-directory so no one should be able to find the number - but they can...I mentioned to the caller that this number is x-directory and she told me that the number was rung using a technique called Random Number Dialing. So the computer just keeps trying numbers until some mug answers. We went xdirectory so that we would not get cold calls - but we are getting loads. Surely RDD must be illegal - it's socialy immoral. There should be privacy laws stopping this rubbish as it is diminishing my quality of life.

I need one of those programmes that simulates human responses to questions and I could just let that talk to them while it wastes their phone bill.

Other than just leaving the phone off the hook after you have told them you will be back in a second has anyone any other ideas about what to do with these callers?

Posted by Simon at March 29, 2006 6:16 PM

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Comments

1 March 31, 2006 11:47 AM Greg Wright

Hi Simon, I had a problem with this about a year back which resulted in me binning the answer machine and I now never answer my home phone. I'm also ex-directory. It's absolutely ridiculous because the phone companies offer no help and likewise thus far with legislation regarding RDD's legality. You're more likely to find advice on effective RDD software rather than avoiding being on the receiving end. The people who invent this kind of thing either cannot care or have no grasp of UK culture because if they did, they'd know that most of us wouldn't want to deal with a company that cold-calls you using RDD regarding a survey of no interest or a product that nobody without a lobotomy would ever buy.

In the meantime, I think plain old abuse is the answer. They've insulted you by calling in the first place, so return some swearing or references to their legitimacy perhaps.

2 August 16, 2006 10:39 AM Emmet

Hello, i work for a market research company (not for much longer) as a supervisor so i thought i'd give you some handy hints as to how to deal with market research calls.
Abuse is not the answer, how could it be? It is not an insult to be rung on the telephone, i appreciate it could be annoying but there is a sensible way to deal with things.
If someones hurls unnecessary abuse at you do you apologise and think kindly of them, no, like anyone you get annoyed and look for some form of satisfaction; ie: 'i'm going to put that back in the system so he gets called again.' Maybe the reason some induviduals recieve so many calls is because of this.
If you want to avoid being called back tell them you are not interested - it's that simple, the most the interviewer will do is ask if there is a more convenient time to call and if you say no then you won't be recalled. we don't have a problem with people refusing (i don't take part in any market research) as long as it done in a polite fashion. You wouldn't rant at someone trying to stop you in the street, you just say 'no thanks' and walk on, please extend telephone interviewers the same courtesy. Hope this helps.

3 August 16, 2006 11:14 PM Simon Cox

Good point Emmet. Your correct, abuse is not the answer. What annoys me though is that I went to great lengths many years ago to prevent marketing calls to my private number. This isn't a publicly published number - it is not in the phone book so the only way of ringing it is either by knowing the number or by hitting it with a random number generator. So from my point of view cold callers are invading my privacy - and I find that abusive.