Is there anything more hateful than automated dialing machines?

In My Humble Opinion
1

During the past twenty years, I have been on the receiving end of many phone calls that were generated by automated dialing machines.

The people who own these machines and are able to profit from them keep getting smarter and smarter and more skillful in the struggle to get me to answer their calls in person.

Over the years, it has been a long hard struggle to avoid taking their calls. I don’t think that I have to explain all the steps taken on both sides to avoid answering their calls.

The latest step they have taken seems to be to use the same area code and three digit prefix that I use so to make the call seem like someone real in my neighborhood.

For example, if I lived in New York City, my area code could very well be 212 and if my three digit prefix was 688, then my number might well be something like: 212-688-xxxx.

When I see that number flash on my telephone’s Caller ID, it’s very difficult to avoid picking up the phone and answering, “Hello?” Especially if I’m expecting an important call.

This particular automated dialing machine got me on two counts today.

  1. I was in the middle of something important and I stopped doing that and ran to the telephone to answer it.

  2. I had hoped the caller was someone I had hoped it would be and I picked up the phone - only to discover it was another one of those B.S. automated calls.

I only stay on the line for a second or two. That is all it takes to realize that I have been suckered yet again.

I know that I should just let this slide off my back. A wonderful lady who was a member of this board (TubaDiva) once explained to me that if I allowed these people to anger me to the point where they ruin my day, I would be allowing them to “win” so to speak. TubaDiva was too advanced to see this struggle as a win-lose event. She simply allowed the call to roll off her back and helped me to realize that I should do the same. But unfortunately, I am nowhere near as advanced as she is and it is very difficult for me to view the world in the same way that she does.

Oh, I so do wish that I was just one tenth as advanced as Tuba Diva is. What a wonderful lady she is.

But I wonder. How do you all feel about this horrible thing? Is it really possible to avoid having these horrible machines ruin your day? And, if so, how do you do such a thing? Try as I like, I just can’t see how to do it.

2

I was almost finished editing this post but the five minute time limit expired and I lost that struggle yet again. It seems like I was in the middle of this same struggle yet again.

I sure do wish I could have changed the title. There are many things that are more hateful than an automated dialiing machine. I wrote that post in haste and sure do wish I could have written it again. Very sorry for that.

3

I enjoy blocking such calls. I get a real thrill when I check my phone logs and see such calls were blocked.

I use the Call Control app on my android cell phone. Works great.

On my land-line home phone I use the CPR Call Blocker device. It does a very good job especially as you can block all 800, 866, etc., number plus area codes from other countries and anonymous calls.

4

Hanging my head in shame. I used to work for a company that manufactured and programmed automated dialing systems.

Hey, it was a job. I was a technical writer.

5

I would not shame you - especially if you could give us all some tips on how to defeat those things.

Also, are there any lawyers here who can tell us if there is any way to sue people who manufacture these things? Or use them to disturb us in the peace and privacy of our homes?

Oh, a class action suit would just be so very, very delicious!
Does anyone remember that wonderful scene in the movie “The Jerk” where Steve Martin was counting out or writing out checks to people for some tiny amount in a class action suit? How truly delicious that would be!!

6

I just ignore all calls. Everything goes to VM. I don’t have to answer the phone just because it rings!

7

Oh yes indeed. I have shared the same sentiment for most of my life.

But so very sadly, there are exceptions. For example:

I was at my bank and applied for a credit card. The fellow at the bank told me it was approved and asked me if I would like to have the card mailed to my home or to my bank.

I answered, “To my home”! **WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! **

After two weeks it had still not come and when I wrote to that fellow at the bank, he told me that he would assume it was “lost in the mail” and he ordered a replacement card and told me he would call me when it came in.

So, for another week, I left the phone turned on and expected his call.

I simply could not afford to miss that call. I’m crying as I write this because …

Well …

You al know what happened. I could not afford to miss his call.

Shit! Damn! and many other curse words.

8

Charlie, what’s your number?

9

I’m getting close to dumping the landline*. The phone company probably could stop this but they don’t.

  • yeah, I know. Get off my lawn!
10

We dumped our landline last year. We still have a house phone - in fact, the same handset that we used with the landline, but it now plugs into a cellular base station. It’s just another line on our family cellular plan, although it has the same number as our old landline. Nice.