I hate that I can't just answer my phone!

[mollyanna58]

At home, if I pick up without screening the call, 90% of the time it's a telemarketer, or charity that I've never donated to, or someone else who would have just hung up if I let it go to the answering machine.  I always have to check the incoming number on my cell phone, and don't pick up if I don't recognize it. 

At my office, where I have to pick up, there is several robocalls a day with recordings, and a couple with dead silence, where I guess the robocall services are trying to find live numbers.

The do-not-call list doesn't help.

Ugh!!

[lexxy703]

I feel the same way & I really hate that I can't answer the front door for fear of someone with a clip board trying to sell me something or someone try to save my soul.  I feel trapped in my own house when they are standing on my front step.

[Deleted]

I've been getting a call at work for months.  I don't even know what she's selling anymore because I always hang up at the same point.  First she asks to speak to Nicole, and when I say she has the wrong number she says "Oh, I believe I have the right number, just the wrong name".  Huh??

I don't get any on my cell phone and don't have a land line at home.  So that's the only annoying call I get.  But she's persistent! 

[kittensaver]

Make sure the most important people in your life call your cell phone. Give each of them a custom ringtone so you know who it is. In my life, that's about 8 or so people: hubs, my boss, the girls, mom, my sibs, my doctor, my vet. Ignore everyone else and let it go to voicemail, unless you are expecting a specific call.

Ditch your home landline if you can - or give it to folks who "need" or require it but with whom you will have little contact (credit applications, etc). Then every once in a while, go through the home and cell voicemail and clear it out.

The business line you can do little about - except keep your personal contacts off of it.

Pretty much all you can do to save hassle is compartmentalize your phone numbers. Sorry I can't be of more help!

[kittensaver]

Apr 1, 2014 15:31:32 GMT -5 lexxy703 said:

I feel the same way & I really hate that I can't answer the front door for fear of someone with a clip board trying to sell me something or someone try to save my soul.  I feel trapped in my own house when they are standing on my front step.

Well this might not be helpful to you but . . . when we did some remodeling two years ago, we got a new front door with small windows in it (craftsman style, with the series of small windows at eyebrow level). Instead of ignoring door-to-door folks (who might be would-be thieves looking for an empty house), I look at them (make eye contact) through the window, say loudly "sorry, not interested," and then walk away. This way, they know someone is home if their intentions are evil. But because I don't open the door I don't have to engage further with the person.

If this would work for you, you can probably swing a new door for under $200 including installation. Sure has made my life much easier .

[lexxy703]

I actually have a window right next to the door but I never want them to see me peeking out.  But the sorry not interested is a good idea.  My door sucks.  It doesn't even have a peep hole.  I guess they figured I didn't need one with the window right there.

[mollyanna58]

Give each of them a custom ringtone so you know who it is

That's a very good idea - thanks!

[Deleted]

The custom ringtone is a great idea! 

I bought this house with my ex, 30 years ago. My DH bought my ex out of his half 16 years ago. I always answer the phone and half the time it's telemarketers asking for (my old married name) and the other half it's telemarketers asking for the residents of (our address). But occasionally it's people we care about so I'm NOT ok with not answering the landline. 

I'm trying a new technique out, I tell them (first name, former last name) is dead. The problem is my accent. One woman spat back at me, I recognize your accent, I'm not stupid, I *know* you're still alive and you still live there. She's not wrong, but the person she is calling (first name, former last name) no longer legally exists. I'm remarried, so I have a different last name now.

I had a doozy today (on voicemail)! I'm desperately trying to reach my best childhood friend whose name is (same as my old name), years have gone by, I really miss you, I would love to catch up. I was thinking, hmmm, this could well be a ploy to find out if (old name) is really dead or not.

And then it turned ugly! The woman went ON AND ON AND ON, and left both her landline and cell number. Initially I felt really sorry for her and was planning to call her back to tell her sorry, she had the wrong person, I hope she finds the person she is looking for. And then she started yelling, that if I was not the RIGHT (my old name) and I hadn't grown up on THIS street in THIS city in Tunisia, I'd better erase her numbers ASAP, or else!!! 

And so I did.

[Deleted]

Also, when I do answer the door and THEY are asking *ME* for something (we have an intercom system) I always tell them, THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU BUT NO THANK YOU. If they persist, I say, that's too kind, but we're fine, we don't need anything. 

It sometimes takes them a minute or two to figure it out, but they always go away. 

ETA: I do NOT do this with the mailman / policemen and firemen / garbage men who go door to door selling calendars in exchange for tips before Xmas. Yes, that's legal here. 

[Deleted]

My sister's next-door neighbor had the PERFECT answer. He'd always say right now wasn't convenient, so could they please give him their personal phone number / address so he could get back to them while THEY were having dinner?!

He'd always joke about how he was the only person he knew who'd have telemarketers hanging up on him. LOL.

