Thursday, February 01, 2007

Yup, Back on the Phone Thing


Some of you may recall my recent rant regarding calls from Unknown Name Unknown Number. It’s come back to haunt me.

I thought I had the problem licked. I’ve continued to ignore most of them but did answer one call and very politely asked that our name be removed from their list. An equally polite and sweet sounding young girl replied, “Ah, um, okay, yes, ma’am.” Success!

Monday night — another UNUN call. My husband glanced at the Call Display and was prepared to ignore it.

“No, no!” I said (okay, shouted) from my comfy sprawl on the couch. “Use the remove-us-from-the-list line. We have to remember to do that once in a while.”

What an agreeable guy – he picked up the phone.

Turned out the call was from my eldest son! Yeah, that one. The one doing basic training in the military. The one we rarely hear from because he’s either too exhausted and/or barely has time to call home. (Or is in the “hole” for infractions? Who knows.)

His previous (all very brief) calls home did not show up as UNUN.

Okay, change of plans. So much for even contemplating ignoring some of these calls. I’m going to be answering every single one of them. How cruel is that? I’ll be thinking each one might be my son.

And, yes, another UNUN call came last night. We both jumped. It was a research firm wanting us to do a survey. My husband lied and said we weren’t in the age range. And he forgot to get us off the list.

For all future UNUN calls not from Army Boy (as the youngest refers to his big brother) I’ll be using the remove-us-from-the-list line. Looks like I’ll be getting us off a heck of a lot of lists.

Next thing I know he’ll be calling from a 1-800 number.


16 comments:

megan said...

Maybe I'm naive and/or just too darned skeptical, but I don't think our names are taken off any list just because we ask them to. These people get paid for calling a certain number of 'targets' - why would they decrease their market share? However, if even just one out of every ten callers actually does take you off the list, you're getting somewhere. Bummer, 'cuz I totally see why you are going to answer every UNUN from now on. Aren't we, in Canada, soon eligible to put our phone numbers on a 'list' that denies these marketers? Or did I dream that?

Beth said...

megan: Yeah, it's a bummer all right.
Re: a "do-not-call registry" in Canada - it will be awhile. Check out this site if you're interested.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
servlet/story/RTGAM.20070125.
wxibbitson25/BNStory/National/home

Anonymous said...

Beth,

There is a list that will eliminate about 60% of those unwanted calls - compiled by Canadian Marketing Association (check actual name). The legislation for the "do not call list" has not yet seen the light of day. Be careful about not answering phone calls from numbers that you do not recognize - because the number that shows up may depend on the long distance service to which an individual subsribes. For example, I have a friend in Florida who calls about once a week and each time she calls a different number shows up on my phone - that's because her long distance provider may be using a different "server" or whatever it is called for phones. Her number has come up as a local call in my area code as well. So, if you don't want to miss that call from kidelt number 1 ...
Jackie

Beth said...

anonymous: (a.k.a. Jackie) Thanks. I looked up the CMA. I have to register with them to have our name taken off their lists. (Almost afraid to do that...)
But bottom line, until I do, I must still answer every UNUN call in case it's son # 1. You're right - would NEVER want to miss one of those calls.

Nomad said...

For sure re the strange numbers; happens to me all the time when calling home, no one can ever figure out who it is.

SO great he called...!!!

Anonymous said...

That was a lucky pick up...I bet it was good to hear from your Army Boy. Gosh I can't imagine...

Maybe you could get him to ring once and then hangup and ring again. Or something like that, just to let you know it's him and not telemarketers.

Beth said...

nomad: Yeah, it's wonderful to hear from him.

I guess you're driving your family nuts with your calls from "strange" numbers.

trish: The calls are short, sweet, infrequent but great to get.
He has so little time to even make these calls, I don't think the hang-up once thing will work. (But thanks for the suggestion.)

oreneta said...

Beth, this site is a Canadian girl living in Holland, who appears to be MAKING some of those UNUN calls. What she has to say may be relevant to some extent. I just found this blog the other day, s I cannot say much about it.

http://www.breigh.com/wordpress/

Beth said...

oreneta: I went to that site. Both the post of January 16th and today's are very relevant.
Fabulous. Now I know what NOT to say. Wow - to think these callers plot revenge!!!
Thanks so much for the tip.

Bird on a Wire said...

Here's a surefire way to tell if it's a telemarketer: The phone call from a UNUN happens to be during dinner or your favorite T.V. show. Problem solved.

Beth said...

bird on a wire: I'm smiling - because you're so right.
Still, I'm gonna be answering them all - just in case...

Unknown said...

That's funny.

This week I've been getting creditor calls for someone who doesn't live here. Argh. It's driving me nuts.

In the U.S., our do-not-call list works quite well. We only get bad calls from nonprofits.

Angel said...

ya, he called!!! He's still alive and well! How is he doing? Does he like it? does he hate it and want to come and live with you forever? ;)

ya, I am cynic...I don't think they remove your name just cuz you tell 'em too either..

Beth said...

dorky dad: My sympathies. (Have I been spreading a nuisance call disease via blogging?)
And the non-profit calls drive me mad as well because I get the same damn requests via mail...

beth: He sounds tired but determined to stick with it. (Boo-hoo.)
On the plus side, he can now make a bed to military standards! This I gotta see.

Attila the Mom said...

hehehe. Those calls are such a pain! Glad to know the kid called though! :-)

Beth said...

attila: His calls home are brief but so sweet...
(And they'll always be "kids" to their moms - right?)