I got a call this morning from Niagarahealthcare touting for business. I gave them polite short shrift. But I wondered how they got my number they said it was from a form I filled in.
Could it be connected to Bupa who used to deliver my biologics? Has anyone else had a similar call?
Yep had 1 as well gave them same as you short shift
Cat hie,
These numbers could have been obtained from any number of places.
Unfortunately,these days when you give your number to what you would call a reputable company they sell your number on to other companies eg,life insurance,funeral plans,lifestyle choices etc in fact anyone who is willing to pay for them.
I have been registered with TPS (telephone preference service) for some time but still get a lot of what I call nuisance calls coming through so that wasn't as effective as I thought.
I am afraid I am like you now and give them short shrift.As for saying that they got your number from a form you filled in it is entirely possible that you did .However,this is one of the ruses that they use to get your attention.Other common excuses are that you filled out a questionnaire,entered a competition,made an enquiry with them and by the time you have thought back to try to remember what you did you have already been on the phone with them for 5 mins.
I didn't realise just how many of these calls were coming through to our home number each day until I started doing my job from home.Some days I get as many as 8 calls per day and it drives me up the wall!!!!!!!!
You could try getting a caller display phone so you could be selective as to which calls you answer,or you can register with TPS which is supposed to filter out the nuisance (which it doesn't do effectively),otherwise I am not sure what else you can do to prevent this intrusion.This seems to be happening more and more.
Crusee
Dont worry, I'm not. There are some moments when I quite enjoy finding a polite way of being dismissive. What interested me was how they got my number as I am very careful. at the moment and bupa was a prime candidate as they had my number. Just interested!
Some years ago I gave my address and phone number to Norwich Union for my house insurance.Whilst doing it my pen run out and when I went over the letters with another pen one of the letters came out as an O not a D,which made my house name different.Not long after that I was receiving loads of junk mail to the house with an O not the D so I knew exactly where that had been initiated.So it's not just phone numbers that are sold its any other info they can get their hands on as well.Cant be too careful these days.
Crusee
I haven't had one but I bought a call guardian phone from BT, since then no nuisance calls. Peace is wonderful, highly recommend.
They are also a company with a poor reputation in the way they handle their clients. I found the following report on them from the 'this is money' website....
The charity is also worried that elderly people who invite sales staff into their homes have fewer rights to cancel than if they had bought in a shop. Sales of mobility aids through High Street stores caused fewer complaints.
Rosemary's worst experience was with a representative of Niagara Health Care, who was selling a powered chair with a built-in massage unit.
He told her she could be at high risk from gangrene as a result of poor blood circulation, a risk he claimed would reduce if she bought his £4,350 chair. He also claimed that the product was endorsed through association with groups such as the Arthritis Research Campaign and the National Asthma Campaign. No such endorsements exist.
Despite being told that Rosemary did not want the chair, the salesman persisted with follow-up phone calls.
Irving Milsom, group managing director of Niagara Health Care, was sent a transcript of the conversations and asked to comment.
He said: 'As a company we could not endorse the use of an example as shocking as gangrene. It is not something we include in our training and we're taking steps to prevent its use in the future.'
Milsom says the associations with patient organisations will 'be addressed internally'. However, he stands by his salesman, saying he believes the visit to have been 'professionally handled'.
So short shrift is more than they deserve. They'll get a phone put down on them from me!
Hi Cathy
We get calls about these sorts of cold callers on the helpline sometimes, and often very hard to find out how they got your details. However, osteoarthritis is very common, so sometimes they may say that they are calling you because you have 'arthritis' and this could just be 'playing the odds' that you might have some type of arthritis, so good to try to gauge some of their understanding of different types, especially if they are trying to sell a product that they claim would be beneficial for it (though better of course to be cautious and not engage in the conversation, as you did). They also sometimes claim to be affiliated with some sort of arthritis organisation, though often the name won't be quite right, so they might say 'The Arthritis Society' Rather than NRAS, Arthritis care or ARUK.
Kind regards
Victoria
NRAS Helpline
I have received cold callers as well from niagara, I now do not give short shrift like I used too. I now say I have to just turn down the oven, and go and do something else, leaving them hanging on. If you are quiet you can hear them saying "they were coming back" it makes me smile. I now do it for quite a lot of cold callers now. Revenge is SO SO sweet. Lol.
The irony of calling Citizens Advice
Healthcare at Home issues- anyone else having a bad experience with these people
Healthcare at Home
Healthcare at home have sent me flowers!
Shielding call
