Do you answer a call from unknown or a stranger
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Quote: terapinedDo to the discussion of the polls. I wonder what are the chances a member participates in a phone poll. I personally never answer a call from someone I don't know or unknown. Do you? I figure if it's important, they will leave a voice mail message if I don't answer.
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I’ve RECENTLY been answering. Mortgage/title/insurance/real estate brokers/stock broker/inspection guy/roof guy/etc… often have numbers unknown to me and trying to call one of them back is a crap shoot. As a result, I’ve done two election surveys. I am NOT IMPRESSED with how they word their questions.
Quote: billryanI answer any call not id'd as spam. I'm not sure what phone fraud I'm supposed to be scared of, but so far, no harm has come to my phone or me by answering unknown numbers.
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I've had people text me asking why I called. I text back saying I never called. I then get a screen shot back showing it was my phone number that called them. I text back admitting that's my number but I never called.
Weird
Certain VOIP systems seem to be incompatible, and the calls don't connect. This could be a bluetooth headset incompatibility issue; it's about time to upgrade devices again.
I have my voicemail disabled.
If someone calls that I don't want to talk to (like a pollster), I tell them they have the wrong number.
Almost nobody calls me on my personal line; almost all the spam calls come in on a virtual line.
Quote: JohnzimboNope, why waste my time or have to be rude and interrupt saying "Not interested "
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Why do you assume it is a sales call and not a call from a friend in trouble? Even if it is a sales call, it's from someone trying to earn a living.
Quote: billryanQuote: JohnzimboNope, why waste my time or have to be rude and interrupt saying "Not interested "
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Why do you assume it is a sales call and not a call from a friend in trouble? Even if it is a sales call, it's from someone trying to earn a living.
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Someone pickpocketing from you is just ‘someone trying to earn a living’. I will avoid that person as much as I try to avoid cold call salespeople.
Quote: billryanHow did we get to the point where people are afraid to answer their phones?
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Quote: billryanHow did we get to the point where people are afraid to answer their phones?
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Because of so many scams. They got my mother once. Destroyed her computer.
When I had roommates they called for the owner all the time. I’d have fun with them. Once said a piano fell on him. That guy was sharp and played right along. Another time I just kept saying “Donkey Kong” over and over. The guy was too stupid to hang up for some time. Another time well I’ll get suspended if I say.
These days it varies. I used to get lots of recruiters calling who I usually would at least listen to. When those calls slowed I knew it was time to change industries. I get people wanting to buy my houses once a month or more. And a few wrong numbers.
It depends on what the ID says if I answer.
Quote: billryanHow did we get to the point where people are afraid to answer their phones?
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That's a really good question.
Most of my business calls are less than 90 seconds long.
If it takes more than 2 texts, it's probably faster to call.
The health care calls are maddening.
A month of phone tag, and I still can't get a prescription filled.
Never attempt to find a contractor using one of those contractor-finding services online or on the phone. You will get bombarded with BS calls for 2 weeks. Most of the calls are from the service calling and asking if you found someome yet.
Once it was a female relative who lives 30 minutes away who was in a domestic violence situation and called from a neighbor's house. I always think of that when the phone rings from an unknown number.
But I average about one call a day from people wanting to purchase one of the houses I own (which are not for sale.) And on some days we will get almost a dozen phone calls from robot-call solicitors, usually clustered around 10:00 am or 5:30 pm. That's when we stop answering the phone.
Phone calls have become like postal office mail and email - mostly unwelcome junk. I live off of text messages now.
I think I gave up my landline in 03.Quote: gordonm888I answer most, but not all, of my land line phone calls from unknown phone callers.
Once it was a female relative who lives 30 minutes away who was in a domestic violence situation and called from a neighbor's house. I always think of that when the phone rings from an unknown number.
But I average about one call a day from people wanting to purchase one of the houses I own (which are not for sale.) And on some days we will get almost a dozen phone calls from robot-call solicitors, usually clustered around 10:00 am or 5:30 pm. That's when we stop answering the phone.
Phone calls have become like postal office mail and email - mostly unwelcome junk. I live off of text messages now.
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Quote: AxelWolfI think I gave up my landline in 03.Quote: gordonm888I answer most, but not all, of my land line phone calls from unknown phone callers.
Once it was a female relative who lives 30 minutes away who was in a domestic violence situation and called from a neighbor's house. I always think of that when the phone rings from an unknown number.
But I average about one call a day from people wanting to purchase one of the houses I own (which are not for sale.) And on some days we will get almost a dozen phone calls from robot-call solicitors, usually clustered around 10:00 am or 5:30 pm. That's when we stop answering the phone.
Phone calls have become like postal office mail and email - mostly unwelcome junk. I live off of text messages now.
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Mine went in 1997 when I got my first cell phone. Have not missed it at all.
On my landline? Pretty much yes, although I do say "hello" in a robot voice if it looks like a forged phone number (followed by "beep" if it's the telltale beep that comes before a call that's obviously from India). I should start switching to my old standby - "RFK for President."
I waited until it was free calling and data. I was still paying for cell calling and data in 1997, it wasn't cheap. Heck, I don't think I got rid of my pager until after 2001.Quote: EvenBobQuote: AxelWolfI think I gave up my landline in 03.Quote: gordonm888I answer most, but not all, of my land line phone calls from unknown phone callers.
Once it was a female relative who lives 30 minutes away who was in a domestic violence situation and called from a neighbor's house. I always think of that when the phone rings from an unknown number.
