Annoying Calls, or people I will NEVER do business with. Medical Alert and some security dweebs from 29 states away keep calling. Medical alert got the press this button to be taken off the list, 3-4 times. This time clicked to speak to rep.. She asked my name. Told her you called me, told her the click to be deleted doesn't work. Sadly, I've learned that if I'm polite, they won't go to the trouble of deleting me. Ole weird steve broke nasty. Deep breath, how you folks doing ?
Annoying Calls
- Thread starter stevemb
- Start date
I gotta wonder, for every 100 calls, how many get them a sale ? How many are beyond annoyed and will NEVER talk to those bleeps. Long term, losing more customers ? US business is not good on the long term thing. I've seen yearly op plans go to quarterly, then now monthly. Opens the window to competition.
pete44ru
Hunter
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FWIW, registering phone numbers on the "do not call" list is worthless, also.
So, now, I just screen calls - since our caller ID feature displays the number calling (most of the time) up both on the phone, and on the TV (when it's "on").
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FWIW, registering phone numbers on the "do not call" list is worthless, also.
So, now, I just screen calls - since our caller ID feature displays the number calling (most of the time) up both on the phone, and on the TV (when it's "on").
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pete44ru
Hunter
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You might consider lowering your ringer volume, or shutting the ringer off altogether, ILO of getting upset.
Life is full of losers, and life's too short to get aggravated over something relatively easy to fix.
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You might consider lowering your ringer volume, or shutting the ringer off altogether, ILO of getting upset.
Life is full of losers, and life's too short to get aggravated over something relatively easy to fix.
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I don't consider them losers really. entry level job, first job, I get it. But when I have clicked to take me off the list, they should, REALLY, take me off the list. They work sitting down, clean, safe, nice environment, but too lazy to click a few more keys. Me n ole Danny Webster agree on the difinition of work, those people have jobs, earn a check, but that is NOT work.
coach
Hunter
Since most of the calls seem to be dialed automatically, if their is a hesitation after I say hello(I'm assuming the solicitor is taking a drink break or catching his breath) I just hang up.
So far I've only hung up on one person I wanted to talk to. And they called right back.
The do not call list is worthless, but it may cut down on some calls.
So far I've only hung up on one person I wanted to talk to. And they called right back.
The do not call list is worthless, but it may cut down on some calls.
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
I just bought a new phone for my land line (let's not get side-tracked by the
cell v land-line discussion) for $25. It has a nice display that tells me the
number of the person/robot calling. All I have to do is press recall and it
functions like the phone company *69, but without the $1 charge.
I have the ringer turned off and my answering machine starts with "Hi, this
is Pat and I use the answering machine to screen all my calls". That dumps
90% of the calls I don't want. The remainder usually say "Press one to . . . "
so I do, and then wait for the person to answer, where I hit the pound key
(#, and NO that's not a "hash tag") multiple times, then hang up.
My call back by these idiots is down to one. So I now call them back after
normal "business hours" and leave a "not happy" message.
Doesn't really fix anything, but it sure keeps my blood pressure down. :D
cell v land-line discussion) for $25. It has a nice display that tells me the
number of the person/robot calling. All I have to do is press recall and it
functions like the phone company *69, but without the $1 charge.
I have the ringer turned off and my answering machine starts with "Hi, this
is Pat and I use the answering machine to screen all my calls". That dumps
90% of the calls I don't want. The remainder usually say "Press one to . . . "
so I do, and then wait for the person to answer, where I hit the pound key
(#, and NO that's not a "hash tag") multiple times, then hang up.
My call back by these idiots is down to one. So I now call them back after
normal "business hours" and leave a "not happy" message.
Doesn't really fix anything, but it sure keeps my blood pressure down. :D
Due to my work I have to sleep during the day 3 days a week and due to all the sales calls I have to put the home phone in the kitchen and turn my cell phone ringer off. 6 to 8 calls a day average. All our numbers are on the do not all list but it doesn't seem to help. Really ticks me off because if the wife ever needs me for something important she won't be able to get a hold of me. The solar power companies are the worst.
Ooooh, so far no solar folks... Wife's family has several with health concerns, turning down or off not an option here. See the show, "Last Alaskans" ? I wish I was there. Grew up hunting/fishing/trapping, and well, still a dream. Life below zero,,oh yeah. We clocked minus 26 here at midnight when I got home from work one night. I took the dog for a 3 mile walk. If its 80, want a/c.. Hate heat. Spend most of my work day in temps that kill.
I have been told that when these annoying calls arrive that we should answer them then immediately press the "#" about ten times rapidly. This supposedly will somehow remove our number from their list. Don't know if it works or not.
pete44ru said:
I'm kind've surprised so many folks are in defense of the telemarketers, or otherwise downplay their impact.
No, a call at ten at night, or midnight, or even in the middle of the day from a telemarketer in India is not okay. Yep, I can surely shut off my ringer. Then lo-and-behold, I get an emergency phone call from my 90-year mother in law that I miss because the ringer was shut off.
I pay more for a land line than a cell phone line, and I almost never use the land line. Still need it for emergencies so I will not part with it. Since I'm paying for the phone, why is it okay that I receive a dozen telemarketer and/or scam calls a day? Yep, I screen the calls and don't answer when I discover it's a sales or scam call, but that still takes time for each occurrence.
I agree with the OP. I am absolutely disgusted with constant telemarketing, and I apparently do not have any right to do anything about it.
WAYNO.
A cell phone not only is cheaper it does get rid of many of these calls. I get very few if any sales calls. We haven't had a land line in the house for 12 years.
Not sure why someone didn't want to discuss cell phone vs. land line situations...
Not sure why someone didn't want to discuss cell phone vs. land line situations...
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
Because cell phones are software driven, ll calls are not.Kevin said:
Software driven can be blocked easily, hardware not so easy.
Poco Oso
Buckeye
Exactly the reason we dumped the land line here a few years ago. The do not call registry works better if you follow up on reporting the calls you get.
I once had a caller that wouldn't stop no matter what I said or how I said it. At my wits end & willing to try anything, I took a cordless phone outside along with a 2.75" Ruger speed six, some nasty magums, & ear plugs. I told the caller that I had something very important to tell them & to listen carefully.
I held the mouthpiece of the phone next to the Ruger & dropped the hammer...
I have no idea what happened on the other end of the line, but I never got a call from that person again.
I held the mouthpiece of the phone next to the Ruger & dropped the hammer...
I have no idea what happened on the other end of the line, but I never got a call from that person again.
opos
Buckeye
Freon air horn!
ronto
Hunter
I'm on the "Do Not Call" list and haven't received unsolicited call in years...except from politicians asking for money at election time which I promptly hang up on. :)
Pat... thank you for the explanation. That is something I did not know...it makes sense which is why I don't receive any of these calls.
coach
Hunter
My phone is used for business as well as personal so letting the answering machine pickup isn't feasible. I personally hate when I call home and have to wait for the greeting before I say "please pick up it's me".
What does hitting the number sign do? If they ignore the do not call list, why would that bother them?
What does hitting the number sign do? If they ignore the do not call list, why would that bother them?
I have cell phone only. Keep all names/numbers of persons I regularly talk with in the phone memory. If I get a call from someone I don't know ..... I don't answer it. Here lately, I'm starting to get one or two "junk" calls per week. I usually delete all of them at bedtime. FWIW. :)
JFB
Hunter
I don't get many, but the few that I mistakely answer are from the Fraternel Order of something Law enforcement sounding.
the last call I got, I immediately stop him in his pitch and just asked directly "Who do I make the check to and the adress to mail it". he was dumb founded and went on to explain he would have to refer me to some else for that information and thanked me. I answered "I needed just that information to foward to the State's Attorney General"
unfortunatly I got cut off!
the last call I got, I immediately stop him in his pitch and just asked directly "Who do I make the check to and the adress to mail it". he was dumb founded and went on to explain he would have to refer me to some else for that information and thanked me. I answered "I needed just that information to foward to the State's Attorney General"
unfortunatly I got cut off!
