Answering your phone and door bell

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:58 am

People are different of course, but I refuse to be inconvenienced when the phone rings. If I am eating or watching something on TV or involved in a conversation or otherwise occupied, let the answering machine do it's job. My wife on the other hand will literally brake a leg to get to the phone before the answering machine kicks in.

The door bell is another matter. I will make every effort to respond, but if it is one of the Jehovah Witness or those nice Mormon lads it's a quick hello and good bye. Same for solicitors.

How do you respond? :-2

Post by **spot** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:28 am

All my phones are set to silent, Lon. There are too many people wanting to sell me things these days. Phones have gone the same way as email.

G#Gill · Post by **G#Gill** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:31 am

Some years ago. when we were in business (I did all the office work from home), we had been plagued by people ringing up and wanting to speak to a temporary sectional building company ! Our phone numbers were the same but the 'exchange' (zone code) number was totally different. The address of the company was actually in Nottinghamshire (east), but the phone number was registered as a Derbyshire exchange!

Hence the confusion for people phoning that company ! Although I had complained to the phone company, there was nothing that could be done, except change our number, and as we were a business and our number was well known, we were against that change, so we had to lump it ! The other company were also not prepared to change their phone number either, for similar reasons!

One day, the phone rang, and my son answered it - it was somebody wanting this other company. Apparently they asked if they could speak to the Managing Director, so my son told them 'No, you can't' they asked why not, and my son said 'Because you have been very very naughty !' and he put the phone down. It didn't ring again ! :yh_rotfl

For some while we have been plagued by 'cold callers' on the phone - double glazing, new kitchens, house improvements, conservatories etc, etc, etc. The other day, the phone rang and I answered it - you can just tell straight away that it is another 'cold call' from some poor guy with the thankless task of trying to selll something to people who don't want it and can't afford it !

"Good morning, my name is Hassan, how are you today?" aha, I thought to myself, another one ! So I replied " Well I was alright, till you called !" he put the phone down straight away ! :yh_rotfl :sneaky: Well he should feel grateful that I didn't swear at him !

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:32 am

spot;1336904 wrote: All my phones are set to silent, Lon. There are too many people wanting to sell me things these days. Phones have gone the same way as email.

yep i have unplugged my landline,, sick of sales calls and recordings!!! how rude to ring my phone and expect me to listen to a recording!.. i dont mind if i miss a call, if its important they will get in touch with you

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:13 pm

I don't have a land line phone any longer and the cell is easy enough to silence quickly. I answer the door if I hear it and if its a religious representative we enjoy the fun and they usually walk away terribly confused.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:37 pm

I answer the door, but the phone is always answered by the voice mail.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:40 pm

spot;1336904 wrote: All my phones are set to silent, Lon. There are too many people wanting to sell me things these days. Phones have gone the same way as email. TPS ( Telephone Preference Service ) list stops all sales calls. Are you Ex Directory and do you have caller ID? These all help for the un-wanted calls,

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:20 pm

oscar;1336917 wrote: TPS ( Telephone Preference Service ) list stops all sales calls. Are you Ex Directory and do you have caller ID? These all help for the un-wanted calls,

We have a similar thing in the U.S. called "The National Do Not Call Registry" which I signed onto when it first became available. Unfortunately it does not keep political candidates solicitors from calling and with the elections coming up the phones are very busy.

G#Gill · Post by **G#Gill** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:20 pm

oscar;1336917 wrote: TPS ( Telephone Preference Service ) list stops all sales calls. Are you Ex Directory and do you have caller ID? These all help for the un-wanted calls,

Oscar, I am ex-directory, and it seems to be worth nothing, as I am always getting phone calls from people selling stuff, or promoting stuff, or recorded messages spouting on about wills, or debt help, or some other stuff. The other day I had 7 calls like the ones I've just mentioned ! I keep meaning to contact TPS, but have mislaid the number to ring. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Post by **spot** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:41 pm

oscar;1336917 wrote: TPS ( Telephone Preference Service ) list stops all sales calls. Are you Ex Directory and do you have caller ID? These all help for the un-wanted calls,I have no desire to allow these people to distract me in any way. Looking at a Caller ID would be a distraction. The TPS has no effect on the foreign-sourced calls, which is most of them. The calls originating within Britain all, as a result of TPS, call themselves Marketing Surveys (which of course eventually segue into sales pitches), and as such they're immune from TPS control. I find that turning off the ringer completely solves my problem, since there's no bugger who might ring that I'm interested in talking to anyway so the down side is non-existent.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:47 pm

I've put my phone on mute for periods of time. I don't answer my door if I'm alone and I don't know the person knocking on my door. I peek.

YouTube - Ding Dong

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:31 pm

I always have my answering machine turned on my base phone, and will return phone calls as soon as possible...or not...

I answer my door during the day, but not at night. If it's important, they'll call back again during the day. I live at a beach community that's sometimes filled with strangers during the winter. I don't trust my community during the off seasons and need to be careful about the people around me.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:11 pm

As long as the phone does not ring in class, and it's a students cell phone too..................................

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 2:01 pm

I look at the caller ID and decide whether to answer the phone or let the answering machine get it. I look out the door glass before I open the door. If it's a stranger, I don't care if they think I'm rude by not opening the door.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 2:34 pm

I have caller ID, so when my phone rings, if I am eating, busy, or working...I let the machine pick it up and I phone them back at a more convenient time.

I disconnected my door bell.........its just way to loud.:-5

I seldom answer the door, if someone wants to see me, they know to phone first.

I don't get many solictors phoning as I am registered under the national phone registry.

plus my phone number is unlisted.

I do like the free features of *69 as it will tell me what phone number was last called if someone phones and hangs up.:sneaky: