I hope this isn't the new telemarketing approach for 2015

[gerisullivan]

Yesterday's call was just plain weird. A heavily-accented male voice called to offer me a loan. I went with my standard, prompt reply: "No thank you. Please remove my number from your calling list."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Please remove my number from your calling list."

"Please be my girlfriend."

"Please remove my number from your calling list."

"Please be my girlfriend."

"Please remove my number from your calling list."

"Please be my girlfriend."

"Please remove my number from your calling list."

We went through another round or two with each of us playing broken record until I finally added "Good day" to my side of the conversation and hung up.

Okay, that "good day" was overly generous given how I was feeling toward the caller at that point. I wish I'd asked to speak to his supervisor. That wouldn't have gotten me anywhere, but it might have sent a clearer signal that the telemarketer's behavior was not welcome or appropriate.

The phone rang a few minutes ago. The business name wasn't discernible to my ear, but it wasn't the same as yesterday's name. Again, a heavily-accented male voice, the same accent I associate with scam calls for Windows security fixes. Not the same voice as yesterday; this one was a bit lighter/higher in pitch. Again, an offer for a loan, this time with an amount attached: $5,000.

"No thank you. Please remove my number from your calling list."

"You don't want it?"

"No. Please remove my number from your calling list."

Followed by an immediate, polite goodbye...and "love you!" at the end.

Not as obnoxious as yesterday's call, but, still, WTF?

Caller ID is $138/year, so I don't bother with it. In fact, looking up the price just prompted me to drop Call Waiting, which I've been paying $102/year for. It used to be worth it, but these days I'm at the edge of dropping my landline all together. Anyone needing to reach me when I'm on a landline call most likely has my cell number and can try that if the call is urgent. Otherwise, a busy signal pretty clearly suggests calling back later.

I won't credit the telemarketers with saving me $102/year (plus whatever taxes were on that $8.50, which are likely to be rather a lot given the $16.24/month taxes and fees currently added to my $21.20 phone bill). But I will thank LJ readers for the excuse to post about it here since the process of doing that directly led to the savings.

Comments

[threeringedmoon.livejournal.com]

In lieu of a landline, we use a VOIP system called Ooma. The call quality isn't always ideal, but since we both have cell phones, we can use those for backup. Caller ID comes free with Ooma, which means that I rarely talk to telemarketers anymore: if I don't recognize the number, I let it go to voicemail. It also allows me to block numbers, and configure what happens with blocked numbers.

On those rare occasions when I do get an unwanted call, I just firmly say "No thank you" and hang up.