Article: Sam Wilson from women24

"What is the name of the company you represent?" I ask, trying not to sound too mean. (Tele-marketing is just a job after all. And not a very nice one at that.)

Once I am told, I write the name down on my black list and ask the caller to convey the following message: "Tell your employer that I will never again buy one of their products as a direct result of this unsolicited and horribly invasive telephone call."

And I mean it. I stick to my black list. And you know what's scary? Even that doesn't stop the SAME COMPANY from phoning me again.

Basically, what they are saying is: "There's margin to be made here. The money we make off the odd sale is more than the cost of the telemarketers and more than the loss of you ... so screw you, lady. Now. Want to buy insurance?" Call me old fashioned, but I like my market messages palatable.

(At this point, I'd particularly like to thank my car finance company for selling on my cell phone number. You know that balloon payment I still owe you? How about we offset some of the profit you've made from selling off my private details?)

We all experience telemarketing rage, but last week I got to witness a particular low point.

"Is that Sam Wilson?" asked the private number on my cell phone. "I must tell you that this call is being recorded and that FNB is a registered financial services provider and..."

My blood ran cold. Clearly, I must have screwed up and missed the bond payment. And, like everyone else, I am broke so that means...

Breathe.

Breathe.

I know. How could I be so naive? Is it even POSSIBLE to stop paying your bond if you're still getting a regular salary and have no garnishee orders?

I hadn't missed a payment. This was a direct, unsolicited attempt to get me to raise a SECOND bond on my house because "everyone needs a little cash in their wallets these days."

I had difficulty getting my usual patter out, I was so gobsmacked.

"You do know, right, that a large part of this current economic crisis is that banks have been giving dodgy, unsound bonds to people who can't afford to repay them and then selling that dodgy debt on, compromising the entire global economy?"

My poor telemarketer sighed. She probably knew this but needed her paycheck.

"Well, we're just saying you could get..." she responded.

"Well, I KNOW that I couldn’t afford to pay back a second bond. If you checked out my accounts, you'd know that too. So there's no pretence here that this is in my best interest."

Readers, perhaps I am more naive than most, but I really thought home loan bankers would all be feeling a little sheepish right about now. But apparently they have learnt nothing. Screwing their clients over for maximum profit is still the name of the game.

You know what I am most angry about? Now I have to incur the expenses of moving my bond. And if ONE SINGLE bank phones to offer me one, I may have to throw some bricks.

It seems we can't get telemarketers to stop calling, but maybe we can make them spend a little more on public relations. Please name and shame your most annoying telesales experiences below.

SamWilson is the Editor of Women24.com. You can find her on Women24 columnists, Women24 blogs, 24.sprogblogs, Facebook and Twitter.