HOW TO ANSWER THE PHONE

[kwselke]

I have a cell phone number through Tracfone carried on Verizon, and a "land line" (VoIP) number from Magic Jack which enters my home via AT&T U-verse. I have a third number from Google Voice which rings both my home and cell phones when dialed. I've only given the Google Voice number to two people. When my home and cell phone ring at the same time a quick look at the display lets me know if I need to answer. About once a week both phones ring at the same time and it's a Chinese language robocall. I have no idea what they are saying, so a witty response is impossible on my part. Voice mail is a good thing, use it.

 

[7tenz]

I answer and immediatley hang up without any greeting if I don't recognize the number. This way they can't clog up my voicemail box.

A lot of cases the number is disguised as my area code and/or 3 digit number like mine. Most ID as out of state or "United States". How can it ID from Ohio with a California area code?

 

[norm]

An indian sounding lady tried to sell me burial insurance.I told her my burial wasn't my problem .

 

[GPM]

I have a VOIP line. The provider has an option called Telemarketer Block. For every call that isn't in my phone book it plays a message that asks the caller to press a number to complete the call. The number is random, changing with each call. I rarely get any telemarketers through that and no robo calls. Downside is some legit calls don't make it through, but they go to voicemail. The service also has a Spam Call filter that screens for likely spam calls. You can select low, medium, and high ratings and send the calls to voicemail, or just play an error message and disconnect the call.

 

[Smoke]

On a related topic, I have read articles about some of the call centers being operated within prisons, using inmates to take orders, credit card numbers, etc. Probably not a good idea to give any information.

No.

The place I worked at was a secure building. All doors except the main entrance were alarmed, the smoking area was fenced off inside the secure perimeter and people in the smoking area were not allowed to speak to anyone outside the fence. No smart phones were allowed inside the building and you weren't allowed to take anything to or from your desk but a coffee mug. All this was supposed to prevent you from removing credit card information from the building. Supposedly any violation was grounds for immediate termination.

 

[Smoke]

Man, I just LOVE great customer service!

What goes around comes around. When people were polite to me I did everything I could to help them. When they weren't......

 

[Whitwabit]

You stab em we slab them .. leave your number at the tone .. beep beep .. Discount for multiple bodies ..

 

[Ogandydancer]

I have started in the last couple of weeks to get calls saying my computer is infected with a virus and to not do anything to it until I call them back and let them take charge of it and straighten it out. I am also getting some that say it is the Microsoft store then almost the same thing. Think next time they call I am going to answer and ask them what computer since I don’t have one?

 

[darmtn1917]

I've found the if you don't say anything 98% of the time - "they" terminate the call. Must be your voice that activates the "human" button









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[2ffat]

Shucks. All I get are robo-calls so I can't do any of those. :-(

 

[crazyphil]

The intention of this thread was/is a few chuckles. Someone needs to
lighten up a bit.

 

[Lt JL]

I never use my land line, it's just bundled with my cable and 'net. Consequently, if it rings, I know it's a robocall or telemarketer. Sometimes, I'll take a guess, answer the call, and say "Metro Vice, taped line". mighty quick disconnects.

 

[Jim NNN]

The OP's suggestion is a good one.

One time, a telemarketer called up and addressed me by the wrong name, so I said, "not interested". He got mad and yelled, "How do you know what I'm calling about?"

I said, "You called me by my wife's maiden name. Anyone who knows me knows that's not my name. So you obviously are going from a phone listing instead of knowledge about who I am."

In anger and frustration, he started swearing and cursing at me, so I hung up. But I called back the number he was calling from and got a message: It was purportedly a "girl's home" that described itself as a "faith based" institution. I thought - what "faith" could that be? The Church of Satan??

 

[crsides]

Smoke, I think you just made the all time "ignore" list for S&W forum.

 

[Smoke]

Smoke, I think you just made the all time "ignore" list for S&W forum.

Not even sure what that means but OK

 

[raljr1]

I simply say, "no, thank you" and hang up.

Robert

 

[REM 3200]

When I get the fake IRS call that threatens to send agents to my home
I tell them to send them, then we can compare their federal credentials with
my federal credentials. The caller has hung up every time.

I never tell them my federal credentials are a retired military ID card.