Assholes on the phone

[BillyVance 35]

Every now and then I come across an asshole when I make calls of various natures. Being deaf, this means using the relay service. This apparently, is a foriegn service to a lot of people, who end up not knowing what the hell is going on and hang up. Some of them decline.

Well, today I decided it was time to start calling roofing companies and get some quotes on replacing my roof.

The first one, S & H Company, Roofing Division, in Moody, AL, answered. When I asked about getting someone to come out and look at my roof and get a quote drawn up, I got this reply, exact words, before he hung up. "uh, I ain't interested in none of this."

Motherfucker.

I already have a professional letter typed up and ready to mail off to this company, saying they were rude and that I would not do business with them nor will I recommend them to anyone else.

But hell, I am so tempted to call them back and call the guy a douche bag. I mean, if they don't do residential roofing, all he had to do was say that. Fuck 'em. Their loss.

I've got another company coming out here this Friday.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[downwardspiral 0]

I've actually had Nigerian scam artists use the relay service to try to scam my company. For some reason they always want to order thousands of NGK spark plugs.

I'm very experienced with the relay service and I find it very frustrating as there is always a 45-60 second delay from the time I say something until I get a response. Its hard to do business that way. Currently I always ask if they have MSN messenger or would mind downloading it so we can communicate more effectively and I ALWAYS get a flat out "no." Oh well.

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[Beerlight 0]

Whoa Billy,

Maybe it was just one dirtbag at that company who was having a bad day....

First, I would call back and speak to the manager (hopefully that wasn't him) and see if they can do you right.

Don't fire a whole company for one person being a dickhead.

[DougH 270]

So how does the relay service work Billy?

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

So how does the relay service work Billy?

That one I can answer...it's like the old MARS radio relay telephones, in a way. There's a body in the middle to communicate to both sides of the call.

Billy uses a TDD (clicky) to communicate back and forth to the relay operator. The relay operator places the call and talks to the person and types back to Billy.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[BillyVance 35]

Basically, I use IP-Relay online. When I request a relay operator, I give them the number to call. The RO calls that number and then acts as a go-between, communicating via voice with the hearing people I call, and typing their messages to me. I can call anywhere in the continental U.S. for free over the internet.

Downwardspiral, I've heard of that same thing happening. It pisses me off too, because it affects my ability to do what I need to, especially if the person I'm calling had a bad experience.

Another call that pissed me off 8 years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was looking at property to buy, and I had the cash to buy it outright. I called the real estate agent asking for information on a lot. His response was "I don't have time for this" and hung up. I thought he was a fucking prick. Just threw a potential $50,000 deal away. Imagine that. [Crazy]

I thought internet based relay calls were funded by the US government? Maybe I'm wrong? I know videophone calls for the deaf are.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[DougH 270]

Quote

Basically, I use IP-Relay online. When I request a relay operator, I give them the number to call. The RO calls that number and then acts as a go-between, communicating via voice with the hearing people I call, and typing their messages to me. I can call anywhere in the continental U.S. for free over the internet. .

Cool, that is how I figured they worked. That adds another layer of hilarity to prank phone calls.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[jtval 0]

Howard stern has a few guys who use it to make phone sex calls to each other.

the operators response is fucking hysterical.

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[turtlespeed 226]

If they are a member of the BBB then you have the option of making a complaint and they are required to set up a mediation to keep in good standing.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[DougH 270]

That isn't exactly true... there is no forced mediation. Your complaignt is presented to them, they type up a response. BBB carries little weight in my opinion.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[downwardspiral 0]

Quote

That isn't exactly true... there is no forced mediation. Your complaignt is presented to them, they type up a response. BBB carries little weight in my opinion.

agreed.

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[turtlespeed 226]

Quote

That isn't exactly true... there is no forced mediation. Your complaignt is presented to them, they type up a response. BBB carries little weight in my opinion.

Unless you want to be published in their newsletter as non compliant, it does. Personaly, I have made a good living using the BBB as a reference.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[jtval 0]

ah, just take out a full page ad slandering them.


Much more effective to hit their business.
Call them child killers or something.

by the time the law suit comes around to you the economy will be so fucked the lawyers won't be affordable to the plaintiffs.

My photos

My Videos

[BillyVance 35]

Quote

Howard stern has a few guys who use it to make phone sex calls to each other.

the operators response is fucking hysterical.

I think they stole Skinnyshrek's and my idea from a few years back... Anybody remember that one? I posted it but it got a chilly reception on here so it never happened.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

Quote

Howard stern has a few guys who use it to make phone sex calls to each other.

the operators response is fucking hysterical.

I think they stole Skinnyshrek's and my idea from a few years back... Anybody remember that one? I posted it but it got a chilly reception on here so it never happened.

Crank Yankers beat y'all to it a couple years ago... had a guy acting as relay for someone calling a phone sex line

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[BillyVance 35]

Quote

Quote

So how does the relay service work Billy?

That one I can answer...it's like the old MARS radio relay telephones, in a way. There's a body in the middle to communicate to both sides of the call.

Billy uses a TDD (clicky) to communicate back and forth to the relay operator. The relay operator places the call and talks to the person and types back to Billy.

Just thought I'd post an update on today's technology. I still have my TDD, which about 20 of you from rec.skydiving helped pay for when the old one disappeared from my stolen car along with the rest of my skydiving gear over 10 years ago. I just don't use it much anymore except in two cases - 1) the DSL connection crashes and I can't get it back up, and 2) I have to make an emergency call to 911, whose operators have TDDs in their centers and are trained to use them. This is important because if I call directly, they can pull up my address from the phone number I'm calling from and send help faster. Except for this reason, the TDD is basically obsolete.

I mainly use www.ip-relay.com for my internet based relay calls to hearing people. I also have a video-phone which I use to call and talk with my deaf friends who also have one, and my 2 year old girl loves it because she can see her grandparents on it. I use a device from Sorenson Communications, which you can see at www.sorenson.com in the upper right corner, and I use a 13 inch TV with it.

Another way of communication I have available to me is a Sprint IP Wireless Relay program on my Blackberry pager that I can make relay calls with, if I'm out there in my car or at the store or something, and it works great as long as I have strong coverage and am not moving at a fast speed (like being a passenger in a car on the highway). It's pretty cool to have all these tools available. Who knows what's next? Videophones on your wristwatch a-la Dick Tracy? Anybody remember that?

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban