Cold calling illegal in the UK!?

13 years ago

All I got to say is that i have been there and done that on cold calling and that is a road that you don't want to follow. Get in the social network and blog like crazy to build a list of people who want to hear from you. I rather have a list of people who want to talk to me than wasting my time with thousands that don't.

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Justin Sardi

13 years ago

Originally Posted by betterwtveter

All I got to say is that i have been there and done that on cold calling and that is a road that you don't want to follow. Get in the social network and blog like crazy to build a list of people who want to hear from you. I rather have a list of people who want to talk to me than wasting my time with thousands that don't.

I have had some of my best results with cold calling... People seem less and less willing to cold calls now days though...

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EllesBelles

13 years ago

The UK has some really strict guidance on telephone calls.

There is CTPS and TPS, and various other legally protected opt-out schemes. There is also legislation around telling people where you got there details from. You will be hit with a hard penalty if you break the rules - everyone reports cold calls round here, because they are so irritating.

If you can't afford to pay for the list, I think the only thing you can do is either try and get access via a company who don't mind sharing it with you (or if someone you know works there etc) or collecting phone numbers on a form, with a tick box for opting out of phone calls. Don't be surprised if a lot of people opt out though. I always do. It's just habit around here.

I was pretty shocked when I found out that the US doesn't have the same system, but I guess it does kill business to a certain extent.

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Marvin Johnston 13 years ago

Originally Posted by EllesBelles

I was pretty shocked when I found out that the US doesn't have the same system, but I guess it does kill business to a certain extent.

I've always liked the idea of each incoming telemarketing call giving $1.00 credit on the phone bill of the called number. In my case, the telemarketers use the phone more than I do .

But after all the pro-telemarketers here have spoken, I see them in a new light and use them to study pitches. I especially love the ones that go on and on after I tell them I am not a potential user of whatever they are selling.

I don't remember the study, but it showed an average of 22 minutes or so of lost time whenever interruptions occur. Seems high though.

Marvin

PS - Yes, I could opt out, but I don't since I feel it is corruption at work to have to opt out of interruptions.
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Capbell

13 years ago

How depressing, I made a few cold calls earlier and felt great about them. Only to find out about this, massive downer.

Argh...

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EllesBelles 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Capbell

How depressing, I made a few cold calls earlier and felt great about them. Only to find out about this, massive downer.

Argh...

Ah, that's rubbish.

Well, if everyone was polite, you probably aren't likely to get reported. And presuming it was only a few, you might get away with it even if you are reported, because I doubt everyone will.

As for what to replace it with - I was going to say mail works well, but it needs to be well-presented, properly addressed and enveloped mail, because we get so much junk. Royal Mail offer quite good rates for junk mail so there is at least 10 leaflets with each mail delivery.

I hope that the calls you did get to make come to something!
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philboy uk

13 years ago

https://www.selectabase.co.uk/tpscheck/Default.aspx

£20 PCM to use this service

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Capbell

13 years ago

I was about to post a link to Selectabase seconds after you did! Hehe.

I also found this site -http://www.electricmarketing.co.uk/ctpschecker/ which apparently allows for free checking of single numbers.

I do wonder how (why) they can offer it for free though?

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zimbizee 13 years ago

Check out this thread - you might find some useful info

Cold calling biz
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Danny Archer

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Capbell

I was about to post a link to Selectabase seconds after you did! Hehe.

I also found this site -http://www.electricmarketing.co.uk/ctpschecker/ which apparently allows for free checking of single numbers.

I do wonder how (why) they can offer it for free though?

Awesome...!! I might call them tomorrow and see how they can offer it for free however I have just run a load of numbers through it which I know are and are not registered and it was spot on every time so from testing all appears to look good!

This is a valuable tip for anyone dealing with companies in the UK for sure. Thank you Capbell!

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Capbell

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Danny Archer

Awesome...!! I might call them tomorrow and see how they can offer it for free however I have just run a load of numbers through it which I know are and are not registered and it was spot on every time so from testing all appears to look good!

