A note...

...to all telephone solicitors and "customer service" types.

A couple of years ago, Mrs. Drang and I changed our services from cable TV, cable internet, and regular old POTS, to DSL, satellite, and digital POTS. (If it's digital, is still "plain old telephone service"?)

As part of the package deal we got, among other things, caller ID that displays on the television screen.

So.

If your ID displays as "Toll Free", we don't answer. Leave a message.

If your ID displays as "Not Available", we won't answer, leave a message.

Nota Bene: If you are using VOIP, your caller ID will probably display as "Not Available."

If your ID displays as "New York", "Kentucky", or any other state, we won't answer, leave a message.

If your ID displays as what seems to be a commercial enterprise and we don't recognize it, we won't answer, leave a message.*

Nota Bene: This last led to us dissing a company we had asked to come over and do an estimate for some work, as their caller ID displayed as the firm that had previously had their number. We never heard of that firm, so we didn't answer, so they didn't come over. So tell the phone company to update it!

If you leave a message, leave a full message. If you are using one of those damnable automated calling programs, figure out how to delay the start of message until after our answering machine gets to "the beep". Failing that, have it repeat the message twice, or at least who you are and how to call you back, and why.

I have to admit I am conflicted on that last one, as, if the message consists of only your hours of operation, and half a callback number--as about 90% of all messages we get seem to--I can't see how I can be held responsible for not returning the call--I can't!

*Of course, if you are a salesdrone, we're on the Do Not Call List** anyway, so don't call.

**Which became law, and therefore permanent, in February 2008.