Hello, hello, Rachel calling…

Gallery

Posted on by

 

Do you think Rachel looks like this?

Rachel called again today. She calls several times a week to let us know that we are eligible for a reduced interest rate on our credit card.

Yesterday someone from GE called to say that we won a free security system. Normally I don’t stay on the line as soon as I realize it’s a telemarketer. When I answered the phone, a guy who sounded a lot like a friend of ours said, “Don’t hang up!” So I didn’t only to get the beginning of the spiel.

For about a month, someone with a thick accent – I am thinking Bangladesh maybe – called every day to let us know he has discounted prescription drugs for us. The first time I said very nicely that neither one of us takes any prescription drugs. (Silly me!) Somehow it didn’t get through. After that I resumed my usual stance of hanging up on him.

We get at least one, often more than one telemarketer call a day. We are on all the “do not call” lists – state and federal – so I don’t get it. I know that charities (we get a lot of those calls too) are exempt from this. Note to charities: I don’t respond well to phone solicitations. It seems like politicians are exempt too. It was a big joke around the election. Whenever the phone rang one of us would say, “It’s Barrack or Hilary or Sarah or John for you!” Note to politicians: I don’t respond well to politicians at all!

I am absolutely sick of it. We often don’t answer the phone and let it go to voicemail. Some of our friends, who know we do this, will scream into the phone, “I know you are there – pick up!” Actually, it’s pretty funny what they do to get us to pick up. I am easily amused.

My question is this — does anyone really follow-up on those offers? Who would buy prescription drugs from a guy who doesn’t speak English and lives on the other side of the world? Or penis drugs from a company you never heard of (most of those offers come by email)? Does someone really think that a security system would be free?

If you do, please contact me. I have a bridge I am trying to sell. It’s is in a prime location and will be very valuable in a few years. And for you, I have a good deal.

Photo credits: Rachel by rdracer17, charity cartoon by cheerfulmonk and covered bridge by jimdude all courtesy of Flickr.

29 thoughts on “Hello, hello, Rachel calling…”

  1. When our oldest daughter was still in high school, she answered the phone one morning and somehow wound up receiving a walter filtration system. To return it, we had to go thru more twists and turns than a circus performer.

    In the last few years, I have absolutely refused to answer the phone unless I know who is calling. Most callers – politicians, telemarkers, etc. – don’t leave a message and hang up. My hubby used to be frustrated when he was home and I would not answer the phone. He now does the same.

    But, I’m still waiting on my fabulously rich relative in Nigeria to send me the money I inherited. Whoops, I forgot to provide my personal info. Dang!

    Like

    Reply ↓

  2. I get so irked when they call EARLY on the weekend of Sunday during dinner. I mean, really? That do not call thing doesn’t seem to do much at all! Even worse is when they stalk you on your cell phone!

    Like

    Reply ↓

  3. Yesterday, while trying to take a much needed nap, American Travel called. For the 137th time this month. Normally, I don’t pick up when they call. I did yesterday. I was NOT polite.

    I don’t think they’ll call back. 😉

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • The delay is a sign but I have had a few calls that didn’t have the delay. That was really annoying because I actually listened for a few seconds! I hope they aren’t coming out with new technology to eliminate the delay. I would love to block those callers if only I knew how!

      Like

      Reply ↓

  6. I admit to having had my fun with telemarketers from faking an accent, to asking them if they knew my Uncle Pete in Mumbai, to engaging them in a deep and meaningful conversation about cat food. Usually, they hang up on me. I think I might be on some “don’t call that crazy loon in Sydney” list.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  7. When my father was on the downward slide to senility he bought all kinds of things from telemarketers. It was sad. When he died we didn’t pay them. His phone was disconnected of course, dead people don’t have phones. Some companies got through to my brother who was the personal rep of the estate, such as it was–or wasn’t, he never paid any of them and eventually they went back to bothering and taking advantage of other folks. Daddy was confused and couldn’t understand why he never had enough money to pay the bills. I will stop now I am getting angry again…

    Like

    Reply ↓

  8. Awww man… Rachel has your number too? That gal gets around.
    These people have forced us to become rude. We have opted for caller ID.
    If a number shows that we don’t know, we click answer followed instantly by hang-up.
    Our phone, our right. We’ll show them…

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • I’d like caller id but we just don’t use our phones very much to incur the extra cost. I remember when I was young, I was terrified of missing a phone call (that was before cell phones). Now I could care less. Most friends email or if they do call and leave a message, I will call them back. BTW I had to fish you out of my spam! Wonder how that happened!

      Like

      Reply ↓

  9. They do call cell phones too… We only have cells and we still get calls. Not as many as landlines, though. Generally, the people who call us are associated with our credit card company or phone company some way or another. It is still bothersome… Not as irritating as someone trying to give us barring prescription drugs.
    I am way too nice and often listen to them and politely and repeatedly say no… Apparently, if you say no 3 times, they are supposed to hang up. That is my go to. I think in a way, I am terrible for wasting their time, but really, that is what they are doing to me too, I suppose.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  10. This one really hits home and I agree with every single reaction you have had! They must have some success though or would they continue to call and call and call? I’m going to try the “Take me off your list” statement. This is a funny funny post Kate, that’s actually not so funny when we get bombarded.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  11. KC, I loved the sentiment of this, and I have a suggestion for you. By law, if you tell a telemarketer that they have to take you off of their list, they have to do it. And, by law, they cannot sell your name to other telemarketing resources. Should you decided to try this w/ your telemarketing friends, do expect them to hang up on you. But, the good news is, they won’t call back. They can call cell phones too, unfortunately. Second bit of good news. After a few of “take me off of your list” phone interactions, you should have a slowdown of daily telemarketing calls. Best of luck!

    Like

    Reply ↓

Don't be shy, I'd love to hear what you're thinking!