Habitat Lifestyles cold call

You know I love cold callers…

*RING RING*

Hello, is that Mr Black?
If you say so.
I am from Habitat Lifestyle & I’d like a minute to talk to you and ask some questions please.
Sure. A minute.
Is your address 123 Fir Drive?
You tell me…
And is your phone number 0123 456789?
You called me…
Okay, thank you.
No problem. My pleasure.
Please can you tell me, is your age group between 45 and 55?
Well, first can you verify who you are?
Excuse me?
I’m about to answer personal questions, so I’d like to verify who you are.
I’m from Habitat Lifestyles…
Yes, but I need to know who YOU are…
I… Me… (now confused) I… I’m Daniel…
Okay Daniel. Hi.
Hello…
What’s your mother’s maiden name?
My mother’s…
…maiden name. Yes.
Why do you need to know?
I need to verify who you are. Please tell me so I can check on my computer. It won’t take a moment.
I can’t give you…
Sure, it’s just for verification. I need to check your details…
You can check that..?
I have my computer system waiting…
Estelle Limehouse… (now really unsure).
And the name of your first pet?
I’m from Habitat Lifestyles…
Yes, and I just need your first pet’s name… You understand?
I’m just calling from Habitat Lifestyles…
I know you say that, but I need to verify it. I mean I could be calling you from the Moon!
You’re on the MOON?!?
Of course not. You asked my address earlier. That would be silly Daniel, wouldn’t it?
I, erm… Yes?
Ha! The Moon! Imagine that!
Can I ask my questions now?
Well, not really… You’ve been over a minute already.

*click*

So much fun.

My guide on enjoying them.

Cold Call Stress Relief

Tips for dealing with sales/insurance/PPI calls etc.

Don’t hate them: ENJOY THEM!

I go for it with them I’ve had them swearing at me and slamming the phone down after 20 minutes of getting no where.

General just playing along with:

Misunderstanding what they’ve said.
THEM: ‘I’m calling regards your recent car crash…‘
ME: ‘Oh dear! I hope you are okay? We’re you hurt?‘

Repeating back what they’ve said in the form of a question:
THEM: ‘No, I’m calling regards your recent car crash…‘
ME: ‘You’re calling regards my recent car crash?‘

Bouncing back their questions:
THEM: ‘First I need some details to prove who you are.‘
ME: ‘Sounds reasonable. I’ll need some details from you for the same reason. What was your mother’s maiden name?‘

This can go on quite a while. Especially when they’ve read out the really long sales script they have to use and you then say ‘I’m sorry, it’s a bad line, can you repeat that?‘

Using the above multiple times in the same call winds them up, but just as they start to lose it, when they start getting really frustrated, you buy in to the sale and give them hope, but then say ‘I think I’ll take you up on this offer, but I do apologise, this line really is terrible, please can you call me straight back?’

They call back & you start all over again.

The last one I had started:

THEM: ‘Is that Mr. Lucas Black?‘
ME: ‘Is it?‘
THEM: ‘Are you Mr. Black?’
ME: ‘Am I?‘
THEM: ‘You are Mr. Black?‘
ME: ‘You seem pretty positive, so you’re probably right.‘
THEM: ‘So, you are Mr. Black?‘
ME: ‘Now I’m unsure. Who do you want to talk to?‘

Tip: Talk slowly and unsurely. It gives them confidence and relaxes them. They think you’ll be an easy mark.

From my phone

From my phone, originally uploaded by L.B.

Just testing if I can picture blog from my phone. How very exciting!