Sales calls at work.
You can always tell in about 2 seconds if the call you have just answered is a cold sales call. I now normally deal with them in the following way.

Phone rings:
Me: "Hello, £$%^ how can I help?"
Caller: "hi , Yes I would like to speak to XYZ"
Me: "and what might this call be regarding"
Caller: "We, have a important business opportunity for him"
Me: "OK, let me transfer you".... {hang up}

5 mins later phone rings:
Me: "Hello, £$%^ how can I help?"
Caller: "hi , Yes I just called but got cut off I would like to speak to XYZ"
Me: "and what might this call be regarding"
Caller: "We, have a important business opportunity for him"
Me: "OK, let me transfer you".... {hang up}

Repeat until they give up or get irate.

It always gets a few laughs in the office as different people get the same caller and repeat the same procedure.
(NateGS nooob, Fri 4 Sep 2009, 10:25, 7 replies)

Pathetic...
The thing is, cold sales calls at work are a vital part of any business, and can often be helpful to potential clients.

You name me a business that doesn't use a telephone to get prospects/business and I'll show you a corner shop or bankruptcy.
( disasterprone "Pyjamas caused the Holocaust", Fri 4 Sep 2009, 10:36, closed)

..or a profession
As an accountant, I am not allowed to cold call by the rules of my recognised supervisory body (The ACCA).

When was the last time you were cold called by a firm of accountants, solicitors or a medical practice?
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Fri 4 Sep 2009, 10:46, closed)

...or an undertaker
?
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Fri 4 Sep 2009, 11:00, closed)

Ooh
Who do I have to call about people breaking those rules, I was once employed by an accountant to cold call on their behalf.
(mon bison powered by magnets, Fri 4 Sep 2009, 11:07, closed)

Their recognised supervisory body (ACCA, ACA, ICAEW etc)
the problem is, "accountant" is not a protected term so any old fucker can call himself an accountant. If they belong to an organisation like the above, phone them up and tell them. It is unprofessional and breaks ethical guidelines.

Another problem is that there are some micky-mouse accounting bodies, with names like "The British Accountancy Organisation" where you dont have to pass any exams or have supervised practical experience signed off.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Fri 4 Sep 2009, 11:27, closed)

Erm! us actually.
We never cold cold for customers and we are going strong even in this recession.

I will be stealing this idea for the next cold caller who bothers me.
( girlinthehole, Fri 4 Sep 2009, 13:46, closed)

Every single high-street shop.
Other than banks and mobile shops of course. I suspect even you could name more companies that don't use cold-calling compared to those that do.

(Note: I actually wrote out a long list of companies in my town that I know for a fact don't use cold-calling, either to their customers, or behind the scenes. It was so long I deleted it).
( OneSullenBrit *air sandwiches*, Sat 5 Sep 2009, 23:08, closed)