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

[Paper Roses]

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.

[Drale]

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.

[Hardrada]

2. I never reply to unknown callers.

I have never done surveys.

[mysuzuki2]

10. I have never enjoyed talking on the phone

now that I am in my 60s I have stopped answering it altogether.

[shanti]

13. sure is

it's possible to take charge of your own phone!

[KT2000]

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.

[RKP5637]

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.

[LiberalEsto]

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.

[SheilaT]

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.

[Curmudgeoness]

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.

[EC]

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..

[Curmudgeoness]

9. LOL, that could be fun. I will have to try it occasionally. nt

[eleny]

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:

[IcyPeas]

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.

[Paper Roses]

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?

[WinterParkDonkey]

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).