Another Telemarketing vent

[mom2boys]

Why is it telemarketing companies think it is okay to interupt my life with a phone call but not take the time to put a human on the line. Don't get me wrong ALL telemarketing calls are annoying. But when the voice on the other end is a tape recording of the sales pitch, there is no way on this earth that I will consider their product. In fact, I've only bitten once on a telemarketing call in my life - lived to regret that one too.

 

[MamaLema]

OK, you're gonna think this is extreme but I don't even answer the phone. Everyone close to me knows this. If DH isn't home then the machine picks up. We get at least 8 telemarking calls a week and I've had it.

BTW, this stems from the fact that I've been traumatized by a telemarker and lived to regret it, just like you Basically, I agreed for the someone to come to my home to demonstrate a vacuum cleaner and they wouldn't leave until I bought it. I had to threaten to call the police for them to go away

 

[SleepyMom]

Right now we are getting calls from an actual person, but they won't talk to me. That is almost as annoying as the computer calls. We are getting this about 5 to 6 times a week currently, they ask to speak with DH and when I say he's not available they ask when they can call back and when I ask to take a message they tell me "no, this is a courtesy call for him". I know it is a telemarketer because you can hear others making the same calls in the background, but they won't tell me who they are or what they want. It only comes up on the caller ID as an 800 service.

DH says to hang up on them, he also says if they can't be courteous enough to leave a message with me that he has no interest in talking to them anyways. I finally started telling them that, once they tell me that they can't leave a message then I tell them to not bother calling back because he won't talk to them. I mean if it's not important enough for a message, then it's just not that important is it? And yet they keep on calling and calling, and always during the day when he is at work. Maybe next time I will just say I am him, lots of girls have guy names right. At least then we can figure out what they want at least

 

[Beth76]

If I don't recognize the number or it comes up "unknown", I don't answer the phone.

 

[liamsaunt]

I put us on the do-not-call list, we have a screen machine, and I won't pick up the phone unless whoever calls starts talking into my answering machine and I recognize who they are. I refuse to allow sales or other unwanted calls to interrupt my day.

 

[Talking Hands]

If I don't et a human voice when I pick up the phone I automatically switch over to my tty as I get many calls from deaf people in relation to the deaf ministry I co-lead. Boy will they be surprised when I hit the GA button and they get static. Also pick up as tty if it is an unknown number. Most people I want to speak to call or text me on the cell phone. Most of the calls at home are either telemarketers, wrong numbers or deaf people calling me about the ministry.

 

[Nancyg56]

DH says to hang up on them, he also says if they can't be courteous enough to leave a message with me that he has no interest in talking to them anyways. I finally started telling them that, once they tell me that they can't leave a message then I tell them to not bother calling back because he won't talk to them. I mean if it's not important enough for a message, then it's just not that important is it? And yet they keep on calling and calling, and always during the day when he is at work. Maybe next time I will just say I am him, lots of girls have guy names right. At least then we can figure out what they want at least

I do the same thing. I tell them they need to get through me if they want to speak to him. He will not speak to people who refue to at least tell me who they are, and why they are calling.

 

[clh2]

A little off topic, I LOVE CALLER ID! It really cuts down on which calls we choose to pick up.

My DH actually wants to get rid of Caller ID, just to save some money. NOPE, not going to happen.

 

[aprilgail2]

I had thought about getting caller ID years ago but now I don't need it anymore...once I went on the do not call list I haven't gotten a telemarketer call in years on either phone number in the house. Its so nice to be able to pick up the phone now knowing there is no telemarketer on the other end LOL...

 

[Aidensmom]

We have caller ID, if we don't recognize the number, it is not picked up. We answer maybe 1 in 10 phone calls. (Most people call us on our cell phones anyways).

What I find most frustrating is that I have a VERY common name, and so I get several calls a week for someone with the same name as me that owes lots of money to lots of people. The collection agencies have started just leaving a recorded message to call them. So I can't even just answer the phone to tell them they have the wrong person, I actually have to call them back, sit on hold for 20 minutes, and then tell them that I am sick and tired of them calling the wrong person at 7 am in the morning, when I am eating dinner, and when I am getting ready for bed!

 

[mom2boys]

I definitely use my caller ID. And we are on the do not call list. I told a guy that the other day & he very nastily informed me that I couldn't possibly be on the do not call list because if I was he wouldn't be allowed to call.

I get those calls for DH only - no message. Had one person tell me DH made internet inquiries to refinance our mortgage. DH doesn't even like to pay bills on line - he surely isn't going to refinace via the internet.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

CALLER ID.....it's my BEST friend!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I don't plug in my home phone unless people are coming over and I'll need to open the gate (done via the phone) and I don't answer "unknown" calls on my cell phone.

 

[Nancy]

I also have caller ID and will not answer unless I know who it is. Even being on the do not call list we still get calls from the CC compnaies selling those stupid insurance things...SleepyMom that sounds like what you are getting...they will only talk to the person whose name is on the card. They are annoying.

 

[crazee4mickey]

When it is a person I really enjoy saying "I'm really busy right now can you give me your name and home phone number and I'll phone you when its convenient for me"--you get a dumbfounded silence, then stammering"I'm sorry we're not allowed...." which is when I say "Exactly so do me the courtesy and don't bother me at my home" and hang up!
I giggle, it makes me laugh to think of the perplexed look on their face as to how to respond..........

 

[swea_pea1]

Right now we are getting calls from an actual person, but they won't talk to me. That is almost as annoying as the computer calls. We are getting this about 5 to 6 times a week currently, they ask to speak with DH and when I say he's not available they ask when they can call back and when I ask to take a message they tell me "no, this is a courtesy call for him". I know it is a telemarketer because you can hear others making the same calls in the background, but they won't tell me who they are or what they want. It only comes up on the caller ID as an 800 service.

DH says to hang up on them, he also says if they can't be courteous enough to leave a message with me that he has no interest in talking to them anyways. I finally started telling them that, once they tell me that they can't leave a message then I tell them to not bother calling back because he won't talk to them. I mean if it's not important enough for a message, then it's just not that important is it? And yet they keep on calling and calling, and always during the day when he is at work. Maybe next time I will just say I am him, lots of girls have guy names right. At least then we can figure out what they want at least

This reminds me of when I was home on maternity leave with my first DD(7). All day long, every day...telemarketer calls. So when a woman called and screwed up our last name, I knew she was a telemarketer. One call went like this:

Her: Can I speak with <DH>
Me: Who is this?
Her: This is Lisa calling from <wherever>
Me: Oh, I thought it was the ***** who stole him away from me
Her: What?
Me: He just left me - with a baby - and I don't know where he is
Her: Uh..uh....sorry Ma'am.
Me: That's ok, but if you find him, you tell him I'm looking for him!

Then it got to be a game. "I just sold this house", "No habla englaise", "This is he" (that one ALWAYS confuses them when they asked for DH), etc. Coming up with them kept me busy during those 3:00 feedings.

Thank God for the Do Not Call list. I barely get any telemarketers calling anymore.