This Is Why I Got Rid of My Phone

October 16, 2006

A few weeks ago Cox offered to lower my bill if I let them give me phone service. Seemed like a good idea; I like spending less money for things.

They came by and installed the converter box (I'm guessing it's VoIP), gave me a new phone number, and went on their way. I let a couple people know about the new number; mostly people who live in the 703 area code and would save long-distance charges and people who call me on weekdays when it would use up my cell minutes.

That works out to be three people. Not exactly worth getting a new cordless phone for, but it's nice to have as a backup if I let my cell's batteries die.

In the last 50 hours I've been called by seven telemarketers and gotten four wrong numbers. I've (belatedly) added myself to the do-not-call registry (complete with b0rken secure certificate) and will now have to wait out the blood-sucking, human-chaff-hiring con artists telemarketers for a few weeks until the change circulates.

October 9, 2006October 20, 2006