Posted by Jessica Ward on 5/5/10 11:17am
Msg #334945

I learned a new call-screening trick

I can't always remember the companies I DO NOT want to work for--mostly because I don't work for them anymore, but occasionally, they still call.

I started a new technique a while back of putting them in my Outlook/Blackberry contacts lists. In the "Name" field, I write in the company name. In the "Company" Field I write "WARNING: 5 MONTHS TO PAY!"

Saved me today when I got a call from a company I'd forgotten about.

Thought I'd pass it on in case anyone else has the trouble with forgetting names or similar names of companies to work for (or not, as the case may be) I'm considering adapting this system so that I put the companies ALL in my blackberry with a star rating like we use here at NOT ROT. Naturally, I'd only do this with companies I already work with (I should have put them in there ages ago...)

Regards,
JW

Reply by Linda Juenger on 5/5/10 11:21am
Msg #334947

I do the same Jessica. Is there a way to "block" a number from even ringing? I don't think there is, but maybe you have a way

Reply by Jessica Ward on 5/5/10 11:29am
Msg #334950

I don't block numbers. It's a good idea though. Honestly, I kind of like letting them know that they're being rejected and why--If I ran a business, I'd want people to tell me if they stopped using my services or working for me for a similar reason.

Reply by PAW on 5/5/10 11:41am
Msg #334954

Been doing that for years. And ...

You may not be able to block the incoming call, but many cell phones and even some land-line phones allow you to have a special ring-tone for an incoming call. If you can assign a ring-tone to a phone number, you may also be able to assign "none" so your phone wouldn't even ring!

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 5/5/10 12:08pm
Msg #334958

Yes, you can do this....

ON the blackberry, you can set so that certain numbers do not ring your phone. Technically, they still ring, but you can set it to react in several ways. I've been doing this for two years now and I love it.

You have to set it up through several steps, but it works great. First, you set up a "Contact Alert" under profiles. Then, under the "phone" settings for that alert, you set the ring tone, volume, LED indicator, vibration, etc.

Then, you simply add the contacts that you want to "ring" with those settings.

I have one called "Unwanted Calls" -- I set the volume to "silent" and turn off the LED and vibration. With these settings, I never hear them call, but when I pick up my phone, I can see that they've called.

Now... as far as "blocking" goes... you can do this if you use Google Voice. I don't use my cell phone voice mail anymore. All of my calls, if I don't answer them, are sent to Google Voice. GV has a blocking feature that will play a "this number has been disconnected" message whenever they call.

So, for the particularly egregious callers, I've used this. (Telemarketers!!) I put their contact number as an "Unwanted Call" and then block their number in GV. It doesn't prevent them from calling, but it prevents them from leaving a message, and I'm not interrupted when they call.

While I don't block them in GV, I do have a handful of services set in the "Unwanted Calls" alert. (SOX, ND, etc.) If any of them call, it goes to voice mail. In those cases, I can tell if they've called, but I just ignore it. If they do call, they never leave messages anyway.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 5/5/10 1:06pm
Msg #334967

Thank you so much Marion. I knew there had to be a way. n/m

Reply by cawest/PA on 5/5/10 12:34pm
Msg #334961

I do not think you can block a number unless you pay for it BUT you can give those numbers a *special* ringtone and when they call click on *hang up* ...

Reply by LKT/CA on 5/5/10 11:32am
Msg #334951

I do something similar too, saving the name of the company to my contacts and assigning it a silent/no ring, then label it. Examples:

Slick Start SS - DEADBEAT
909-123-9876

Big Bubba Title - LOWBALLER
909-987-6543

Jupiter Enterprises - SLOWPAY
310-555-1212

Reply by Notarysigner on 5/5/10 11:36am
Msg #334952

I just save the # and change the ringtone from default to Alarm (dive, dive).

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 5/5/10 12:28pm
Msg #334959

I do this, too... the "Company" field is good for quick notes or categories to help remind me about a caller, I also do much like Lisa and I append the name of the caller with codes, especially signing services.

In some cases, on the ones that are a priority answer for me, I've changed the ring tone.

Reply by LKT/CA on 5/5/10 12:39pm
Msg #334963

Funny thing though....I wear a bluetooth that alerts me with a few beeps so I know I have an incoming call which really helps when I'm in a noisy place - I never have to bother listening for the phone's ringer. Before I added the labels (DEADBEAT, LOWBALLER, SLOWPAY) along with the company name, my bluetooth would beep, the phone would not ring, yet I'd see a company name and think my phone was broken, it didn't ring - good thing I'm wearing my bluetooth. Then I'd answer it and realize why it didn't ring - an epiphany.....

<speaking to myself> Dum dum, your phone is not broken, you assigned that company the no-ring since they are a deadbeat, that's why your phone didn't ring. Heeheeheee! So now I've added the label so when my bluetooth alerts me to a call and I look at the screen, I'll SEE it's a deadbeat and not think the phone is broken because it didn't ring. LOL!!!

Reply by Jessica Ward on 5/5/10 1:35pm
Msg #334970

OK--I never thought of assigning a no-ring. That's a great idea. Love the idea of the tags "lowballer, Slowpay" etc. Good ideas everyone. Time is money, and there's little worse than missing a call from someone you want to work for because you're trying to get someone else off the phone with an offer you DON'T want.

Thanks again everyone for the feedback and further improvements on this idea.