toysoldier
Hunter
opos said:
In ancient times, before cell phones and aggressive telemarketers, a friend showed me a clever little device. It was an egg-sized battery-operated sound generator. Put it up to the mouthpiece, bridge the two surface contacts with a coin, and it generated a squeal that the receiving phone would reproduce, causing temporary deafness. It was designed to stop obscene phone calls. :D
Specs
Single-Sixer
My phone has a call blocker so that once I do get an unwanted call I block it for future calls. The phone rings once, blocked caller dumps the call, end of story. It holds 30, and if I reach 30 I just delete the 5 oldest.
I get family calls via cell phone now. My landline is connected to my fax machine, which picks up after 5 rings giving me ample time to see the number, and answer if known. I worked nights for 30+ years, and when needing sleep, I would unplug the phone.
gramps
gramps
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
I have "CALL BLOCKER"on my cell phone and it works GREAT, I can go in to my "call log" and BLACKLIST a Number and PRESTO !! No more annoying calls. United Heathcare was getting to be a PITA about having someone visit to take vitals, etc etc yada yadayd-yada and it took me forever to BLOCK all their numbers.
The other thing that works for Cell phones is trapcall.com
You can put telephone numbers on the "BLOCKED CALLER "list and your phone rings ONCE and then they are transferred to message that tells them your number is no longer in service.
The other thing that works for Cell phones is trapcall.com
You can put telephone numbers on the "BLOCKED CALLER "list and your phone rings ONCE and then they are transferred to message that tells them your number is no longer in service.
HerrMesser
Single-Sixer
I get calls daily from an anonymous #. Sometime a toll free # and sometimes a 571 area code and not the National Rifle Assoc. Rings 4 times and hangs up whether the answering machine is on or not. If I pick the phone up you can hear it click.
Rad
Rad
If we don't know who it is from the caller ID, my teenage son loves to take them. I don't know how or where he gets it but he is so quick witted with one liners they will either listen or hang up. The fun really starts if/when they call right back. A few of his off the wall comments will have anyone nearby laughing out loud. Here are a few I have heard:
Would someone pull that dam dog off the cat---we don't need any more 3 legged kittens around here.
Dads on the toilet and we left him with no paper---do you want to hold on a few minutes???
Plaid Pantry---this is a small old chain of convenience stores. They almost always hang up and call right back. After the 2nd call they probably take us off the list.
Hold on a minute while I clear my throat---followed by either a loud obnoxious belly belch or ghastly fart.
Hold on the dog is eating out of the cat box again and last time he barfed it all up on my bed,
Moms busy squirting dad with the hose cause she caught him peeing in her flower beds (or cat box) again. Mom will be inside in a few minutes, but dad might take awhile to dry off---do you want to hold on. He usually just sets the phone on the table and continues to yell---mom---telephone.
No we sure don't want to buy any porn blocking software. :oops:
I have to run---there is a giant rat trying to drag a chicken out of the hen house.
He has so many I never hear the same thing twice but I sure can't remember them---let alone rattle them off when the phone rings.
Would someone pull that dam dog off the cat---we don't need any more 3 legged kittens around here.
Dads on the toilet and we left him with no paper---do you want to hold on a few minutes???
Plaid Pantry---this is a small old chain of convenience stores. They almost always hang up and call right back. After the 2nd call they probably take us off the list.
Hold on a minute while I clear my throat---followed by either a loud obnoxious belly belch or ghastly fart.
Hold on the dog is eating out of the cat box again and last time he barfed it all up on my bed,
Moms busy squirting dad with the hose cause she caught him peeing in her flower beds (or cat box) again. Mom will be inside in a few minutes, but dad might take awhile to dry off---do you want to hold on. He usually just sets the phone on the table and continues to yell---mom---telephone.
No we sure don't want to buy any porn blocking software. :oops:
I have to run---there is a giant rat trying to drag a chicken out of the hen house.
He has so many I never hear the same thing twice but I sure can't remember them---let alone rattle them off when the phone rings.
