A better way to screen calls?

[Guest]

Getting Privacy Manager (in which blocked calls don't get through) helps, but I still seem to be getting a lot of solicitation calls. It never ceases to amaze me how many people call and begin with "Can I speak with Mr. Unicorn?" without even identifying themselves. Is there any piece of equipment which will deliver a message such as "Thanks for calling 555-1234. I will hang up on any callers not identifying themselves in the first sentence. Let's proceed." before my phone even rings?

[+ purplekow]

>Getting Privacy Manager (in which blocked calls don't get

>through) helps, but I still seem to be getting a lot of

>solicitation calls. It never ceases to amaze me how many

>people call and begin with "Can I speak with Mr. Unicorn?"

>without even identifying themselves. Is there any piece of

>equipment which will deliver a message such as "Thanks for

>calling 555-1234. I will hang up on any callers not

>identifying themselves in the first sentence. Let's proceed."

>before my phone even rings?

 

They really should start with "May I speak to Mr. Unicorn?"

but they rarely do. Have you called the number which places you on the do not call list. I don't have the number, but about 2 years ago

I called a number, placed myself on the Do Not Call with Solicitations list and I have not received a cold call solicitation since. I am sure there is someone on this site with the number. I believe it applies to the entire United States.

[+ deej]

You don't even need to call:

 

https://www.donotcall.gov

[MindThe Gap]

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

 

NO need to thank me. Helping others is my greatest reward :+

[Guest]

I am on the do not call list, but I get calls from DirecTV (the one today, which bugged me), or from organizations of which I'm a member, who somehow think of themselves as exempt because I already do business with them. The issue with me is not the "can" versus "may," although I would prefer good grammar. The correct etiquette when calling someone is "Hi. This is so-and-so. May I speak with XYZ?". Even on personal calls, I begin the call with "Hi, Mom! It's Unicorn!" or "Hi, Fred! It's Unicorn!" Certainly, for business calls, when I call someone I say "This is Dr. Unicorn from the Bedrock Medical Clinic? May I please speak with Mrs. Flintsone?" or "...May I please speak with one of Bambam Flintstone's parents?"

 

I'm getting tired of people asking for me or my partner without identifying themselves. I usually just hang up, but a few weeks ago, I offered myself as a witness of an accident. The insurance company of the victim called with "Can I speak with Mr. Unicorn?". I told him that if he wanted to speak with me, he would have to say who he was, and then ask for me. Then I hung up on him. He got it right the second time, and then I saved his insurance company some trouble with the statement.

[Rick Munroe]

>It never ceases to amaze me how many

>people call and begin with "Can I speak with Mr. Unicorn?"

 

What's even more amazing is that they know your message center posting name. Talk about intrusive!

[+ deej]

>I am on the do not call list, but I get calls from DirecTV

>(the one today, which bugged me), or from organizations of

>which I'm a member, who somehow think of themselves as exempt

>because I already do business with them.

 

They ARE exempt due to a previously existing "relationship". But you are allowed to inform them that you do not want to be contacted. They are required by law to maintain and respect their own DO NOT CALL list.

 

Ask to be put on it.

[Guest zipperzone]

Around my house we rely on Call Display.

If I don't recognize the caller's name (or the number) it just doesn't get answered.

[+ purplekow]

>>It never ceases to amaze me how many

>>people call and begin with "Can I speak with Mr. Unicorn?"

>

>What's even more amazing is that they know your message center

>posting name. Talk about intrusive!

 

 

Rick I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that you failed to mention that Bam Bam was not a Flintstone but a Rubble. Pebbles of course, Flintstone. It is not like you to let something like this pass. Too much fun at the Black Party? Too much Bam Bam?

[OneFinger]

>Around my house we rely on Call Display.

 

If I don't recognize the caller's name (or the number) it just doesn't get answered.

 

I also use Caller ID and have the service on my phone that automatically blocks calls that don't show the originating number.

 

But, I also found a great phone at Radio Shack that allows me to put phone numbers on my personal "reject" list. When those people call they get a pre-recorded message (not my voice) that states I'm no longer taking calls from them.

 

That has worked great for decreasing the number of "junk" calls. No more calls from the damn carpet cleaning company or lawn service business. (I just don't understand why they think that calling me 5-6 times per day is going to make me want to use their services.) BTW, many of these companies use computer auto-dialers that seem to call every possible number in your area code without regard to the Do Not Call registry. And, yes, I've filed complaints against them for violating the Do Not Call list. But, unfortunately, filing a complaint is like peeing on yourself while wearing dark pants. It gives you a warm feeling but no one notices.

 

I have an unlisted number and I NEVER give out my home phone to businesses. (How many times do businesses file your name and info in their records based on your phone number?) I use the same fictitious number every time so I can remember it next time they ask for it.

[+ deej]

Count me among those that just don't answer if the caller (or number) isn't known to me. I take a very Klingon approach: the call must be WORTHY, it must FIGHT to get through. ;-)

 

But the best thing I ever did was to unplug AT&T entirely and switch to Vonage. Telemarketing calls abruptly stopped. At first I chalked it up to the number being new, or even the block of numbers being new. But after 2 years I'm still not getting telemarketing calls.

[+ ArVaGuy]

>Count me among those that just don't answer if the caller (or

>number) isn't known to me. I take a very Klingon approach: the

>call must be WORTHY, it must FIGHT to get through. ;-)

 

LOL, I take the same approach.

 

Besides that all my friends and family know to call me on my cell if they really want to reach me. And a few of them must be worthy to get through.