http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024624784Oh my.
The "back story" on the chronically-helpless primitive is that she's an ancient woman, a compulsive pack-rat. A pal of the Curmudgeoness primitive, the primitive with a soft bottom, who's looking for a charity for the homeless operated by atheists.
No relation to the recently-deceased FadedRoses primitive.
Her children and grandchildren a couple of years ago prevailed upon her to get rid of the junk in her house, and she hired an eBay seller to sell it. Once her house was cleared and she could use the dining-room table, she pack-ratted the whole place up again.
Paper Roses (4,949 posts) Fri Mar 7, 2014, 02:58 PM
I'm up to my gills with telemarketers!
My kids talked me into dropping my land line and using only a cell phone. It saves me a ton of money each month because they put me on their 'friends and family' plan. While I appreciate this, I find that I am uncomfortable with the operation of this phone. I'm learning but: Geese Louise, I am getting all kinds of telemarketing calls. I don't recognize the numbers and am now at the point that I am letting the phone ring, then going to the computer to see if I can look up the number. Sure enough, many of them are listed as telemarketers.
I was unable to answer a call I got earlier this am, and had the presents of mind to see if I could look it up. Sure enough, there was the number and listed as a telemarketing firm in Florida.
Should I never answer the phone except for the numbers that are in my address book? I can go to the computer and try to see if I can find some reference to the number but what a pain in the neck. If I answer, I will be charged for the call as I understand it.
I thought there was a law against telemarketing calls.
<<<thought the "convenience" of cellular telephones was that telemarketers didn't call.
<<<apparently thought wrongly?
First up, Judy, the pie-and-jam primitive, taking a break from perusing brochures and catalogues advertising old folks' homes:
grasswire (39,392 posts) Fri Mar 7, 2014, 03:01 PM
1. I'm on a friends and family plan and I have never gotten one..
...telemarketing call. Zero unsolicited calls. I wonder why I don't and you do.
demosincebirth (9,321 posts) Fri Mar 7, 2014, 03:04 PM
2. I don't answer any call that I don't recognize, or call that has their # blocked. If it's important
they will leave a message.
TlalocW (9,541 posts) Fri Mar 7, 2014, 03:05 PM
3. There are laws
But enforcement is spotty.
I actually like telemarketer calls for two reasons: 1) I really like my ringtone 2) I normally can Google the number showing on my phone, find out what they're calling about, answer, and immediately offer them whatever goods and services (or scam) they're calling me about.
Last time I did this, I immediately told the telemarketer that I was calling from Microsoft, and our systems had detected a virus on their computer, and I was going to need remote access to it so I could get rid of it for them. Long pause and then, "Thank you for your time." Hangup.
I called them five times, insisting more urgently each time that I was from Microsoft, and their computer was in imminent danger. They finally blocked me.
NightWatcher (23,372 posts) Fri Mar 7, 2014, 03:05 PM
4. I NEVER answer a call if I dont know the number.
If it's important, they'll leave a message.
Might I recommend that you start screening your calls and not answering if you dont know who it is. It will cut back on junk calls. Unfortunately when you answer a shit call it only lets the spammer know that you are a live person and a good mark to call again. Once you start screening, hopefully the calls will slow and eventually stop.
Proud Public Servant (1,171 posts) Fri Mar 7, 2014, 03:06 PM
5. I've used a cell phone exclusively
Since 2010. I also give my number out whenever necessary. I can count on my fingers the number of telemarketing calls I've received -- and I can count on the fingers of one hand how many of those have been totally out of the blue (as opposed to the ones from my cable provider or other service I already willingly engage). I feel your pain, but I'm not sure the use of a cell phone per se is the issue.
[WhaTHellsgoingonhere (2,454 posts) Fri Mar 7, 2014, 03:16 PM
8. I use a number block. Disconnects call immediately./quote]