Some days I want to scream and yell when telemarketers bug me. Usually they call my business line, and businesses can’t register with the national Do Not Call registry, so I play with them — when they ask to speak to the person who handles our phone service I pause, then say, “oh, we don’t have a phone” and you can hear the stunned silence on the other end of the phone. Other people tell me they simply say “hold on” and put the phone down to run up the other person’s phone bill.

Wednesday at 5:15 PM my home line rang while I was eating dinner. Anyone who knows me knows I ignore my phone when I’m busy, but with elderly parents, I sometimes check who it is just in case. I saw a toll-free number, assumed it was a telemarketer, and went back to eating. Last night the same thing happened. I then called the number and it was my bank. Now, if there were an issue with my account, I would think they would call me during regular business hours. But, to be safe, I called them and was on hold no less than 15 minutes, and gave up, figuring if it was important, they would call me.

Tonight, at 5 PM, I sat down for dinner and sure enough, the phone rings. I check it and it’s the same toll-free number, so I picked it up.

“Hello”

“Hello, I’m calling from such-and-such bank about your checking account

“Yes?”

(At this point, I knew it wasn’t an issue, because a real bank employee would ask to speak to me by name since they only talk to the account holder when there is a problem).

“I’m calling to let you know about some specials ….” and I interrupted.

“Look, you’re interrupting my dinner. Calling me and disturbing my dinner is the way to make me leave the bank, not want to open yet another account. Next time I’m at the bank making a deposit or withdrawal, while you have me captive, then and only then can you try to sell me something new. Until then, do not call me again to try to sell me something.”

And, I hung up.

Think they’ll call again? I bet they do