I love the credit card ones. I accept the call and try to keep them going about consolidating my credit cards for at least 10 minutes before I let slip that I don’t have one.
The ‘slip’ is usually… “You mean you’re gonna give me a new credit card? Wow! No one’s ever given me one of those before!”
Some of them are so dumb they’ll keep going before they realize what I just said.
I have a retired friend who tries to keep them on the line as long as possible. He is up to 25 minutes as his longest. He sees it as bonus points if he gets cursed before they hang up.
Remember the calls from people selling magazines – My husband would keep them on the phone for almost an hour – ‘yeah, that one, now read the list again.’ After he got finished discussing the merits of each, and picking out 9 or 10, he would say: “Now all of them come in Braille, right?”
I’ve gotten the call about problems with my credit card and I always hang up at that point, the only card I have is my bank debit card so I know it’s a fake call as soon as they start talking about my credit problems.
I dropped caller ID years ago and rely on my answering machine to screen calls. Left the default message on the device instead of recording my own. Don’t know if that helps but why bother… in any case, many of the junk calls I get now hang up before the machine starts recording and do so without ever trying to talk to it. If I don’t hear someone I want to talk to, I don’t pick up. And, if I’m not there, they already have their message to me started and I’ll call back when (and if) I want.
note: I only give out the landline number for folks to call to me. The cell is only for me to make calls out when I’m riding the motorcycle or flying (try and find a pay phone these days!). I have a ham radio in the truck so the cell rarely goes with me when I drive. I also use the cell for long distance calls since I dropped that from my landline too, but I do ask everyone to call me on the landline. Numbers not in the contact list never get answered on the cell.
I have a different short verse for each month that I put on the machine. In the past, when the telemarketers were live people, I’d hear them laughing as they hung up. Now I just get the middle of the robo call telling me that if I don’t take advantage of the offer soon they’ll have to stop calling. They never keep that promise.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member about 6 years ago
Indeed, Frank. And you with a front row seat.
Lyons Group, Inc. about 6 years ago
If only they use those devices for the greater good.
Plods with ...™ about 6 years ago
I love the credit card ones. I accept the call and try to keep them going about consolidating my credit cards for at least 10 minutes before I let slip that I don’t have one.
The ‘slip’ is usually… “You mean you’re gonna give me a new credit card? Wow! No one’s ever given me one of those before!”
Some of them are so dumb they’ll keep going before they realize what I just said.
LadyPeterW about 6 years ago
My favorites are the no-name numbers. As if we are stupid enough to answer the phone, just cuz it’s ringing! Thank God for Caller ID!!!
rhpii about 6 years ago
I have a retired friend who tries to keep them on the line as long as possible. He is up to 25 minutes as his longest. He sees it as bonus points if he gets cursed before they hang up.
ellisaana Premium Member about 6 years ago
Remember the calls from people selling magazines – My husband would keep them on the phone for almost an hour – ‘yeah, that one, now read the list again.’ After he got finished discussing the merits of each, and picking out 9 or 10, he would say: “Now all of them come in Braille, right?”
patlaborvi about 6 years ago
I’ve gotten the call about problems with my credit card and I always hang up at that point, the only card I have is my bank debit card so I know it’s a fake call as soon as they start talking about my credit problems.
Number Three about 6 years ago
I got a similar call last Thursday.
What’s funny is that I don’t even have a credit card.
xxx
sml7291 Premium Member about 6 years ago
I dropped caller ID years ago and rely on my answering machine to screen calls. Left the default message on the device instead of recording my own. Don’t know if that helps but why bother… in any case, many of the junk calls I get now hang up before the machine starts recording and do so without ever trying to talk to it. If I don’t hear someone I want to talk to, I don’t pick up. And, if I’m not there, they already have their message to me started and I’ll call back when (and if) I want.
note: I only give out the landline number for folks to call to me. The cell is only for me to make calls out when I’m riding the motorcycle or flying (try and find a pay phone these days!). I have a ham radio in the truck so the cell rarely goes with me when I drive. I also use the cell for long distance calls since I dropped that from my landline too, but I do ask everyone to call me on the landline. Numbers not in the contact list never get answered on the cell.
Saucy1121 Premium Member about 6 years ago
I have a different short verse for each month that I put on the machine. In the past, when the telemarketers were live people, I’d hear them laughing as they hung up. Now I just get the middle of the robo call telling me that if I don’t take advantage of the offer soon they’ll have to stop calling. They never keep that promise.