I looked it up. On the average, we get 5.5 telemarketing calls each week. Until recently, I had been receiving three times that number.
What did I do?
I re-signed-up for the National Do Not Call Registry. It should help, although it won’t protect me from charities, political groups and companies with which I have done business in the last 18 months. According to what I read on the internet, many telemarketer calls, and other unwanted contacts, get through the system.
Then I purchased a Panasonic phone set that allows me to block 30 numbers. That was great – until I soon reached 30 numbers.
Three days ago, I decided to search on Amazon for a call blocker. I found a good one, CPR Callblocker v.202. It will block 1,000 calls, plus it has a block on 200 of the most offending telemarketing numbers already installed. Pressing a button on the device in my kitchen, I can block the incoming calls I choose with ease. Or, if I am on an extension phone, I can hit No. 2 and do the same thing. I can also add calls that I missed to the blocked list.
Today I spent a few minutes transferring blocked calls from my Panasonic phone to the new Callblocker machine. That way I will have the option of adding blocked calls to my Panasonic phone system.
When I first tried to input blocked numbers into my Callblocker, I received a busy signal after five seconds, making it difficult to input a 10-digit number. I decided to input only seven-digit numbers – without the area code. It worked fine. I was curious about the possibility that I would inadvertently block a “welcomed caller” with the same seven-digit phone number. I Googled it and discovered that the chances are one in 10 million anyone would have the same seven-digit number. Fantastic. Problem solved.
I consider myself a rather serene sort of fellow. But when it comes to pushing that “Block Now” button, I am a fighter. With that button-push I have just knocked out another invader to my serenity.
What would I like to see next? A way to press a button and preclude the delivery of all junk mail. Bring it on! What a great feeling.
Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com
