blocked calls

[Mr. Samsa]

how do you guys feel about blocked callers? i work from my home so iv made it a policy not to take calls from blocked numbers. but i feel im loseing allot of customers with this policy..

 

[Just To Me]

You could put a disclaimer on your answering message, that you return all calls for information & appointments as timely as possible:  please leave a number that you can be reached at within the hour, your name & the nature of your call. If you were in session, you couldn't answer the phone, so just pretend you are at work & call them back if they leave a message. I even feel funny about blocked acllers at my office! I believe in being careful, and especially working with boundaries that make you feel comfortable. You don't have to explain those boundaries; just have them.Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[Judy.May.]

blocked calls

right now my phone messages say. hi im curently with a client please leave your name phone number and a brief message and ill call back within the hour. however all blocked calls will go to voice mail..

 

[redhot]

It has been a long time since I received a blocked call until today.  I have no idea who it was.  When I answered, I choked on my own spit before I could say hello and kept coughing.  I hung up!  That person didn't call back.  Maybe it was meant to be.

 

[sarah p]

blocked calls

customers that feel they have to be so discrete that they cant give out a phone number scare the hell out of me. these are the clowns that get on the table and grop and grab. im better off with out their buisness

 

[hollee w]

blocked calls

I agree, and was hoping I wasn't the only one that doesn't accept private numbers. I use my cell phone for personal use and business. If the call is coming from someone with a blocked number, it's either a bill collector, or often times a client that I don't want to massage. One day I had someone calling from a blocked number OVER 20 times. The same day. Freak! Toward the end of the day, I finally answered the phone to get him to stop calling. I answered the phone in a blunt "Hello?!" They asked if I had anything available for tomorrow, and I quickly and bluntly answered, "Nope. Sure don't." They said thanks and didn't call back again that day. It may not be the most professional way of telling them to stop calling, but I was highly annoyed.I've considered putting on my voicemail that I do not accept calls from private numbers. Heck, sometimes even out-of-town numbers I let go to voicemail. I'm so used to people from out of town being the clients I have problems with that I am pretty biased and skeptical when I book appointments with them. It stinks for those legit clients, but I have to protect myself too. :-/

 

[Child]

i hate those 'unknown' ones too.  

 

[Nikki N]

It's funny that there have been so many problems stated here.  I answer everything.  If it is somebody trying to sell me something I hang up.  Otherwise it may very well be, and often is, a good customer.  I suppose I might change that attitude if I answered a bunch of blocked calls and they were head cases but so far, so good.  My mother is only about 30 years behind technologically and for some reason has her caller ID blocked and doesn't know how to turn it off so I am pretty used to it anyway.  There are enough reasons that someone might block a call that have nothing to do with being bad people.  Consider how many of us, myself included, don't list their email address publicly in our profile.  That is just to keep the spam down in my case.  Nothing to hide.  There are a lot of people here who post without any clue to their real name.  Probably doesn't mean anything.  Why worry unless  you have some bad experiences.  Steve

 

[Calmdelirium]

last few month iv really concidered only seeing female clients.  all the years iv been a massage therapist and only place ads in the theraputic area on line and in publications i still get the same insulting questions time and time again. 1 what do you look like? 2 how old? 3. are you hung? 4 are you gay? 5. is the massage sensual? 6 is there a release? 7 are you nude too?. i get about 5 calls a week asking me those type of questions

 

[Oasis]

Do be aware that some businesses with many phone lines will not display a phone number when someone makes an outgoing call.  Of course a lot of times it is a telemarketer, but often enough it is a legitimate person.  I say take all calls and have fun with them.  Educate them.  See how mellow I'm getting in my old age?

 

[chellithangam]

blocked calls

i get about 5 calls a week asking me those type of questions

goodness!

I think you should go off and do a pregnancy massage workshop, and then mention "pregnancy massage" in every online and printed ad you have - It may help attract some women, but it would probably be even more helpful at discouraging those type of calls.  I fell into doing a lot of pregnancy massage by accident, but I have found it's one of the best ways to kill a leading conversation when men ask about what styles of massage I do.  Even if you never actually get a client for pregnancy massage, you may find it worthwhile for reducing the calls, or at least cutting them off before they get too far down the question line...

One thing about your phone calls - they at least are a bit more up front than a lot of men ringing up females - it means you avoid the doubts of "maybe he really was in pain, maybe I was too hasty in thinking he was after more than a massage....."  you know your gut "errgh, another one" is right.

 

[jeulo16]

blocked calls

Do be aware that some businesses with many phone lines will not display a phone number when someone makes an outgoing call.

Some time last year, it became law that all companies must have their number show up on caller ID.  I can't recall when it took effect, but it was BEFORE April 2004.  I used to work for Farmers Insurance and we received a memo telling us about it.  So, we had to check all our lines and make sure that it would show up on caller ID along with the company name.

