Are other AV and GS readers being plagued and pestered by ‘phone calls we receive at any odd times from people trying to sell their goods and services or companies asking you to participate in their surveys? These calls have the habit of taking you by surprise at inopportune moments while you are having dinner or are in company or watching your favorite TV programmes. Thinking that it may be an important call which you may be waiting for, you rush to answer it only to find that somebody was wasting your time asking you to take part in their lifestyle survey! What can one do in these circumstances? I hate phone calls which interrupt my evening, especially when someone is trying to sell me something.
Recently a friend had a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft. He asked him to turn on his computer 'to fix errors'. When asked what company he was from, he said Microsoft; knowing it was a scam, the person tried to wind him up by repeatedly asking him his name and the company he worked for. The caller got quite nasty and was verbally abusive then put the phone down. If you get such cold calls, always ask the name, company and his contact number. Then say you will ring the person back. If he is genuine, he will provide the details.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
