I don't know how you feel about them, but I find telemarketers to be a royal pain. I'm fortunate that I don't get too many of them but when I do, I'm not very nice to them. There was an email that came around saying that cell phone numbers were going to be publicly listed and to get your number on the national 'Do Not Call' list to go to a website, put your number in, and Bob's-yer-uncle, you're not listed. Ya right.
I'd been running with only a cell phone for quite some time and with air time charges what they are, I didn't want a bunch of unsolicited calls billed to me so I signed up. It turned out to be a mistake to put my number on this list because that's when it started. At first I'd just say that I wasn't interested and hang up. It kept up. Time to change tactics. Next was to say I'm not interested and do not call this number again. We have a law here in Canada that if you've been told to put me on your Do Not Call list, you cannot call me again. Ok, looks good on paper. Anybody that knows me knows that I will not answer a personal call on my cell during business hours and won't call during work time.
One day my phone rang and I answered, thinking that maybe there was something wrong with family or friend. Nope, Bell Mobility calling; we can get you better service at a lower rate than you're paying. I prob'ly would have been a little nicer if said telemarketer had been able to speak the language and I was able to understand her but she couldn't and I couldn't. So I told her, "You're calling me on my personal cell phone during business hours? Do you not realise that you are wasting my time and my employer's money. Do not call this number ever again." End of that one.
Once I had moved in to the city there was a knock on the door one day from the local cable company (ok, one of them) and they had a smokin' deal on a bundle with cable, internet and land line. Well, I didn't need the land line but ok, we'll sign on. There are only a couple of people that know that number and really I should have it disconnected, nobody ever calls on it. (but then, who ever calls a land line anymore?) One evening the land line rang and I picked up. "This is John from Telus and we have a terrific promotion on now for cable, internet and a land line." "Telus?" says I. "Yes Ma'am." "Well, I've dealt with Telus before and as far as I'm concerned, y'all are a bunch of highway-robbin'-bastards and I'll never deal with you again. Do not ever call this number again."
For some unknown reason they haven't called back.
I've been operating without a land-line since 1999 and the BESTEST thing about that is no telemarketers. Not ONE, not ever. Our laws must be different down here.
ReplyDeletewv: pingstop. There HAS to be some sorta connection (heh) here, but I damned sure can't figger it out.
I probably never would have had one on my cell if I hadn't put it on that damned stupid list.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of lists, the landline is on the list of calls to make this week and have it disconnected.
(but then, who ever calls a land line anymore?)
ReplyDeleteNo truer words.
Oh wait...telemarketers do!
Deb, long before there was EVER a "Do Not Call" list on the Federal Level in the US, my Louisiana State Senator at the time (Foster Campbell, D-umbass, LA) got a "Leave Me The Hell Alone" registry law instituted here in The Bayou State.
He is a POS that I've despised since my youth. But he done one thang right! In fact, many US States modeled their laws behind what he did. And the Feds followed suit. Foster will gladly take credit for being a trend-setter...just ask him.
Ya' know, it's funny...in probably quicker than we really imagine right now, land-line phone service will be a distant memory. Heck, the way we communicate NOW over the air will rapidly change...until the power shuts down.
Then we'll be back to hand-crank short wave, smoke signals, and tom-toms.
I'm ready.
it's funny...in probably quicker than we really imagine right now, land-line phone service will be a distant memory. Part Time and I were having a conversation last night abut the things we've seen change.
ReplyDeleteFrom B&W TVs and party lines to 3D TVs and cell phones. Can't imagine what his mother has seen (she's 94)
BTW Andy, welcome back, I've missed you!
ReplyDeleteOh Deb, I've been around. Lurking. Stalking you, really.
ReplyDeleteJust haven't had much to say.
But, thanks for the welcome back.
Yeah, it's crazy. My great grandmother lived from 1890 to 1994. She was sharp up until right before her death. It was fascinating to hear her marvel at the changes she had seen.
Then I think, WOW! She died in 1994...Jeepers, technology has whizzed on just since then.
Interesting times we live in...
I got rid of my land line years ago. The only calls were telemarketers. And since Ma Bell could not keep up and provide better phone service and internet, what was the point of having a land line?
ReplyDeleteDagnab it, I know you young whippersnappers are all cutting off your landlines, and I'm just an old geezer for keeping mine. But I ain't giving her up. We've got cells too, but there's something about the land line, something makes me keep it. Some kind of Oedipal or umbilical Ma Bell thing maybe. Because, as you say, about the only calls we get on it are solicitations, usually at dinner time.
ReplyDeleteSo far nothing on the cell phone yet, but our land line is a different story. We're on the do not call list, but that doesn't stop the new tactic. They call with a recording, and want you to call them ... SLIMY BUNCH OF BASTARDS!
ReplyDelete