Phone call 1:

Caller: Hi Ma’m, We are calling from Axis bank. Do you want a personal loan?
Me: No, I don’t. And I don’t remember giving my number to Axis bank at any point. Where did you get my number?
Caller: From the database Ma’m.
Me: Which database do you get it from? I have registered under Do Not Disturb and if still my number is being accessible for such Ads,  I want to raise a complaint.
Caller(Timidly): Sorry Ma’m. (Hangs up the phone)

Phone call 2:

Caller: Hi Ma’m, We are calling from ICICI bank and this call is about a free credit card. Are you interested?
Me: No, I don’t. And I don’t remember giving my number to ICICI bank at any point. Where did you get my number?
Caller(Confidently): From XXX company’s database Ma’m. (Here the company is the previous company I worked for)
Me: I don’t think companies are supposed to give away numbers like that, that too especially when I am not working there anymore.
Caller: Then you can talk to the company Ma’m. Now about the credit card…
Me: I will talk to the company and even if they give you are not supposed to call numbers registered under Do Not Disturb for advertisement purposes of your convenience. If this continues, I might have to raise a complaint on your bank.

(Caller hangs up abruptly)

Phone call 3:

Caller1: Hi Ma’m, We are calling from CITI bank. Are you interested in getting a credit card?
Me: No, I don’t. And I don’t remember giving my number to CITI bank at any point. Where did you get my number?
Caller1: From the database Ma’m.
Me: Which database do you get it from? I am asking because I have registered under Do Not Disturb and if still my number is being accessible for such Ads,  I want to raise a complaint.

(Caller1 fumbles and hands the call to Caller2 with whom I repeat the same query)

Caller2: Ma’m, our boss gives us the database details and we just call from the back office ma’m.
Me: Then connect this call/escalate this to your boss. I want to know how this is happening.
Caller2: Ma’m. This is a new offer. So we just call all numbers just like that. (Thinking this will save them as it is happening for everyone)
Me: Isn’t what you are doing illegal? It’s wrong to call the numbers under Do Not Disturb and I can complain against you for violating this.
Caller2: Sorry Ma’m. We will delete your number from our database. (Hangs up)

do-not-disturb-iphone

Source: topmobiletrends.com

I used to be the super polite girl who listened to all the advertising calls and then refused with great difficulty. Then as the calls increased, I outright started refusing but without asking anything in return. Now, I don’t leave any person who calls me for advertisements which I didn’t sign up for. Even if it takes a couple of minutes, I make sure I give a piece of my mind. This indeed reduces the calls from the respective advertisers. However since there are 1000s of such spam callers, it keeps going on. Most callers hesitate and stagger back the moment you ask “Where did you get my number?”. They don’t have a proper answer because they just take/buy it from the various sources offline and online.

Speak up for yourselves. Stand up against such crude selling of data. It’s your number and you have it to receive valid phone calls, not spam calls. If you need a loan or a credit card, you will approach the bank and they too know it. There is no need for them to call you everyday and check if you have had a change of mind.

Until later 🙂