A Wake-Up!

I'd like to think of myself as a mostly mellow person.  Yet, a phone call yesterday showed me a new side of myself, one of which I'm not very proud.  The occasion was the umteenth unsolicited call from the same phone number, telling me, "This is your last chance to take care of your credit problems.  Stay on the line for a representative."

I haven't counted how many calls received in one day from the same phone number, but it probably varied from four to eight, minimum!  Usually I'll ignore calls from an unfamiliar number.  Then once I answered and found out what they were 'pitching,' I again let the phone ring.  They never left a message.

After I called their number, there was a message: "This number is no longer in service."  Go figure!

All these calls at random times throughout the day, every day, got aggravating so I planned on talking to a representative.  I answered the next one, stayed on the line and waited.  "You're the 32nd caller in line. . . you're the 20th caller in line . . . you're the. . ."  I was determined!  So I politely told the lady I had NO credit problems and to please take me off the calling list.

Then I received another phone call from the same company.  I'll admit, that made me mad!  I waited to talk with someone again and told her I absolutely wanted to be off the calling list.  She told me, in an equally 'mad' voice, "You don't have to be HOSTILE!"

That word, "hostile," shook me up!  I don't want to be nasty, no matter what the circumstances.  She ended the call with, "Tell the next representative to take your name off the list."

I know phone solicitors have to earn a living and probably don't care if I take their services or not.  But that's no reason to treat them badly.

Years ago, when there was only one phone company, on two separate occasions, I received harassing phone calls.  When I could take no more, I called the phone company which put a tracer on the phone numbers involved.  They informed me, "If you continue to receive calls from this number, we will discontinue their service."  Quick end of problem!

Checking the Caller I.D., today I only had one call from that number.

Presently, I have phone service through the cable.  Guess I'll have to call them and see what can be done.

But I'll definitely be 'nice,' not hostile about it!

Lord, please help me forgive myself for being sharp with people.  Please help me be friendly, even if the other party is aggravating!