Social research - and rude people

[Russ]

I'm doing some work for a social research company at the moment which involves me listening in to calls made by people to the general public at random in specific locations around the country.

The difference between social and market research is the former is for government statistic purposes. The latter tends to be about buying habits, often leading to a potential sale.

Listening in to the calls I'm pretty shocked at how rude some people can be. I can understand if you're in the middle of something important but a simple "No thanks and please don't call again" is fine. I've heard swearing, threats of violence, insults etc and I can't get my head around it.

A lot of the time the abuse is from people who are either ex-directory or on the TPS. If the former the it's understandable but the numbers are generated at random. People who are on the TPS are usually unaware that it doesn't apply to social research. This is carried out on behalf of the government and you do not have the right to opt out of having calls like this, just like you cannot successfully request to your local council to opt out of having a voting card sent to you.

The current project I'm overseeing is contacting people in a certain police force area to ask them how they feel their local police are performing. something you'd imagine everyone would have an opinion on but I've seen some people reducing one or two of our people to tears with the verbal abuse.

Again I understand if it was a telesales cold-call especially if you've opted out of them but there is no justification for the sort of stuff I've heard.

[Gary L]

Why should the topic be any different to another? people are calling you on your house phone. whether they've got your number from dialling randomly or from a list. people find it intrusive and annoying. and will have no qualms about telling the annoying scumbag just how annoyed they are.

[Russ]

I'd pretty much guess that sort of response from you. It isn't the fault of the "annoying scumbag" that the government puts out these surveys. People will get asked to participate regardless of who calls them.

[Turkey Machine]

And you can just as easily refuse and say "no I don't want to participate", and end the conversation there and then. Takes all of 30 seconds usually.

Anyone who takes a job like that without expecting abuse then more fool them simple

[Gary L]

You seem to think there should be a different response from the public depending on whether it is a survey or a sales call.

[martyh]

"annoying scumbag" is a bit strong Gary ,however i do agree with your sentiments .I ex directory for a reason ,i don't want random phone calls from people conducting surveys whoever it's from .
here's an idea Russ ,for your next survey why don't you randomly call people and ask them how they feel about the government invading there privacy despite being ex directory to perform a survey

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Gary L

You seem to think there should be a different response from the public depending on whether it is a survey or a sales call.

Yes and with good reason. I'd estimate around 40% of people who agree to take the survey state at the start of the call that "If you're selling anything we're not interested".

---------- Post added at 00:27 ---------- Previous post was at 00:26 ----------

Originally Posted by martyh

here's an idea Russ ,for your next survey why don't you randomly call people and ask them how they feel about the government invading there privacy despite being ex directory to perform a survey

Because we don't make up the surveys. The government does or in this case, police forces. They contract the survey out to social research companies such as the one I work for to do the asking for them.

In any case being ex-directory only means your number is not listed. Using it as a method to prevent unsolicited calls is a bit daft as most research companies use incremental dialing - ie replacing numbers on the end with others.

[LondonRoad]

I can understand people being annoyed if they've had to get out the bath or they're expecting an important phone call, but really I don't think there's any excuse for being rude and abusive.

Having said that I have hung up on cold callers before, although only after giving them the warning that I was going to do so.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

I can understand people being annoyed if they've had to get out the bath or they're expecting an important phone call, but really I don't think there's any excuse for being rude and abusive.

Having said that I have hung up on cold callers before, although only after giving them the warning that I was going to do so.

Hanging up is quite regular, I don't see any problem with that. I do however take issue with swearing, abuse and threats of violence. I doubt they'd do it to people at their front door.

[martyh]

Originally Posted by Russ

Yes and with good reason. I'd estimate around 40% of people who agree to take the survey state at the start of the call that "If you're selling anything we're not interested".

---------- Post added at 00:27 ---------- Previous post was at 00:26 ----------



Because we don't make up the surveys. The government does or in this case, police forces. They contract the survey out to social research companies such as the one I work for do do the asking for them.

then why don't the police (while in uniform)simply ask people how they feel while they are out on patrol? how much of this is comming out of the police budget .I presume that the police aren't the only government body who perform this kind of survey

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by martyh

"annoying scumbag" is a bit strong Gary

Maybe the bag was a bit too much

---------- Post added at 23:37 ---------- Previous post was at 23:36 ----------

Originally Posted by Russ

Yes and with good reason.

Because it's the police?

[Russ]

Originally Posted by martyh

[/B]
then why don't the police (while in uniform)simply ask people how they feel while they are out on patrol?

I'm pretty sure they'd get accused of spending too much time doing a "PR stunt instead of being out catching real criminals". In any case I can't see many people feeling confident enough to tell a police officer to their face that they think he or she is "****ing useless", as one person said on their survey this week.

[martyh]

Originally Posted by Russ

Hanging up is quite regular, I don't see any problem with that. I do however take issue with swearing, abuse and threats of violence. I doubt they'd do it to people at their front door.

i agree with you there russ ,however annoying these calls are that kind of abuse is uncalled for when directed toward the worker ..they should save it for the bloke who thought it up

[LondonRoad]

Originally Posted by martyh

[/B]


then why don't the police (while in uniform)simply ask people how they feel while they are out on patrol? how much of this is comming out of the police budget .I presume that the police aren't the only government body who perform this kind of survey

That's hardly representative of the general public though. The people who bleat about never seeing Bobbies on the beat aren't going to be asked for their views. To exlude people who are ex-directory or TPS registered would also skew the representative sample.

---------- Post added at 23:47 ---------- Previous post was at 23:39 ----------

Originally Posted by martyh

i agree with you there russ ,however annoying these calls are that kind of abuse is uncalled for when directed toward the worker ..they should save it for the bloke who thought it up

I've had a couple of neices had to do telephone sales type of work while they were students. TBH they were treated like sh... I try to remind myself that the person at the other end of the line might be in that position and could be somebody you rely on in later life.

The last thing you want to hear when you're going under the anaesthetic for that life saving operation is your surgeon saying "you sound very much like a person I once tried to interest in a kitchen,.... I think the last thing you said before you slammed the phone down was **** off you worthless count..."