I Hate Telemarketing

[revena]

When my dad switched phone types, and the signal didn't carry out to the guest house anymore, and we decided to get me a cellphone, he arranged to get my old number transferred to the new mobile. Convenient for me and my friends, who don't have to learn a new number, but a little annoying because it means that telemarketers still think that the number is a residential one.

For the first few months of cell ownership, I just didn't answer whenever the caller's number was one I didn't know. But having the phone ring several times a day, getting me excited each time that someone is calling me, only to find that it's another "unknown" number? Annoying.

So I started answering, and informing the person on the other end that it's a cell number, and asking them to take me off their list. Usually, this goes really smoothly. I just had a weird one right now, though.

Me: Hello?

Him: Hello, Ms. Fleming?

Me: Yes?

Him: I'm calling on behalf of the blahblahblahblahfirefightersblahblahcharitableblah...

Me: *lunging at the first break in the flow* This is actually a cell phone number. Could you please take it off your list?

Him: *pause* Can you hold?

Me: *a little startled* Um, no. *hangs up*

Can you hold? WTF?

Comments

[graynonymous.livejournal.com]

That's odd. They're not supposed to be able to cold call cell phones. I don't think there's even a charity exception for that yet.

[revena.livejournal.com]

*nod* and that's why they usually make no fuss about taking me off the list - they wouldn't call in the first place, I'm pretty sure, except that the number used to be a residential one.