h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know I'm not feeling well, so perhaps I'm over-reacting, but I'm immensely p*ssed off with my roommate (aka Penguin Killer) this evening.

I pay $7 US a month for a non-published telephone number, and for a d*mned good reason. It's MY phone, my name is on the account, I pay the bills, etc. And yet, this seems to think that because he's run his mobile out his minutes, that gives him the right to give MY telephone number out to all of his friends?

It's bad enough I can't use my own phone to make a phone call to someone who's leaving their house in an hour. You want to use my phone to make some local calls, fine, you ask, and go ahead. But don't DARE give out my phone number!!!

I'm so angry right now, I can feel my blood boiling. No wonder my blood pressure was so high at my last visit to the doctor. I can't wait till April when this moves out once and for all.

I can see why you are upset.

I have such a thing about the phone and emails.
I hate to give them out to strangers.
I hate when strangers use my number more to call me for sales than I do to call out.

Hubby is a one man business and they call here using "it's a business number" to justify it. I am on the no call list and it's Not a business number! You are not required to have a business number they can call!

I ten to take for granted that other people feel the same about the phone as I do. And respect that. For example, I have *your* number, Abbi, but would never use it unless I communicated with you through email or otherwise first and knew you were expecting it. People's privacy is VERY important.

As for sales calls, I have to wonder how much good it does being registered on the Do Not Call list. Both my home and mobile phones are registered: still the calls come! If they call your mobile- you pay for the minutes!! And if they call you from an "800" number, you pay for the call! It's ridiculous and a horrible invasion of privacy and I hope they will start proscecuting some of these people. I realize how bad the job market is, but really, all of these telemarketers could easily be employed in legitimate sales positions.

I had a little nap and have calmed down a bit. I suppose I can trust the Penguin Killer that his friends will use the number then forget about it. I maybe just needed something to be really annoyed at this evening.

"If they call your mobile- you pay for the minutes!! ....if they call you from an "800" number, you pay for the call!"

Really! I did not know that Oh my that is awful and should be illegal.

I would not mind you calling PCI know you which makes all the difference. It is like opening your door and information to strangers otherwise.

Well spout off all you need to PC!

Consideration seems to be very rare at present. I understand exactly where you are coming from PC and Abbi. I have never had a call to my mobile yet from someone I didn't know, but if I had a cold caller on it, I would use that time to make up new swear words. My home phone is one thing, but nobody gets to call my mobile, except those who have the number, its for emergencies and meeting up only.

I've registered for this thing called the Telephone Preference service (I think it's UK-only though) which means you get taken off their lists.

My Mum's on it too, and whenever she gets rung up by one of these companies, she always interrupts them and says politely but firmly "I should not be receiving this call"

They always get very apologetic all of a sudden and say something like "Oh, sorry, are you registered?" and make their excuses and leave.

My favourite line for telesales:

Can you just wait a minute? I'm busy having sex.....................................................................................................................................................OK. Finished now...

That is a good one.
I sometimes us - Just a minute some sales person is at the door and it might take a while to get rid of them do you want to hold?

The no-call for home phones works!
BUT because hubby is a one man business they think they can consider it a business line. I do not pay for a business line for 1-2 calls before 8 am. SO they call for faxs,phones, to take visa, to use visa, all the supply houses for offices and painting and construction and on and on...I say this is a private line and they tell me I have to have a business line. I do NOT have to

Even with the no call some are exempt.
Charities, surveys,political calls this keeps the phone ringing.

I answer the calls between 4- 6pm once a month. That keeps them calling at that time. The rest of the month I have the machine on during the hours of 4-8 pm.
I miss the morning calls because I am still sleeping so they stick to evening hours.

Yes, i am beginning to see the phone as more of a pain than a blessing in general. We (me and RK) do have a fixed line but it's basically just to connect to the internet. Both of us have mobiles although right now his has no credit and mine is dead 'cos of a multiple cock up by both France telecom and my bank.

So, the last few nights when i have been at Viking's, i have been basically out of contact. He has a mobile, but is adamant he doesn't want his number given to anyone except his children, RK and me, which is fair enough.

However, tonight when his daughter came here, he encouraged her to take my number 'cos most of the time he is with me, so it's practical if she needs to get hold of him and maybe his phone isn't working.

Most of the time when the phone rings i go " oh god, what's this?" unless i know in advance that someone i know and love is ringing, like when PC and i arrange to talk, otherwise i tend to think the internet is now both better and certainly cheaper and less intrusive.

As for idiots trying to sell me rubbish, luckily i have the perfect response here " I am ENGLISH speaking, unless you can explain it all in english you are wasting your time" Er, they tend to give up. Works on Mormons too

zdt

Good idea!
I should learn enough French to eliminate them

It's the autodiallers that are the bane of my life. You know when you answer the phone, nobody's there, and then you get cut off? That's because they use machines to dial many numbers at once. Sometimes a staff member is free when one gets answered. All the others just get cut off.

My elderly father-in-law got so freaked out by these calls that he changed his number.

Oh, now I know I was way over-reacting. I've been alternately moody and irritable all weekend, with periods of my normal self poking through in between. I became annoyed a few times yesterday with things I normally find amusing. I even became irritated with poor K simply because, while we were browsing a record shop, he already owned everything I looked at. (And this after his offer to let me borrow them all!)

Oh... I hope you told Penguin Killer off..!

As for telemarketers..

Here's a good smart assed answer to telemarketers, this is not of my own making I stole it:


"Now before I listen to your pitch, there are a few things we need to cover. My minimum rate for listening is $35 an hour. Of course, I can offer you upgrades that give you additional benefits, as well as a greater chance that I may buy what you are selling. The deluxe package is $55 per hour and offers a 2 percent chance of purchase, and the super-deluxe package is $75 per hour, and offers a 3 percent chance of purchase. Now before we get to that, I will need you to send in an application as well as a minimal application fee of $55. You will also need to include with your payment a $35 payment for a credit report. Once your credit has been approved, I will be able to accept your non-refundable good-faith security deposit, which I require, of $100. After closing, and you have paid my standard closing costs of $250, we will then be able to proceed with your sales pitch.

Can I sign you up?"

Too much effort. Far better to just put the phone down (but don't hang up!) and walk quietly away.

The poor people, though...working for commission in huge windowless battery farms. It's not their fault. They *have* to phone you to eat. The only *lasting* solution is to rise up and overthrow capitalism.

Your right that is far too much effort what was I thinking, better just to hand the phone to my 6 year old..

That works too I bet!