Modified to include the link to the Federal Trade Commission link..  
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/calleridalrt.htm

 

[landscaper07]

blocked calls

I think that the referenced FTC requirement applies only to telemarketers... Rob

 

[mlz194085]

blocked calls

Yes, when I saw that, it did say it was geared toward telemarketers.  Although the agent I had been working for was not a telemarketer, Farmers Insurance told us that all businesses were to comply.  So, I assumed that all business in the United States is required to comply.  Maybe I am wrong, but since then  the only blocked calls I get are from my older brother who resides in a FCI and an occasional anonymous  person wanting "extras"Modified to include an excerpt of the memo...Cell phones can be used for telemarketing calls if they transmit the phone number on caller IDand, where available, the name of the telemarketer or business.Background: Breaking News bulletin 0-8535 reminded you of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)caller ID requirements now in effect — specifically that telemarketers may not block caller IDinformation. Whether calling from the office or home, telemarketing calls must transmit callerID information, which must include:• A phone number — either the calling party number (CPN) or automatic numberidentification (ANI)• The telemarketer’s or business’ name (when available from the telemarketer’s telecom carrier)The phone numbers (CPN or ANI) you transmit must permit the consumer to make a call duringregular business hours and request to be placed on the Farmers-specific do-not-call (DNC) list.Therefore it’s imperative that those placing telemarketing calls — especially home telemarketers— handle such requests in a professional manner. The DNC site on the Agency Dashboard’sManaging page contains training materials for processing these requests.Recently, agents have raised questions regarding the use of cell phones. In some cases, agentshave said that their cell phones can’t transmit a phone number or the business name. Accordingto the FCC, caller ID must include the CPN or ANI, but the name of the telemarketer or businessmust be transmitted only when this capability is available from the carrier. Thus there’s no problem ifthe carrier is not able to transmit the telemarketer’s or business’ name, but the cell phone must beable to transmit the phone number. If it doesn’t, you’ll have to make your telemarketing callsfrom a wireline (land line) phone. Contact your telephone service or telecom equipment providerto learn more about transmission of your caller ID information.To avoid fines and penalties, you need to follow DNC rules. The DNC site on the AgencyDashboard’s Managing page is your resource for helping to ensure compliance.

 

[viv]

blocked calls

I wouldn't have stopped taking the calls if it weren't a problem. If they are really wanting a massage, they can always leave a message, or call the salon to book the appointment, which is outlined clearly in my voicemail message. If they cannot do either one, then they will not receive a massage from me. *shrug* Seems fair to me. When I want a haircut, I will often call a salon first to see if I can book with that stylist, not the stylist's cell phone. I always list my office number first, then my cell.

 

[Jessamina]

I don't have caller ID at work, and most people assume I do... so sometimes I get people who say... "you can call me back at the number on the caller ID".  Really irks me.But, that really doesn't answer your question now, does it?  For blocked calls, obviously, since I don't have caller ID, it doesn't make a difference for me.But, I will slide this in... ANYTIME I make a call from my home or my cell, to someone who is not a family member or personal friend, I DO block the call.I have had clients who had the call blocking thing on their phone at home, who have desperately wanted an appointment the next day I am availiable, that I have tried to call on my day off (from my personal or cell to make the appointment).  They just have to wait until I am back at the office to use my "unblocked" number.  Because I just won't unblock for them.One thing I have learned... I don't want clients having my cell number.  It becomes a real pain in the rear.  You always get at least a few calls eventually, when you least expect it, or can take it, and the expectation of the client is, since you have a cell phone they are calling, how dare you not answer that puppy.I have had clients be as bold over the years to tell me I need to get a cell phone, so they can get in touch with me easier.Granted, luckily, I have finally in the past few years been able to get on much more regular schedule and have (as much as I hate to say it) weeded out the problem and expectation people, for the most part.  But that has been my experience.Uhm, I guess it is a little off tangent.I think IF I used a cell phone as my sole contact, I'd make sure not to let my clients know it was NOT a land line, if possible.Thanks for reading!  

 

[Spacedogg]

blocked calls

...time and time again. 1 what do you look like? 2 how old? 3. are you hung? 4 are you gay? 5. is the massage sensual? 6 is there a release? 7 are you nude too?. i get about 5 calls a week asking me those type of questions

Is it time to maybe re-think the place you are advertising in or the wording of your ad?

Maybe you have to step it up a notch... present a different appearance all the way around in your professional life.

You could try it here... modifying the way you type or something.  Not saying what you do is bad, but you are very casual.  Maybe try changing to using regular words like you instead of "u" and a few things like that, and see if it could fit your personality all the same.  I found that when I tried to start changing my professional appearance online, it made a difference in how I saw myself elsewhere.

Now, of course, as you can see, I am still pretty "fun loving" (my Pirate clip I have had up for a while), but, it did seems to make a difference for me.  

Maybe you could ask the forum to help you with ad placement ideas and changes in direction.  Just a thought.

 

[Pompal 09.]

blocked calls

Another thing.A doctor I know, has something along the lines of the following, on her cell phone (since she can be paged to it):"Please remove any call blocking options from your phone, if you would like a return call."Seems like it could be modified somehow, to what some of you could use for your cells.  

 

[Diet C]

blocked calls

I'm actually just considering blocking unlisted callers. I've never had a 'private number' caller leave a phone number on my voicemail, so it's more of an annoyance to me. I don't think it's very expensive, and plays a nice message without even ringing the phone "We're sorry, the party you are trying to reach is not accepting calls from anonymous numbers" or something of the sort.

 

[Courtney L]

I also had someone calling me several times a day and not leaving a message but this number was showing up.  I finally did answer the call and it was a man wanting a massage.  I didn't listen to my intuition receiving bad vibes from this guy.  I did the massage but felt he was in it for not appropiate reasons.  Later I created a policy that I must get a phone number and emergency contact info before I work on anyone.  When he next wanted a massage, he wasn't willing to give me any of this information (even though his number showed up on my phone, he told me it was unlisted and created a very fishy story about why he couldn't give that kind of info out) so I told him I wouldn't work with him.I feel the same as Seforum.xxxgnant.....if someone can't leave a message, then I don't want to work with them.  And I don't feel like I am missing out on massage appointments.  There are plenty of people who leave messages....if someone really wants info or really wants a massage, they will leave their name and number.  Anita