I changed long distance phone companies.
It seemed like a good idea at the time…because I was combining our bill into one and only dealing with one company. That part made sense. And they are giving us unlimited long distance calls for a set fee every month that amounts to less than we were paying before. This is all just fine. But then there were the “extra” services that are included at no charge. Let me see if I can explain all this stuff that my phone will do now, if I want it to…
Call Return- Dials back your last caller automatically when you can’t get to the phone in time.
Three way calling- Saves time when making social or business plans. Lets you talk to two people in different places at the same time.
Repeat dialing- Redials a busy number for you for up to 30 minutes and rings you back when the line is free.
(If you actually USE any of the above services you will be charged 1.25)
Then we have these added things:
Priority Ring- Lets you assign a special ring to calls from up to 10 numbers you select, so you’ll know when someone special calls.
Caller ID- It lets you see who’s calling before you answer by showing the name and telephone number of the caller, if you have a call screen, which we don’t. (NOTE TO HUBBY, no new phone !!!)
Message center- This is a remote answering machine. I have to dial a certain phone number, punch in my password and press another couple of keys and it will read my messages. Of course we already HAVE an answering machine, so I don’t know what THIS one is going to do. But hey, there are 4 full pages of instructions on how to use this feature in the phone book.
What I want to know is how to set the phone to reach through the line and mess up the hair of the telemarketer that is calling for the millionth time asking me if I need a new windshield for my car. Or if I want to purchase aluminum windows, or have a security system installed (for free!), or how would you like an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas?
(Yeah right.) Or how would you like to change long distance phone companies? We pay YOU to make long distance calls. You are only charged the taxes and surcharges, which amount to 10 cents a minute.
SUCH A DEAL !
Used to be, you dialed the number yourself and if you got a busy signal, you hung up and called back later. That was about it. Somehow we managed not to go completely insane if we did not have all these extra features.
This is just one more thing added to the pile of technocomplexities that I could do without. But it looks like we will save some money in the long run. I hope that is true.
I wonder if there is a way you could get the phone to have a special ring if it’s God whose calling ?
Now THAT would be cool. This is a call you would not want to miss, and come to think of it, if He ever DOES call me, I am pretty sure I have all the bases covered and will be able to get back to Him if I am not at home when He calls. I could leave a special message for such an occasion:
“ Hello, You KNOW who this is. Sorry I am not here to take Your call. Please do not try to get my attention some other way like having me fall off a ladder, or get rear ended by a drunk driver, or by having the washing machine overflow, or any other “natural disaster” type stuff. You will have my complete and total attention as soon as I get home. I will be SURE and call You back. You can count on me!”
And so my friends, call me any time. I am PREPARED to handle any and all phone contingencies.