By TOM WINSTEAD
“Hello, this is Lisa, this is a courtesy call about your car warranty” …
“This is Ralph from the National Police Officers Association” … “This is Francis, I’m calling concerning your credit card” … “your Medicare enrollment ” “My name is John, I’m with the Internal Revenue Service” …
Everyone has my best interest in mind; they want to keep my car running smoothly; Francis is concerned about my credit card debt and will increase my credit limit; Medicare has new benefits for me; and, the IRS is sending the police to arrest me; maybe it’s Ralph from the police officers group since I didn’t contribute.
As if that wasn’t enough, my grandson calls me from jail somewhere in New Jersey; he’s been in an accident and they are saying it’s his fault; he needs money for an attorney to get him out. Sorry, grandson – click!
I recently kept track of the calls; 19 telemarketers in two days. Good thing I’m on the “National Do Not Call List.” Two of those calls were from my own telephone number, according to the caller ID on the TV screen. Yeah, I know, we’ve all had them, and we’re still getting them. If you have a phone, doesn’t matter what type: iPhone, flip or landline, you’re receiving the calls.
