When the phone rings...

[ladyauthor2b]

Yesterday I got a strange call. The caller ID spelled out "California". And I was like "What? WHO could THAT be??"  I let my son answer it. At first, there was no one there. Then a couple of clicks and then a warbled, cut off distance voice. He told them their phone was breaking up and after a minute, he hung up, still clueless to who was calling.

Then the phone rang again. I picked it up. Finally when the person got on, and I could barely hear them, they asked me to "verify who I am speaking to" and I was like, "Uh, what company are YOU from? Who are YOU asking for?" I would NOT give them my name. Then they hung up. ANNOYING!!  Then for five minutes  straight, it seemed, this phone number rang mine. I'd pick up, hear the empty silence, and then just hang up. So I tried calling them back and I got a voice answering machine. No ID. Nothing.

So I figured if THEY couldn't tell me who they represented, I wasn't speaking to them. OK, then I tried doing the reverse number thing on the internet. The number went to a landline, but there was no identification. So I'm still clueless to what it was about.

Ok, a long story, but I'm an average person, with some bills running behind. So it's NOT that I don't expect a company somewhere to call and bug me about a payment once in a while. I try very hard to keep on top of these things, but "IT" happens, right? I do get very annoyed when even telemarketers call me, even if I'm on that national don't call list. Does it even work? I can't say how often I get calls to donate money to breast cancer or a police organization. Or to buy magazines or coffee samples.  I tell them I have a brick load of them at my house since I"m a compulsive buyer and that I do not need anymore. Period... but they still continue with their pitch for me to buy. I hate it when they don't take the word no the first time around. Grrrrr..

Well this was suppose to be the question of the day for my group, The Written Voice, but instead you are getting an eyeball from me. LOL.. guess I'm chatty cathy this morning...but this does lead to the question of weird/telemarketer/bill collection phone calls:  "How do you handle them and do you try to remain civil when they just keep on pushing your buttons to give, give, give??? "

[destiny760]

Aug. 15, 2010 at 12:40 AM

I don't engage with them unless I'm bored. I used to feel guilty if I was rude or hung up on them but not anymore. I mean I felt like they were regular people just doing their job but it got so bad I had to change my tactics. I don't have a land line so I don't get any calls any more. My cell is on the do not call list. I did get one guy call me to sell me an extended warranty on my car, that is still covered under the manufacturer warranty, and I told him I was on the do not call list and I was going to report him if he or any one from his company called again. I have not received a soliciation call again. And yes, I have been "uncivil" because they are pests.