Relay: Enough Already
Dear Amanda Hubbard,
I am tired of receiving your calls on my cellphone number. Practically once a day, sometimes twice, I get calls for you, mainly from solicitors offering a mortgage or some kind of green energy solution for the house you may or may not have. It’s getting old.
Those who know me know that I spend so much time talking for work that I have actually grown weary, in my old age, of talking on the phone at all. Send a text and we’ll meet up in person. Taking calls that aren’t even for me is a whole new level of annoyance.
At first, I thought it was a scam of some sort. Then I wondered if you were scamming me. I keep a close eye on my credit report and all has been well. Thankfully, no identity theft. Perhaps I have your old number? I’ve had this cellphone number for half a dozen years, so that doesn’t seem plausible.
Sometimes, after I inform the caller I am not Amanda Hubbard, nor does an Amanda Hubbard live with me, and that I don’t even know a woman by that name, the caller proceeds to ask me questions. “Don’t you want to save money on your energy costs?” No, no I don’t. Goodbye! Fewer calls might help me cut down on my phone bill, though.
During one call I fielded recently — I can’t recall from which company — I told the man on the other line that I had asked the company to stop calling. He said, “But you gave us your number to call you.” Of course, I am not you, Amanda Hubbard, but it begs the question are you actually providing my digits as your own? Are you mistaken? Are our numbers so similar that it’s an honest mix-up? Or are you purposely providing the wrong combination as you might give a guy you had no interest in.
I’m sure I could find some solution, through blocking or putting my phone number on a do-not-call list, but I always hurry off the phone and then stew about it later. Plus, now I’m curious. Who are you? Did you ever buy that house? How are the energy costs? My husband is a home energy rater, by the way, in case that’s something you need.
Well, Ms. Hubbard, whoever you are, hope this finds you well. Give me a shout. You know the number. But better yet, send a text.
Your friend,
Taylor
Taylor K. Vecsey is The Star’s digital media editor.