QotW (Week): 20 July - July 26 2015: Hello, I'm calling from __. Is this a good time?

[danger_dan]

[padyofurniture]

Mostly by not answering the phone when it's long distance numbers. They rarely leave messages.

One thing I've been noticing on my mobile are numbers calling in that have the same first 3 digits as mine. But they've all been telemarketers. Not sure if those numbers are getting spoofed or not. I spoke to someone recently who said it's not been happening to him. So I've most likely given my number out to a company who's resold it.

[Natalka]

I answer, but don't say hello, I just wait a few seconds - then if it's a canned call, I hang up.

If it's a live telemarketer person, I say sorry, I'm not interested.

I don't answer if it's some bizzaro number (like zeros, or numbers in succession), or if it's my own - something which has been happening over the past month!

[danger_dan]

One thing I've been noticing on my mobile are numbers calling in that have the same first 3 digits as mine. But they've all been telemarketers. Not sure if those numbers are getting spoofed or not. I spoke to someone recently who said it's not been happening to him. So I've most likely given my number out to a company who's resold it.

I don't answer if it's some bizzaro number (like zeros, or numbers in succession), or if it's my own - something which has been happening over the past month!

I've noticed that a lot lately.
It seems as if there is a system at work that is taking portions of existing phone numbers in your contacts list and piecing them together to make the phone numbers seem familiar to you. The other day I received a call from a number that looked very familiar to me, but it was actually my area code, the first three digits of my wife's cell number, and then the last 4 of my brother's number.

I figure they are hoping to get you to pick up when you glance over the number and think "oh, I know this person...click, hello?"

[SunandMoon]

Someone phoned and said that I have a parcel from France and told me to punch in some numbers and when I told them that I'd like to call them back....they hung up

[walkonby]

I have no display on any phone, so I never know who is calling. I pick up say hello and the minute they start ( my usual guy is " Sam " from the duct cleaning ) I now just hang up. So sad that I have missed out on soooo many free trips/cruises too it seems!! ha ha

[Shwa Girl]

Ooooh. Those pesky calls. And yes, we are on the Do Not Call List.

For duct cleaning company, we just hang up.

For calls where there is a delay and they don’t speak, we just hang up.

For calls where we have no affiliation, just say not. And, because they are invading our privacy and wasting our time, no need to be polite to them.

And, the newest one, where we are customers of the bank or the utility company, just to let y’all know, you can ask to be removed from their internal marketing calls and only calls where there is a legitimate business or safety need should come to you. They are obliged to take action if you ask. But don’t be surprised if you start to get more door-to-door visits or snail mail visits.

[frugal50]

if it's a 1- 800 number i don't answer
if it's a telemarketer on a regular number, i just hang up

[padyofurniture]

Someone phoned and said that I have a parcel from France and told me to punch in some numbers and when I told them that I'd like to call them back....they hung up

I know this was popular 15 years ago or so. They would try and get you to press a certain number then your phone became a party line. Not sure if it's still a thing or not but they'd never get me to press any number if they were calling me.

[Shwa Girl]

One more type of call, those legal surveys.
When they ask if we want to participate, I ask how much it pays.
They usually laugh and say that they don't pay the people they call.
Then I ask if they are working for free?
They say no and I say, so why should I?
*click*

[Lynn49]

We never answer the phone when it isn't someone we know. We've had enough free cruise offers to last a lifetime!!

[Shelley17]

We have call display that pops up on the tv screen, so we don't even have to get up to check who it is.
Unknown numbers, 1-800 or 1-877 or 1-866, or area codes we don't know, we don't even pickup.
If we do pick up any of these calls I don't say a thing and usually there is no live person on the line.
Tired of those ones that start with the same numbers as mine, they fooled me a couple times.

[Shwa Girl]

Seindeld on how to deal with telemarketers

[xbbx]

I got those stupid travel miles calls while at work. If there was a live person there I'd love to rip them a new one

[macw1960]

We don't have call display, family and friends know to leave a message and if we are home we will answer them.
If by chance we get a telemarketer we just say no thanks, not interested, click and hum. I might start answering the telephone just for fun to try out the Seinfield method.