The Phone...

I got caught in a weak moment and said I would provide some financial support to a phone solicitor. They sent me the form but I must admit I was tardy in returning it with a cheque. They phoned me again and this time they were willing to take my credit card number. I have to admit I was a little annoyed at this point but I wanted to honour my word and gave them my credit card number.

"Now don't laugh or hang up on me but we failed to reach our goal so we are asking our generous donors to contribute more. Would you be able to..."

Are you kidding me? These people harass and harass and harass. I just gave them money and instead of saying thank-you they asked for more!!!

Then there is the survey approach. "We would just like to complete a quick survey... and would you like us to send your our material to your email address or home address?" I finally asked if I was allowed to say No since I had already said No 5 times and they continued with their spiel. They aren't even listening. Try telling them to take you off their phone list; you'll probably have to say it 3 times before they hear you and they have a canned response for that too. Try hanging up on them and not feel guilty. I can't.

This same survey group have called us 3 times in the last 24 hours. It might have been better if I had just hung up this time. Instead I said "You have called me 3 times in the last 24 hours. I have already done your survey and I'm not interested." I hope you read that with an angry voice. Since I didn't agree to take their material they just keep calling. Sweet revenge on my poor annoyed soul.

Then there are the pre-recorded pitches. "This is your second and final chance to change your credit card. You are paying high interest rates... press one to speak to a representative." I have hung up. My answering machine has been filled with the spiel. I have listened to the recording to the end in hopes of finding the "out" option; like pressing number two. The irony is that my second and final chance has called 5 times in the last 6 months.

I thought that this would change when we moved since we are (the phone just rang guess who? I could scream!!!) getting a new number. Not so lucky. While my husband was wiring the new house the phone rang. The first phone call on our new phone was a credit card company. I do believe we have had more than one credit card company call.

I have had enough. I have just registered us for the CRTC's Do Not Call List. It was so easy, I just hope it works. There are limitations to who can't call but still... can we have some relief?