This is a valuable tip for anyone dealing with companies in the UK for sure. Thank you Capbell!

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That's great news! I don't have any registered numbers, so i'm glad someone could test it. Could you please let us know what you find out on the phone?

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Danny Archer 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Capbell

That's great news! I don't have any registered numbers, so i'm glad someone could test it. Could you please let us know what you find out on the phone?

OK Guys.... Called these people up today and yes it is 100% the real TPS database up to date and will always be so.

It is 100% free to use and should remain so....

They make their money from enticing people via the free product into using the paid product which allows you to upload all your numbers in and then returns back to you the unregistered numbers for you to use..... another words they make money from bigger companies with call centres looking to verify 1000's of numbers as in their own words "verifying each number individually is quite a laborious task".

So use to your hearts content and rest assured you are now "legally" cold calling in the UK

I have tested with many more numbers today and it is spot on every time so have no reason to doubt the integrity of the site.

Hope it helps the UK off-line marketers on the WF and a BIG THANK YOU! to Capbell for finding and sharing this one Cheers dude
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freesurf

13 years ago

I too have had good results cold calling although it is not easy! - I just apologise if I come across anyone listed on the TPS, generally they are OK with it!

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Capbell

13 years ago

Quick update: I just got off the phone to ICO, and asked them about the legality of all forms of communication with business and the summary is as follows:

Direct mail is legal as long as it's to a business address.
Leaflets have no personal data so they are always okay.
Cold-emailing is legal as long as it's a business email address (Personal email address are never okay to email without prior consent)
Cold calling business is legal as long as the business is not registered with the Corporate telephone preference service or just the TPS (self-employed and partnerships can only register with TPS, so it is worth checking both databases before calling)

Back to cold calling for me

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jamtrading

13 years ago

this is a very grey subject and there are specific ways about it but cold calling is pretty much a thing of the past now...

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Andy Brown

13 years ago

I would steer clear of cold calling in the UK.

You only have to get it wrong once and your name is dirt.

Take this case reported in the BBC today:

BBC News - The cold call victim who fought back

titled "The cold call victim who fought back"

It does say:

"If you are registered with the TPS, and receive a cold call, you can complain to the TPS who will do a first round of investigations and pass the company's details on to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)."

Definitely worth reading the full article.

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IMguy123

13 years ago

The article is not a good support an argument to call on businesses...only to not call on the same person again after being told not to.

Originally Posted by Andy Brown

I would steer clear of cold calling in the UK.

You only have to get it wrong once and your name is dirt.

Take this case reported in the BBC today:

BBC News - The cold call victim who fought back

titled "The cold call victim who fought back"

It does say:

"If you are registered with the TPS, and receive a cold call, you can complain to the TPS who will do a first round of investigations and pass the company's details on to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)."

Definitely worth reading the full article.

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stevetm001

13 years ago

Just a side note... I heard that a total of... wait for it.... companies that have been prosecuted for making calls to TPS registered users is....

Are you ready..... one

And they were repeat offenders.

Not that you should do it anyway

Regards

Steve

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markcr

Banned 13 years ago

Hear the story where a guy took A PPI cold caller to the small claims court for wasting his time? They paid out before it went to court.

GREAT SRUFF. anyone cold calls me i am billing them $100 per 5 minutes...chat all day of you want. $1,000+ bill.

Cold callers ...............YUK

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PeakConfidence

13 years ago

I guess in some ways it depends what the call is on and how its done, but ill check more into it.

One guy i know will ring and ask if it is ok if he books a time to speak to somebody and then if they say yes, its not a spam call as all he is ringing for is to ask if it is ok to speak to somebody, not a sales pitch.

I guess if your selling something the company wants its cool, but i had a classic...

Some 'boy' rang me up and said "how are you isnt it a great day" (i could hear a call room in the background,

so i politely said "sorry im just busy at the moment"

He replied (in a sullen tone) well you dont sound busy"
( i burst out laughing at his rudeness) and told him well actually im not as im not working in a call centre... have a nice day ........................*boy hangs up*

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Cold calling illegal in the UK!?

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