Gone Baby Gone!

Some of our telephones soon to find a home at a local thrift store

Today I made a decision that I have been mulling over for years, I got rid of my landline.

Folks, this wasn't an easy decision. But I had to make it.  99.8% of the calls I receive on my landline were from telemarketers ("Credit Card Services of America - "this is your last chance!"), charities (American Cancer Society, Fraternal Order of Police, et al)l and political robo calls.

Telemarketers, the bane of our existence in our modern day society

You ask "Weren't you on the Do Not Call List?"  Of course.  But as you know folks (and I'm sure most of you are also on it), 

IT.DOESN'T.WORK.

Folks, I have lost count of the thousands of times I have answered the phone at around 6:00 PM only to hear a "Click!".  That's a computer checking to make sure someone is at home so the telemarketer can call later. 

The solution, REMOVE THE PHONE

How many times have I received phone calls from "Credit Card Services of America" informing me this was the LAST time they were offering me the "opportunity" to switch my credit card balances to their scam company.  I push the "0" button on my phone to get a live person only to have them hang up on me when I ask them to take me off of their calling list.  Countless times folks, countless times.  But no more. 

Then there are all the calls from the charities.  The deep voiced man calling from the Fraternal Order of Police (always a "butch" voice when THE POLICE call - which by the way isn't THE POLICE but a company that takes up to 97% of the funds they raise for themselves, giving the FOP only about 3%).  

Oh, and I almost forgot.  There are the calls incoming me "You have been chosen . . . . " or "You have won!"  Yeah, right.

Yesterday I received a call from the American Cancer Society (another regular) and the FOP.  The FOP call was the one that did it.  I told Mr. Deep Voice "That's it.  I'm done."

Last year I called Verizon to cancel my service for which I was paying $59.99 a month.  They offered to reduce my rate to $30 a month, which in my weakness (and lifelong habit of having a landline) accepted.  However, during the last year the only calls I received on my landline that were legitimate were from the VA (Veteran's Administration) reminding me and Bill of our appointments.  I called the VA this morning and gave them my cell phone.  

So how do I feel now not having a "regular phone" in the house?  I have to admit I feel nervous but on the other hand, it sure was nice not to hear my phone ring at 6 o'clock this evening like it does almost every evening.  

By the way, I think I got a lot of those calls because I have contributed to political campaigns in the past.  And they sell those phone numbers. That's why I was receiving so many phone calls.  

Now moving forward I will no longer give to any political campaign no matter how worthy (sorry Donald).  And I will not give out my phone number except to our doctors.  And I'm even leary of that because I suspect they sell my phone number too.  

Folks, I have to tell you that it was a great relief not to hear that phone ring tonight.  Ah, peace and quiet.

Ernestine, I am in charge now.

"Do I Really Need a Land Line Phone?"

"Do I really need a land line phone?"  This is a question that has plagued me for years.  Well, not actually plagued me but I've thought about for years.  

The first time this question came up was about twelve years ago when I worked at First Financial Bank in Downingtown.  Sharon, one of the ladies who I worked with told me her 18 year old son, who was beginning college, got his apartment.  She told me he decided not to get a land line but instead would use his cell phone for all his calls.  My first thought was "No phone?"  She said "Well, he makes all his calls with his cell phone, why would he need a regular phone?"  Indeed.  

Since that conversation I have mildly entertained the thought of getting rid of my land line.  Why not?  Ninety-five percent or more of the calls I get on my land line phones are from telemarketers.  Oh I know, put my name on the "Do Not Call List."  Hey, they still call.  Just now, before I sat down at this computer to check my e-mails I see where I had a message on my land line.  I take the time to dial into my voice mail.  Nada.  Nothing there.  Then I look at my caller ID.  "Out of Area."  Well folks, we know what that means don't we?  Another one of those "Do Not Call" calls.  

In the past I mainly kept my land line in case my Mother called me.  She didn't use a cell phone.  However, she died in 2010 and since then I don't think I received more than a handful of "legitimate" phone calls on my land line.  Oh sure, I get the calls from the doctor's offices reminding me of appointments or asking me to confirm appointments.  They can just as well call my cell phone, which many of them do.  I'm one of those folks who always give out two phone numbers.

I've justified having a land line in the past by saying I needed a land line to call a Help line.  The only Help line I call these days is Apple and that is very rare.  No longer do I have those hours calls for help with my Windows based computer because, thank God, I don't use Windows based computers ("Free at last, free at last!  Thank God I'm free at last!")

I know I can save about $50 a month on my Verizon bill by cutting my land line.  That should help offset my extra charges for my iPad Internet access and our two iPhones.  Adds up doesn't it? 

However, I do have a easy to remember land line phone.  But then, I know I would derive immense pleasure by making life more difficult for all those telemarketers, scammers and my non existent grandchildren who call me from Mexico asking me to bail them out of jail. Oh yes folks, I've had THOSE calls.

So folks, do I take the plunge or not?