Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Phooey! I can tell I'm getting old. My patience with phone callers is at an all time low.

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Seniors Donate to DU
 
Paper Roses Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 05:05 PM
Original message
Phooey! I can tell I'm getting old. My patience with phone callers is at an all time low.
Between 3PM and now, almost 6 PM, I have received 3 calls asking me to take some kind of a junk survey. I am not interested nor to I have the time to spend answering inane questions that will make no change in my life. Do I really care if the guys from the gas company did a good job fixing the pipe. Says the caller," It will take about five minutes". I told him the job was fine and that I saw no reason for his survey. I'll bet dollars to donuts the end of the pitch was to sell me a gas burner. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with a new oil furnace and new tanks, no money to switch after spending about $8000.00 on both about 6 years ago.

Getting to be a cranky old bag. I know these kids are doing their job but I have no more patience for it.
Refresh | +1 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
Drale Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 05:07 PM
Response to Original message
1. Caller ID is a wonderful invention
I never thought I needed it until we got it with Uverse, now I would not go back.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Hardrada Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 05:08 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. I never reply to unknown callers.
I have never done surveys.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
mysuzuki2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 06:42 PM
Response to Reply #1
10. I have never enjoyed talking on the phone
now that I am in my 60s I have stopped answering it altogether.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
shanti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-09-11 12:51 AM
Response to Reply #1
13. sure is
it's possible to take charge of your own phone!
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
KT2000 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 05:12 PM
Response to Original message
3. Me too!
As far as I am concerned, I am in my home taking care of business (actually, real business) and they are interrupting me for surveys, donations and recorded political messages from the other party.
Too many people ae exempted from the Do Not Call list.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
RKP5637 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 05:13 PM
Response to Original message
4. I never answer the phone unless I recognize the caller on caller ID. And if I
miss someone I figure if it's that important they'll leave a message. There are also a lot of scammers out there preying on older people via phone.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
LiberalEsto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 05:14 PM
Response to Original message
5. Try this
If my Caller ID shows an unfamiliar number, or Unknown, or Private, etc., I lift the receiver for a second and hang up immediately. Instant disconnect. No ringing phone, no stupid messages, good riddance.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
SheilaT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 05:23 PM
Response to Original message
6. Somewhat on the opposite side of this coin:
I work the information desk at a hospital. Part time, so I only work four hours a day. And approximately once a day I'll get someone calling in telling me that the hospital phone number showed up on their caller ID, and do I know who called and why? No, I don't know. I tell them not to worry, and if it's important enough the person will call back. Or they would have left a message in the first place.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Curmudgeoness Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 06:14 PM
Response to Original message
7. I have been on both sides of these phone calls.
When I was a teen, I got a temp job making junk calls. And I also have had too many calls from these telemarketers and "survey takers". I have no patience either (and no caller ID, so I have to end the conversation quickly). I will tell you, that no matter what you say to these callers, it will not be the worst that they have heard. I just say "I'm not interested" and hang up immediately. At least 99% of the time. One time, I did agree to a "survey" that would take 5 minutes. And 15 minutes later, I told the woman I was done, that she had grossly exaggerated the time and I had no more time. She said "just a few more questions and we are done". Nope. I was done. I have no idea how long it would take, but I will guarantee they are lying about the time.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
EC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 06:27 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Before I got caller ID
I would just act nuts on the phone and hang up, it took less than a minute.


Nuts by pretending they were someone I knew and didn't ever want to see them again...like "Liz, I know that's you and I never want to see you again." slam down reciever..
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Curmudgeoness Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-03-11 06:31 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. LOL, that could be fun. I will have to try it occasionally. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
eleny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-11-11 11:18 AM
Response to Original message
11. I'm feeling a little old this morning...
I did a Google search for my 1977 Kenmore sewing machine and up popped a link to an ebay sale of the magazine ad for it. The seller deals in "vintage " ads.

:wtf:
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
IcyPeas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-08-11 05:46 PM
Response to Original message
12. Are you on the "DO NOT CALL LIST"?
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

You can register your phone number and these marketing type calls will cease.



Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Paper Roses Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-09-11 05:07 AM
Response to Reply #12
14. Yup, on the 'Do not call' list but the calls still keep coming.
To my chagrin, I do not have caller ID. I have an older cordless phone without the option. There in nothing like it available today. It works perfectly, mounts on the wall and the handset does not fall off. I especially like the fact that the handset is a little larger than the models shown on the market today. Would love to find another as a back up. Anyone have an old AT&T 9450 they'd like to sell?
Since I have no problem with the phone, it is wasteful to replace it.
My little way of conserving.

I have been told that telemarketing calls that originate within your state are not subject to the DNC rule. True?
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
WinterParkDonkey Donating Member (103 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-09-11 06:38 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. I don't work on Thursdays and Fridays....
and it seems that whenever I am either getting ready to take a nap, eat lunch, get interested in a TV show the phone will ring with some kind of survey. I just tell them I am not interested. I have an older phone too (and no I am not going to get a newer model).
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Wed May 08th 2024, 07:13 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Seniors Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC