OT: And speaking of "Customer Service"...

[RHPConsult]

I've previously shared herein my recent and prolonged agonies of tech (non)support at ATT and Earthlink, while attempting to upgrade phone and internet connections. I'll not revisit those distressing memory traces.

Comcast has now been installed (VERY easy) and has been in place (SPLENDID functioning) for a couple of weeks - cable, phone, ISP. In the case of the phone service, Comcast has some bells and whistles that are neat advances over "traditional" arrangements, notably on-screen records of calls made, received, missed.

Checking-out those rosters for the first time this morning reveals a series of calls I only remember as not completed (upon my answering) due to silence at the other end. (NO!, no heavy breathing!)

Pursuing the matter just a bit (via Googling the mysterious number) retreived a long list of sites discussing telephonic spam, something this naive senior had never previously thought about. Lots of citations of this site which keeps track . . . Keeping a roster of these scum  Curious the "frequencies" amassed by Texas and California, in contrast to Ohio. You got "laws" back there, guys?

My "unknown" caller is one of them.

I'm amazed.  Can't imagine how actually knowing I have a (published!) working number benefits some miscreant, but . . .

[Xairbusdriver]

We've blocked several of these numbers, when they show up, anyway. As for what advantage they provide, the only thing I can think of is to provide the best 'time of day' to reach a number. In other words, if the phone is answered, that must mean the owner is home. If not answered, "not a good time to call that one". Of course, since so many use "answering" functions, I'm not sure how the system deals with 'non-human' answering. Maybe the calling computer only marks the call as 'answered' if the word "Hello" is recognized.

[Gregg]

With these automated dialers that telemarketers use, I'm told if you don't say "Hello" then the machine doesn't recognize that as a response from a "live hit". But, how're ya s'posed to know it's a machine when yer phone rings? (I don't know if caller ID would clue ya in or not.)

[jcarter]

We have had success with using the caller ID by only answering those numbers that we know, or ones which have an ID that seem legit.
We were actually getting some telemarketing from Earthlink, they did not know that I already had an account with them.
But Earthlink did not come up on the caller ID, so even tho the person was 'live' and very pleasant, I told him that since his call was not identified as where he said he was calling from, that I could not believe him that he was actually from Earthlink.  So I said 'sorry, but I have no way of knowing who you really are, bye'.
We have very little trouble with any telemarketing any more.
Jane

For some unknown calls, my husband has some clever and humourous ways that we answer.  If its a live telemarketer, it gets a pretty funny response.  There is a silly little paperback with this stuff and silly messages to put on your answering machine.
But since we get so few now, we dont bother any more.

[MamaMoose]

I use a trick with annoying phone callers. On the second annoying call, I answer by saying, You have reached the office of the Central Intelligence Agency. Your phone number has been recorded and if it is legitimate, we will call you back. If this is an illegal call, we will notify your local FBI headquarters and they will take appropriate action.

It worked several times! I suppose I could be arrested for impersonating a federal official. But what the heck, I think the judge would be sympathetic after he (she) heard my story.

MamaMoose

[Gregg]

Tom, you'd better hope that you don't get a fundraising call for the Policeman's Ball!

[Jack W]

I registered our number on the "Do not call" list several years ago.

That has done wonders on reducing our junk calls. Almost none now, and when I do get an occasional one now, I simply ask if they checked the "Do not call" list. Then I "politely" request they put my number on their no-call list. That's usually the end of it.

They can get heavily fined for calling numbers on that list.

Telemarketers — GOODBY!

Register your number here:

https://www.donotcall.gov/register/Reg.aspx

Jack

[Xairbusdriver]

While making humorous remarks and 'playing' with the telemarketer can be entertaining, it makes no difference to the computer generated calls which sometimes never even say anything, anyway. Those are the calls that are simply trying to determine when you might be home to answer, I guess. It still baffles me what these kinds of calls are for. Simply answering may be all that they want to find out. And what happens when the 'answering machine' picks up?

[jcarter]

Yes, it was only the 'live' ones that we used to play with.
Now I think most of the telemarketing is done by those automatic dialing machines.
But we sure dont get very many any more.
I have wondered what happens when our machine answers, but most of them usually hang up after 3 rings, as they have it figured that if you dont answer by then, the answering machine is next.
I guess thats it anyway.
Jane

[krissel]

One thing I found that works is to tell them they have called a business. They always apologize and remove you from their list. Just hope the phone company doesn't get snooty and try to charge me for a business number.

[jcarter]

For the last week, Verizon, our provider, called a lot and just plain hung up.
That was very annoying, so I called back using the number they had called from.
Finally got a live person, and I asked to be taken off the list. She explained it was an "autodialer".  She knew we were angry, as we have previously requested them not to do this. I told her to do it right this time, and make it quick as I was paying for a long distance call.  She was NOT polite, and neither was I.
Wouldnt you think that Verizon would not have to resort to stuff llike this to do to their regular customers?  They must be having problems.  I guess they are spending a lot on their new Fiber systems, but they shouldnt harass their regular customers, if they want to keep them loyal.
Jane

[Gregg]

QUOTE(krissel @ Mar 5 2007, 03:30 PM) [snapback]120995[/snapback]

One thing I found that works is to tell them they have called a business. They always apologize and remove you from their list.

You must get calls from dull telemarketers. Most businesses want employees who answer the phone to say the name of the business. Of couse, I don't know how caller ID might help you know when not to say "Hello" or "krissel residence".

[krissel]

Sometimes they say "Oh, I couldn't tell it was a business by the way you answered the phone." (I just say 'hello'.)

But that's their problem, not mine.

[MamaMoose]

Gregg,

I did get an annoying set of calls from the local police and fire depts. wanting me to donate money for one cause or another. After the third  call in one evening  when I said, "not interested", on the fourth call,  I pulled my "You have  reached the CIA..." trick. There was a dead silence and then I heard, "OH. my GOD" and she hung up.

So far, I have not been arrested but it doesn't matter if I am as I have my Monopoly Get Out OF Jail Free card!

MamaMoose

[RobW]

QUOTE

So far, I have not been arrested but it doesn't matter if I am as I have my Monopoly Get Out OF Jail Free card!

They'd never find a jury to convict you for that one.