Showing posts with label phones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label phones. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Just another annoyance.....

Ok, have I missed something? Did the "Do Not Call" lists expire? In the last couple weeks I have been pestered beyond belief by unwanted phone calls. 95% of them have been from people "conducting a survey", the other 5% were just plain selling something or were political calls.

I thought I would be getting a lot of political calls, but that wasn't the case at all.

Have they found some sort of "loophole" that now lets them bother you by claiming they are conducting surveys? And to add insult to injury......every single one of those calls were made by people who had very thick accents. In other words, they were a nightmare to understand. Aren't these companies paying attention?

I especially loved the one from the guy who sounded like he was calling from a busy cafe (noisy) in Bangladesh. His accent was so bad I could only figure out that it was something to do with my computer. I finally lost patience and said "since I don't know what you're talking about, it would be wise of me to end this call....so good-bye" and I hung up. I had to laugh when I checked the caller ID after I hung up; 1-000-000-0000. No lie, that's honestly what it said. Most of the others just say "out of area" and give you no further info.

No......I can't bring myself to be mean and hateful and slam down the receiver, but I'll admit the thought does cross my mind. They are just trying to do a job, although they are not very good at it and cause more inconvenience and frustration than anything.

When oh WHEN are we ever going to be able to block our numbers from these unwanted calls?

My main thought is.....'does anyone ever actually BUY from these people?'......when you can't even understand what they want......how can you make a legitimate purchase?

One of the calls was about the yellow pages. I stayed with her for a minute or so because I was curious. Her English was horrid but I thought maybe I could manage. When she actually asked me to get up from my comfy chair in the living room to go get my yellow pages.....I knew it was time to end the call and I did. "No, I don't want to do that.....so, good-bye". click

When I was in my early twenties, I did telemarketing for about two weeks. It was for college classes through VA and all I had to do was get them the "lead" (someone who shows an interest and gives their contact information) and then someone from their main office would take it from there. I got paid so much for each lead. I can tell you that it definitely was not worth the names I got called or the slammed receivers in my ear, even though I did pretty well getting leads for them. I guess that's why I can't be hateful to telemarketers now......unless they are aggressive. And I have come across a few of those who represented......are you ready for this?....charitable organizations. That's when I figured out my donation was partly going for their pay. Sometimes I'm a little slow. Needless to say, I no longer give to those organizations.

I remember I used to feel guilty about bothering people right at "supper time" but that's when we were told to call, as more people would be home then. I wonder if any of these people I'm getting calls from feel badly that they are disturbing me..............nah.

Anyway.....are any of you getting more of these unwanted calls than usual or has my phone number been put up on a billboard somewhere..........

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Things I Would Love to Say.....

Excerpts from phone calls I receive at work.

(I must get 20 calls a day that start out like this one)
Caller: I probably have the wrong department but….

If you really think you have the wrong department then you probably do. Click.

Caller: The garbage company refuses to come down our street because of all the snow and YOU need to do something about it.

Ok, pardon me while I get my AK47 and shoot up the offices of the garbage company and set fire to their trucks.

Caller: If I can get out of our subdivision to go to work, then the garbage truck can certainly get in to pick up our garbage.

I’m glad to know you know how to drive a 50,000 ton truck on snow and ice. Maybe YOU should drive it and pick up all the garbage FOR them.

Caller: If my child has an emergency, our roads are so bad an ambulance wouldn’t be able to get here.

This state has a winter season….winter means ice and snow, which means driving could be hazardous or nonexistent…you may want to move to a warmer climate.

Caller: There are people riding horses down the road leaving piles of horse manure and that’s a danger to my health.

Really? Oh my god…don’t go anywhere near it…keep everyone inside, I’ll alert the media.

Caller: I don’t think you’re giving Mr. Jones my messages, he hasn’t returned my calls.

Actually, I never took your messages in the first place because Mr. Jones thinks you’re an a-hole.

Caller: Do I have to bring my dog with me in order to get his license?

Geez lady, are you on crack? What an ignorant question.