General Chat

Yes, DC. That is part of my problem too. I would get one of those phones that shows the number that is ringing you but the ones we have currently (that don't do that) are so good and you can hear really well on them. If we changed for new ones they might not be any good.

(We inherited our current ones. The last time we paid out for some they were rubbish even though we paid a lot for them. That's another part of the problem, that you can't try before you buy to see if you can actually hear people on them. The ones we inherited are brilliant but that was by chance, I think, that my late m-i-l got good ones).

Do lnot know about anyone else, but I find it really hard to leave a ringing phone to go to answerphone.

I havet to pick up.

My mum and gran taught me it was rude not to answer ( but that was back in the day!) And now I am a nightmare!!! :-D

That does sound good. A lot of places now send you a code
in a text message to your mobile which you then have to type in
on their website before they will activate the change.

I like the banks attitude that I received yesterday when I tried to activate my new card reader. ..after verifying that I was me on the phone, they said they would phone me back on the number they had on file for me. When I asked if they could use my mobile (they also have that on file) the answer was no it has to be my land line as it was a first activation. Fair enough, no complaints.
With all the new scams that are being thought of it is a difficult one.

Crazy. There's got to be a solution to that one - bit like the phonecalls from the bank - but I don't know what the solution is.

My brother had a message on his answerphone asking him to contact his GP surgery.
When he did, they refused to speak to him because he could have been "anybody"
In the end he had to make an appointment to find out what they wanted, which involved a 6 mile round trip.

That's a good idea, leaving it to go to answerphone, AnninG.
We may well start doing that - we'll just have to warn
our friends & relatives that's what we're going to do,
so they don't just ring off when they hear the machine.

That is such a hoot, namelessone :-D :-D.
I did that once on my mobile when a woman
from my bank rang me. She wouldn't tell me anything
that satisfied me that it was actually the bank.
And I wouldn't tell her anything in case it was a scam.
She got really annoyed and they sent me
a secure message instead I think on that occasion.

Years ago when I first got a mobile I got a call from a woman
who garbled something about needing my sort code
and account number and on that occasion
I actually did use foul language (she couldn't trace me after all) :-D :-D

Sometimes I get calls ( from established companies) who , having asked for me and me admitting that it is me ( or I've been called to the phone) - then ask me to prove my identity by answering personal questions.

I refuse - saying that they have called me and I don't know who they are! It is surprising how angry they get with me. Apparently it is all down to Data Protection :-S. If I am expecting the call it is OK, but if the call is out of the blue then :-P

Or do what we do, get a phone with an answerphone facility and don't answer it unless you recognise the voice you hear. Surprising how many calls we get that ring off as soon as it is an answer phone.

It keeps needing to be said . . . never tell people stuff on the phone

. . . because they might be pretending to be someone
and be trying to get information out of you
so they can rob you . . .

That is why Allan posted his thread today

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/general_chat/thread/1343203

(and why Ann posted her thread a while back).

. . . remember Red Riding Hood?

It looked liked her Granny in the bed and
it answered her when she called it Granny,
but really, it was the wolf dressed up as Granny!

Tie a knot in your handkerchief and every time you answer the phone, remember not to tell them anything, not even your name. If they ask for you by name say "Who's calling?" and if you don't recognise or understand what they garble at you, you can probably just press the button to end the call. If they are genuine they will call back or write you a letter.