But I average about one call a day from people wanting to purchase one of the houses I own (which are not for sale.) And on some days we will get almost a dozen phone calls from robot-call solicitors, usually clustered around 10:00 am or 5:30 pm. That's when we stop answering the phone.
Phone calls have become like postal office mail and email - mostly unwelcome junk. I live off of text messages now.
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Mine went in 1997 when I got my first cell phone. Have not missed it at all.
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Quote: DieterI (try to) answer every single call. This includes harassment from family, spammers, scammers, as well as the very few legitimate calls.
Certain VOIP systems seem to be incompatible, and the calls don't connect. This could be a bluetooth headset incompatibility issue; it's about time to upgrade devices again.
I have my voicemail disabled.
If someone calls that I don't want to talk to (like a pollster), I tell them they have the wrong number.
Almost nobody calls me on my personal line; almost all the spam calls come in on a virtual line.
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I have 2 lines.
One for credit cards and banks.
Other is for friends and family.
I never answer the 1st one. If it's from credit card company or bank, they'll leave a msg. Then I'll call back using the # on the back of my credit card or their main csr # on website.
I always answer the other one. Some friends have their line show as unknown #
Quote: 100xOddsQuote: DieterI (try to) answer every single call. This includes harassment from family, spammers, scammers, as well as the very few legitimate calls.
Certain VOIP systems seem to be incompatible, and the calls don't connect. This could be a bluetooth headset incompatibility issue; it's about time to upgrade devices again.
I have my voicemail disabled.
If someone calls that I don't want to talk to (like a pollster), I tell them they have the wrong number.
Almost nobody calls me on my personal line; almost all the spam calls come in on a virtual line.
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I have 2 lines.
One for credit cards and banks.
Other is for friends and family.
I never answer the 1st one. If it's from credit card company or bank, they'll leave a msg. Then I'll call back using the # on the back of my credit card or their main csr # on website.
I always answer the other one. Some friends have their line show as unknown #
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Most of my communication with friends these days is via text rather then calling.
It's easier to trade info because you can include links and pics.
I went to the Dead and Co at the Sphere shows with 3 different friends on 3 different weekends
All the coordination concerning tickets and meetups was done via text
Also stay in touch with friends these days via comments on their FB page and my FB page
I stay abreast of the Wizard's real adventures via FB
On my business cell phones I pretty much answer any call. When I get "those" calls I hang up quickly (might ask them to "take me off the list" first) and then set to go to spam or block the next time they try.
For my landlines there are assistants who handle that sort of thing.
Nowadays there is software I/we use to route to spam automatically suspect calls, so actually don't get as many spammy calls as all that. The route to spam function sends the calls or texts to a one ring spam "folder" where they may leave a message or text but I won't see it until I decide to look over those to make sure none were routed by mistake.
Some of you probably also get those "Hi" , "Long time no see" , "Hello Samantha? It's Caroline,I was wondering if I had the wrong number" obvious trolling texts, I set those to go to spam the next time without bothering to respond.
Quote: terapined
Most of my communication with friends these days is via text rather then calling.
It's easier to trade info because you can include links and pics.
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I text a fair bit, too.
Text has an implicit lack of urgency... a "read it when you get a minute, and respond if you care" vibe.
A call is an interruption, and there is an immediate acknowledgement.
What can take an hour by text or email can often be wrapped up in a minute or two on a call or in person.
I also spend a lot of time driving. It can be hard to read or have the text to speech read the text to me; I may well forget to read it in an hour. I've usually got a few minutes to take a call on the handsfree.
I want to hear more about you giving up your landline in 1997 for cell phone service only.Quote: EvenBob
1000's in deposits and monthly bills 10x more than landlines.
"You need my Social Security Number to confirm? Okay, it's 2{CLICK}."
Quote: AxelWolfI want to hear more about you giving up your landline in 1997 for cell phone service only.Quote: EvenBob
1000's in deposits and monthly bills 10x more than landlines.
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What can I tell you, it was 97 or 98 and I got one because my wife insisted on it. It was probably 98 cuz that's the first year I got a cable modem and I didn't need the phone modem anymore
Dam, you be balling with early adoption of technology all while disregarding costs.Quote: EvenBobQuote: AxelWolfI want to hear more about you giving up your landline in 1997 for cell phone service only.Quote: EvenBob
1000's in deposits and monthly bills 10x more than landlines.
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What can I tell you, it was 97 or 98 and I got one because my wife insisted on it. It was probably 98 cuz that's the first year I got a cable modem and I didn't need the phone modem anymore
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In Vegas, I couldn't even get better than dial-up until after 2000.
Quote: GandlerI have Google Pixel, and I use the AI call screener feature for every call that is not somebody in my contacts. 99% of the time they hang up instead of going through the prompts to prove they are a real person and confirm they are calling about something necessary.
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How d o i get this ai screener? (i have motorola android)
Quote: 100xOddsQuote: GandlerI have Google Pixel, and I use the AI call screener feature for every call that is not somebody in my contacts. 99% of the time they hang up instead of going through the prompts to prove they are a real person and confirm they are calling about something necessary.
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How d o i get this ai screener? (i have motorola android)
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I believe something similar is part of Google Voice.
If that's what is being used, I don't recommend it.
I lost dozens of important calls between when it turned itself on unintentionally and when I noticed a few hours later.
