This has to be the way forward

[twofoot]

If someone applies what's below to DCA's they will soon change their stance.

 

A businessman plagued by nuisance phone calls offering compensation for Payment Protection Insurance has secured £220 in an out-of-court settlement.

Richard Herman, 53, was so fed up with the unwanted calls arriving from India, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He warned the company that, in future, he would invoice them £10 for every minute of his time they used.

When the calls continued he began recording them before finally invoicing the company £195 for their use of his "time, telephone and electricity".

Upon receipt of the invoice the marketing firm acting on behalf of UK-based PPI Claimline Ltd, denied making the calls. When Mr Herman revealed he had recorded evidence, they still refused to pay.

But when Mr Herman filed a claim in the small claims court for the unpaid invoice - plus £25 in costs - the company offered to settle the debt out of court and transferred £220 into his bank account.

Mr Herman said: "I kept being called, as we all do, and I thought the only way for them to stop would be for me to speak to them and say, 'For goodness sake, take me off your list!'

"Then it occurred to me to tell them that if they call again I'll charge for my time. When they continued calling I sent them an invoice for 19.5 minutes."

To encourage others to do the same Mr Herman has set up a website with examples of covering letters and invoices to send to nuisance callers.

Even though the validity of Mr Herman's original invoice was not tested in court, he believes anyone who warns cold-calling companies they will be charged if they call, have a right to invoice them.

"I did business studies at 17 and studied 'offer-and-acceptance' so I knew a verbal contract is just as valid as a written one but harder to prove.

"The recorded calls proved I did tell them I would charge for my time if they called again".

Mr Herman, who works in the telephone industry selling call-recording equipment, said his action was a last resort after asking the Information Commissioner and the Telephone Preference Service for help.

[unclebulgaria67]

I am on TPS and I still receive about 10 calls a week that I know about. PPI and insulation services seem to be the popular ones. I don't actually have a conversation to them, just pick up the phone and speak like a small child. They soon ring off.

[intend]

Story was on BBC 5 live and on website - he has set up a web site missed name - think was something like "stop unwanted calls" but can,t be sure.

 

Sales of true call to go up??

[Let Them Knock]

www.saynotocoldcalls.com

 

HTH

[sillygirl1]

I've been saying this for ages, send them an invoice, particularly when they ask "are you you or not you," or "can you confirm previous addresses" info.

[intend]

Indeed sillygirl you have - hope you have had some success.

 

Intend

[dx100uk]

tps does stop marketing calls

but the use the survey variety they claim

 

 

dx

[twofoot]

I am sure this method could be adapted for DCA's. We all know how these numpties go overboard with their automated dialing systems. If I was being pestered I'd give it a lot more thought.

[sameagle]

Usually I give a two word answer, ending in "off".

 

But if they ask for me, and I'm feeling generous, I'll say, "What's it about please, I'll try to find him for you".

 

When they tell me, I then say, "If I drag him away for that, he'll only tell you to **** off. I'll tell you what, let's save him the bother, I'll tell you to **** off".

 

And don't quote this law, or that law, 'cos I've done it for years, and they daren't.

 

Sam

[phaitun]

sent crapquest a complaint letter last month telling them my hourly rate is £35, their rubbish takes me away from my work and in the absence of any proof i owe them anything (waiting for CCA docs over 6 months) I will charge them for every hour i spend dealing with their rubbish calls and letters.

 

funnily enough apart from a letter outlining why my complaint is not upheld by them, and a hold on the account i have heard nothing since:-D