Quirky News
Woman fined for whistling down phone
A German woman has been fined for blowing a whistle down the telephone at a call-centre worker.
The woman, 61, from Pirmasens in Rhineland-Palatinate had got fed up with a constant stream of cold-calls to her house.
But she ended up in court and was fined the equivalent of £650 after she damaged the hearing of her victim.
The unnamed woman told a judge in a local court that she was so annoyed by the unending stream of marketing calls that she snapped and blew a whistle into the receiver.
She was hoping just to deter the company from calling her again, but ended up convicted of bodily harm after giving the female call-centre employee hearing problems and tinnitus.
The woman initially challenged the fine but decided to pay it shortly before an appeal hearing was due to be heard.
what do you think?
Windows Live User
dont we all know this feeling. why on earth dont companies stop annoying us with their constant calling We no longer answer the phone unless its a named friend
Davefly Theuniuonflagbrown
If its for double glazing or similar I allways arange a visit. Usualy after 2100hrs. Then after going through everthing with the sales man I tell him that I am deliberatly wasting his time as punishment for disturbing me.They do get very upset which amuses me so much.........
Chris Carr
I got so fed up with a company trying to sell me a conservatory that I arranged a sales visit. Only when he arrived did the salesman discover that I lived on the 1st floor. They never rang again..
Brian Holmes
Love it, Chris lol
Adrian Wagstaff
To Hell with that stupid law. Can someone send her a megaphone please so she can use that at the call centre?
Leslie Richford
Making "cold calls" is illegal in Germany. But it still happens a lot. I rather sympathize with this woman who was, basically, just defending her constitutional right not to be pestered. Unfortunately for her, it is also illegal to deliberately damage somebody else's hearing. The German court has obviously decided that the one crime is worse than the other. Personally, I think they are wrong ... so don't you be calling me to disagree!
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Neil Servis
spellcheck anyone ?
Stuart Morris
I don't think she would have been charged in the UK.
Baker101
My mum does a similar trick only with a rape alarm. They soon hang up and stop calling when that blares down the phone. This woman needs a big pat on the back.
Gary Corbett
I just sing im a little teapot
DermottJoe
the best way to deal with them is to pretend you cant hear them,and then dont hang up untill your phone gets that warning,that way they cant call anyone else during that time.they are horrible nasty people who think we are all stupid and need telling when to buy somthing we dont need.it should be made illegal.i actually paid bt not to let them call me for a while then i realised bt where selling me somthing they should give me for free as my line provider,its pay pay and pay a bit more,espesially if your already down.
denis parsons
Good for her.These phone pests are a bloody nuisance.
Matthew Stoner
It used to annoy the heck out of me, still does to a point. But whenever I get one of these cold callers, I play them at their own game. I let them bang on about whatever amazing deal or product they are pushing, sounding really interested so you can hear the positive tone in their voice as they think they are about to complete a sale...... then without warning, I hang up.....they waste my time, so I waste theirs....poetic justice. Dont get so many calls now.
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Matthew Stoner
Aint no expert, but maybe try putting you're point across without using abusive/offensive language?....Believe it or not, it is possible without shoe horning reknaw or (c)hinkies in.... the brain is a wonderful thing when you use it....
Baker101
The worst ones are from those automated machines. I've heard a good trick is to mash the hash key a few dozen times as it confuses the hell out of the computer and screws it up. ###################################
Brian Holmes
Sometimes I allow them to rant on with their "fantastic opportunity" or whatever and when they have finished I say " That sounds great, but I don't do business over the phone so can you post me the written details please?" You can hear the disappointment in their voice because it's never a good deal and they want to get your committment there and then. If it's a British accent I try to remain polite as it's really just someone trying to earn an honest living in a rubbish job. I respect them for that.
Baker101
The other problem is that even when you say no to these people they still call you and ask you the same thing a few days later. It wouldn't be so bad if a "sorry not interested" meant you were crossed off the list and never pestered again, but you just get added back to the bottom until you agree...or give them reason to not ring you.
Lee Bennett
the whistle down the phone trick is a good one for obscene callers
Paul Hayes
I don't have a phone connected to the phone line anymore, and only use it for the Internet connection. I only use a mobile, and have never had a major problem with cold calling. If people stop using landline phones then maybe the operators will be forced to do something about it?!
robert
I get these annoying phone calls on a regular basis,not bad to say i am ex-directory,where do they get my number from.
Rhys Sage
12:13pm on 23/5/2012
The woman was rightly found guilty. Call centre workers don't know not to call people unless they're on an opt-out list The woman should have opted out. It should be automatic that the call centres ask if you want to opt out and then add you tothe opt out list.
Bryan Hopkins
12:22pm on 23/5/2012
Rhys, I think it should be the other way about in that we have to opt in for sales calls. I'm continualy pestered by sales calls despite being on the TPS list, I know they are only doing a job but I am sick to death of them calling me at all hours which is incredibly annoying when I'm on nightshift.
Nicola Anderson
12:30pm on 23/5/2012
if your a call centre worker and you suffer from tinnitus, you're in the wrong job. you cant take these people to court for harrasment, so they shouldnt be able to take you to court for responding to their harrasment
Gary W Beard
1:47pm on 23/5/2012
You've missed the point mate. Companies should not have the right to pester you in your own home.
brian
3:42pm on 23/5/2012
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Baker101
3:48pm on 23/5/2012
Actually I think you'll find they call you even though you're on an opt-out list. It doesn't stop every company from doing it.
DermottJoe
5:12pm on 23/5/2012
i had to pay to opt out,and even then some still got through,what planet are you on mate?
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6:37pm on 23/5/2012
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Gary Corbett
9:00pm on 23/5/2012
If i want cold call i'll phone my friend in Iceland
Kevin Jennings
10:53pm on 23/5/2012
Why is it up to the consumer to opt out of call lists when they didn't ask to be put on them in the first place?