[mollyanna58]

Apr 1, 2014 19:14:27 GMT -5 @debthaven2 said:

I'm trying a new technique out, I tell them (first name, former last name) is dead.

I run a small, family owned business. My father would come into the office until about 6 years ago. He generally gave the office phone number when he bought things.   I would get calls for "Joshua" long after he stopped coming in, and they were always for snake oil, penny stocks, etc.; people who actually know him would ask for "Josh".   I started telling people who asked for "Joshua" that he was dead, hoping they would take him off their sucker lists.

One day I erred and told someone who asked for "Josh" that he was dead.  It was my cousin, who was quite shocked to hear his uncle was deceased.   

[Gardening Grandma]

I love the custom ringtones too.  When DS was going through the divorce from hell, my exDIL kept trying to call me to side with her.  I finally changed the ringtone to a spooky sound...

DH has his own ringtone. Sis ,sons and gkids share a "family" tone...

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

when we did some remodeling two years ago, we got a new front door with small windows in it (craftsman style, with the series of small windows at eyebrow level). Instead of ignoring door-to-door folks (who might be would-be thieves looking for an empty house), I look at them (make eye contact) through the window, say loudly "sorry, not interested," and then walk away. This way, they know someone is home if their intentions are evil. But because I don't open the door I don't have to engage further with the person

We have an intercom system as part of the security system.

It works as an intercom between rooms, but also for the front door. If the doorbell rings (and I'm not expecting anyone), I can get on the intercom and say "Yes?" .... then they have the chance to say who they are or what they want.. I can say from my family room, bedroom(s) or kitchen "No thanks") without opening the door or going anywhere near it.

[zibazinski]

I'd say just get rid of the landline. No one even expects you to have one anymore. Other than that, loud whistle by phone to blast those that call you without your permission sounds good.

[mollyanna58]

Apr 2, 2014 7:23:26 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I'd say just get rid of the landline. No one even expects you to have one anymore. Other than that, loud whistle by phone to blast those that call you without your permission sounds good.

I figure most of the actual callers are people working minimum wage jobs, with an overbearing supervisor counting how many calls they make an hour. They don't need any more abuse.  I generally just hang up.

[zibazinski]

I figure it another way. It isn't my fault someone has chosen to come into the world with ZERO job skills and expects others to be okay with that, to the point of annoying them. I also have the unique concept that the phone is something I PAY for, that is a convenience to me and for me, and that no one but me has a right to use it.

[mollyanna58]

Apr 2, 2014 7:32:49 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I figure it another way. It isn't my fault someone has chosen to come into the world with ZERO job skills and expects others to be okay with that, to the point of annoying them. I also have the unique concept that the phone is something I PAY for, that is a convenience to me and for me, and that no one but me has a right to use it.

I agree with the third sentence.

[Deleted]

I usually say "no thank you. You have a good night,now" and hang up all in one breath.

[Cookies Galore]

I just say no thank you and hang up. As far as door-to-door solicitors, I live in an apartment with no peephole. I usually know not to answer if I hear knocking on the other apartment doors, so I let them knock and walk away. If I'm the first door knocked, I yell through the door to ask who it is and then I say no thank you. The door doesn't open unless I'm expecting someone or it's a pleasant surprise.

[sheilaincali]

Dumping the landline has eliminated about 95% of these calls.  I also don't give out my cell number at stores that ask for a phone number.  I tell them a Flat No and if they persist I tell them my number is (local area code)- 555-1234.  They usually don't even question it and just type it in.

I get multiple calls a day for the old company owner.  He retired nearly 3 years ago and my dad bought out his share of the company (dad previously owned 50% of it).  If I say "No I'm sorry he retired" they ask "who took over his job?"  At that point I honestly just hang up. 

The Boss man has a long name but goes by the common shortening of it.  So if they ask for him by his long name I hang up.  If they mispronounce his long name I hang up.  Anyone calling for a legit reason would know how to pronounce his name and what name he actually goes by.  (Think author of the last name "King")

[Chocolate Lover]

For the family members that are odd/annoying that you don't want to talk to but need to keep up with their numbers, I always found the Addams Family theme to be a good ringtone. 

[greeniis10]

OP, I"m with you on the office phone annoyance!  I have to answer the phone and get mulitple dead-air and/or robo calls every day. 

However, as far as door-to-door people, I could care less if they know I'm home or not.  I have a large picture window and look right out to see who is there when the doorbell rings.  If I don't know them, or know I'm not interested in them, I simply walk away.  And, depending on the season and how I have the living room furniture arranged I might be sitting right there by the window, look out, and return to what I was doing.  They generally stand there dumb-founded for a few minutes until they figure out I'm not answering the door nor am I hiding from them and they sheepishly walk away.  My husband is moritified I do this, but I don't care.  Why would I hide in my own house?