I used to have a boss that had the funniest message on his answering machine.
You'd call, and he'd say "hello?" like it was him answering the phone, but you could hardly hear him because the stereo was blasting. So then he'd say "What? Hey, hang on a minute let me turn the stereo down"
After about 10 seconds you'd hear the stereo go down and he'd come back to the phone and say "I'm not here right now, if you'll leave your name and message..."
So ANYWAY,
I have been getting a ton of calls lately from people selling crap and people asking for donations to stuff. Or, just calls where the caller ID is blocked. I normally won't even bother answering because it's not worth my time.
Plus, places like the Republican National Committee (who I've donated to in the past) become bloodsuckers that just try to steamroll you into giving you more than you can afford (which has had the opposite effect and I now give them NOTHING, but try to help out locally during campaigns).
Anyway, I thought about my old boss and decided to leave a message like that on my machine, because when they get the machine they usually just hang up, but then call again the next day.
So my message says "Hello?" like I just picked up the phone, after a few seconds I throw in an "uh, huh", another few seconds and "uh, huh", then I proceed to tell them that they have no chance of talking to me in person if they are A) Selling Something, B) Looking for a donation or C) Blocking their ID on the caller ID, so they can save themselves some time each day by skipping me and going on to someone they have a chance of reaching.
I'll let you know how effective it is or isn't! Lately I've noticed the same five places calling every day. Two of them give their name. STRATEGIC FUNDRAISING (which I beleive is the NRC) and BVNM which I have no idea what it is.
MAN I HATE PHONE SOLICITERS!
I was on the no-call list, but I think I let it lapse and now I'm paying for it.
I think they're finding ways around the no call list, because I've been getting bombarded by those types of calls lately too. Unless I know the number, I don't answer. But many of the ones I'm getting are prerecorded messages. If it's a recording, if they're using my maiden name, or if they aren't even pronouncing my name right, I delete the voicemail before I even get through it.
Lately I've noticed the same five places calling every day. Two of them give their name. STRATEGIC FUNDRAISING (which I beleive is the NRC) and BVNM which I have no idea what it is.
