The Vent and Rant Thread - Page 431

kazbates · 11-17-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

We have a national "Do Not Call" register, but it seems that the most effective control we have is that our broadband connection requires a phone number with Telstra, but we only use the broadband VOIP number with our ISP. The latter is not listed anywhere that we haven't given out, and the former is listed in the White Pages. There's no phone attached to the former - if they ring, then it just, to them, rings out.

There are plenty of days when I wish we didn't have a phone at all.

However, the most effective means I have of dealing with phone telemarketers is to not answer the phone for any number I don't know that isn't known & expected, or friend or family (and often even then I don't answer it

). Family or friends or otherwise that don't display their number... well, they leave a message, or they don't. It's their choice.

My sister-in-law never answers the phone. She lets everyone, friends, family, whoever, leave a message and then she will call you back.

Most cold-callers here are physical callers at the front gate, trying to sell electricity or phone contracts. Our enthusiastic dogs generally discourage their eagerness to get a foot inside, and the response that "Our employer pays for all our services" (though only half true) gets rid of them anyway. However, my brother, who is a bit of a shit-stirrer, likes to tell them things like "We get all our electricity from our own private windfarm in the back yard", or "We've got hydroelectric storm gutters" or "I don't use the phone because the government is monitoring my conversations". Apparently those responses are not in the script.

Cheers,
Marc

My dad, an old high-school PE teacher and coach, used to blow his coach's whistle in the phone if they called at dinner time. We had a strict no calls at dinner policy and I mean STRICT.

Dylrob ~ I'm so sorry for your family troubles. No matter how much they drive us crazy sometimes, they are still our family and we care about them. I hope it works out for you.

kindlekitten · 11-17-2009, 07:06 AM

this is one time having a toddler around the house is REALLY handy! just hand the phone to them and they will gabble away for the longest time!

kindlekitten · 11-17-2009, 07:18 AM

*sigh* it is still raining in biblical proportions and blowing like mad. I can't believe I still have power. it's woken me up numerous times through the night. I've been up since a little after 2, it's a little after 4.

the pup is snoring like a drunk and I can hear her tummy gurgling from across the room. kindlekitten is being clingy and only wants me to lay or sit "just so" and if I move I am bitten for my transgressions. I've heard the horses running around in the lower pasture on and off through the night.

it's times like these that I wonder if we aren't ramping up for an earthquake...

kennyc · 11-17-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

*sigh* it is still raining in biblical proportions and blowing like mad. I can't believe I still have power. it's woken me up numerous times through the night. I've been up since a little after 2, it's a little after 4.

the pup is snoring like a drunk and I can hear her tummy gurgling from across the room. kindlekitten is being clingy and only wants me to lay or sit "just so" and if I move I am bitten for my transgressions. I've heard the horses running around in the lower pasture on and off through the night.

it's times like these that I wonder if we aren't ramping up for an earthquake...

it's the End of Days KK, run for your life!

kindlekitten · 11-17-2009, 07:30 AM

naw, it's just November in the PAC NW

GeoffC · 11-17-2009, 08:26 AM

what ! wait - you have solar !!?

pshrynk · 11-17-2009, 08:47 AM

Dylrob - That is a day that will suck forever. The only thing anyone can do with that is to vow to be a better person when they are in a similar position. I hope life turns better for you soon.

Patricia · 11-17-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Dylrob - That is a day that will suck forever. The only thing anyone can do with that is to vow to be a better person when they are in a similar position. I hope life turns better for you soon.

Wise words from pshrynk.

I hope that you can stay in touch with your step-father, Dylrob. Maybe you could tell him how much you appreciate him?

kennyc · 11-17-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

Wise words from pshrynk.

I hope that you can stay in touch with your step-father, Dylrob. Maybe you could tell him how much you appreciate him?

Yes!

.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 11-17-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Dylrob - That is a day that will suck forever. The only thing anyone can do with that is to vow to be a better person when they are in a similar position. I hope life turns better for you soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

Wise words from pshrynk.

I hope that you can stay in touch with your step-father, Dylrob. Maybe you could tell him how much you appreciate him?

I really can't say it any better than Patricia and Pshrynk have.

And I really hope things take a turn for the better for you soon.

kennyc · 11-17-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

I really can't say it any better than Patricia and Pshrynk have.

And I really hope things take a turn for the better for you soon.

Hey How's NaNoWriMo-ing going?

ShortNCuddlyAm · 11-17-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Hey How's NaNoWriMo-ing going?

Badly right now

kennyc · 11-17-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Badly right now

Hey, you're still ahead of me!

DawnFalcon · 11-18-2009, 02:31 PM

Okay, so you're an electric company rep. You're going round to give someone a final disconnection warning. And, um, can you please check you have the right address? Thanks!

Argh! I swear my life would be deemed too much of a bad cliche for a movie sometimes. 3 letters difference in the road name, rly...

dreams · 11-18-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylrob

I was debating whether to post this.
The whole thing left me feeling sour all of the next day.

I'm so sorry. It is always so stressful when things happen that are out of our control... and during your birthday makes it even harder.

Thank you for letting us know what is going on. Hugs and lots of chocolate being sent your way. Give the little fuzzy guys lots of love.

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

We have a national "Do Not Call" register,

We do too, but I found out that they can legally call if any company that you do business with shares information about clients. (I got angry one day, answered the phone, and asked WHY they were STILL bothering me. I was given the above explaination and told I needed to sign an "opt out" form then it would take a few months for it to trickle down and be left off lists. (and no they didn't know what company list they had... they were just hired to make the calls--- but since they got so many complaints, they were told what they could say to customers.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

However, the most effective means I have of dealing with phone telemarketers is to not answer the phone for any number I don't know that isn't known & expected, or friend or family (and often even then I don't answer it

). Family or friends or otherwise that don't display their number... well, they leave a message, or they don't. It's their choice.

I have a land line and don't ever answer it. It is for internet only. I usually have about 10 hang ups per day. I'm still trying to track down which companies I haven't signed "opt out" forms for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

or "I don't use the phone because the government is monitoring my conversations".

Cheers,
Marc

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11-17-2009, 07:06 AM	#6452
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	this is one time having a toddler around the house is REALLY handy! just hand the phone to them and they will gabble away for the longest time!

11-17-2009, 07:18 AM	#6453
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	sigh it is still raining in biblical proportions and blowing like mad. I can't believe I still have power. it's woken me up numerous times through the night. I've been up since a little after 2, it's a little after 4. the pup is snoring like a drunk and I can hear her tummy gurgling from across the room. kindlekitten is being clingy and only wants me to lay or sit "just so" and if I move I am bitten for my transgressions. I've heard the horses running around in the lower pasture on and off through the night. it's times like these that I wonder if we aren't ramping up for an earthquake...

11-17-2009, 07:30 AM	#6455
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	naw, it's just November in the PAC NW

11-17-2009, 08:26 AM	#6456
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	what ! wait - you have solar !!?

11-17-2009, 08:47 AM	#6457
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Dylrob - That is a day that will suck forever. The only thing anyone can do with that is to vow to be a better person when they are in a similar position. I hope life turns better for you soon.

11-18-2009, 02:31 PM	#6464
DawnFalcon Banned Posts: 2,094 Karma: 2682 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: N/A	Okay, so you're an electric company rep. You're going round to give someone a final disconnection warning. And, um, can you please check you have the right address? Thanks! Argh! I swear my life would be deemed too much of a bad cliche for a movie sometimes. 3 letters difference in the road name, rly...