Everyone wants my phone number and I'm sick of it

[chillybilly]

1) People who work don't want to be viewed as robots by their employer or by the customer. So why does the employer instruct them to behave like robots? And why don't the people object or discuss the merits of the policy in a professional, private setting and manner with their management? 'We have to ask' isn't good enough.

2) Any and all data obtained is sold. They aren't asking for it for your benefit or follow-up or customer service or warranty reasons. They want the cash and you provide the raw material.

3) A Google Voice account is free, offers messaging and voicemail (with transcription) as well as a 'receptionist' who asks the caller to identify himself then rings your number to announce the caller whereupon you may answer or pass. Robocallers et al will, of course, be defeated by another robot. Poetic. If you use the account exclusively for such retail encounters you can even 'trace' the dissemination of the number despite the usual 'privacy policy' boilerplate. The obvious rejoinder is that Google already amasses and mines data but it's still an option.

4) Tell the person requesting the info that you (and others) have been a victim of numerous data breaches, phishing attempts, attempts at identity theft etc. In many cases it will be the truth. The blank expression that cashiers give in response to this principled, inarguable objection is comedy gold.

 

[Sleph]

You can have my phone number if I'm getting a 50% discount...

 

[schmee]

I dont give it. But sometimes I give them my disconnected land line number!

 

[Frontman]

Every time I come back to America for a holiday there is something new, and not always in a good way. Even though I don’t live in America and have no interest in “rewards programs” (data harvesting), sales clerks still want my number. If I were to give it to them, it’s 13 digits long and wouldn’t work in their system anyway.

 

[24 track]

at least they didnot ask for a semen sample , I dont have a phone

 

[metalicaster]

I have the opposite problem in my line of work. We use 2FA authentication on all our internal systems. It is not optional for obvious reasons. You can choose what method to use, but there is no option to use a username and password alone, obviously. These are supposedly intelligent employees who work with computers for a living, and they want access to some important stuff.

Do you know how many people ask me to stop "all those damn calls and messages" coming through every time they log in? I walk them through the alternatives we support and they refuse them all.

Me: "You've used your phone number as your MFA, so you need to get the codes to log in. If you don't want to do it like that you could put in your email address instead and get them that way."

"No way, I don't want your (sic) spam."

Me: "OK, you could use an authenticator app to generate the codes, then. You just scan a QR code to set it up and it gives you a 6-digit number when you need one."

"So I need to use a computer and a phone just to get on your (sic) site? No."

"Well you could use a USB security key instead. Yubico sells some good ones you can use for everything."

"I ain't spending my own damn money to log into your (sic) site."

At that point my eyes glaze over. I guess I should just revoke their user accounts and see how their boss likes manually typing up their handwritten code sent via courier.

 

[metalicaster]

.

 

[Jakedog]

I just say “I don’t give it out”. If they push the issue about rewards I just say “I don’t need them, my wife is already in your system.” That woman has ALL the rewards programs.

And I get it, I do. But I also have a fundamental issue with rewards programs. If you can afford to give all these discounts and bonuses, then just do it anyway. Just sell your crap cheaper. I guarantee you that will get you my business far easier than making me jump through hoops to get 10% off my next purchase.

 

[Flaneur]

 

[Flaneur]

and of course......

 

[gemktm]

At the register it’s easy to say/do “No Thanks”

I find it’s more annoying to have to put in a phone number for an Internet purchase… I always get hit with a bunch of spam calls after I do so for an online purchase.

 

[Mjark]

We use our old land line number.

 

[fjblair]

I never give them my phone number or email. If they are insistent I just make it up.

 

[FaithNicole]

We use our old land line number.

hah! I've done that. It's still active hooked to a *gasp* fax machine

 

[Telekarster]

It used to be a points card. Then it was my email. Now everywhere I go they want my phone number. Bought some new Nikes the other week, "what's your phone number?"

Why? I don't plan on calling you to discuss my new purchase and I sure don't want you calling me. Can't I just buy a freaking pair of shoes without being prodded for my personal information?

"It's our rewards system"

Guess what lady.. I have my own rewards system. It's called a JOB! I work, they reward me with money, I buy shoes. Pretty neat system indeed. Take your points and stuff em and stay out of my life and let me just buy a pair of shoes from your stupid store? Thaaaanks...

Within the last week I've started replying with, "no thanks" when the cashier says, "and your phone number?" (Not even in the form of a question - it's an expectation - which makes me even more mad). One responded with, "It's just for our points system." I said, "No, it's for people to phone me, and I don't want your points."

Guess I'm a crank. Whatever, I don't care. They're not getting my friggin phone number for their info farming garbage.

Right on man! When I get asked those questions I always reply with another question "Why do you need my email address and phone number? Is that a requirement to purchase your product?" The answer is always "No, no, no... we just like to send out customer surveys and promotions we're running, so you can take advantage of them." My reply "Sorry but I get enough spam emails and calls as it is, I don't need any more. If I'm interested in your product in the future, I'll buy it. Thanks but no thanks." Works every time

 

[getbent]

I just say 867-5309 and they say area code, I say alright. then they usually say either 408 or 831 and I say 'dat one' and laugh.

the only people i tell the truth to is harbor freight. i can trust them. i think their pos terminals are still using windows nt and that was a safe system

 

[getbent]

at least they didnot ask for a semen sample , I dont have a phone

this reminds me of a joke.

guys goes into a bar and looks at the food menu while he waits for his drink.

#1 hamburger 13.95
#2cheeseburger 14.95
#3nachos 12.50
#4chili (all day) 11.50
#5manual sexual stimulation provided to completion 10.00

the guy calls over the waitress who is an incredibly beautiful woman and says, 'excuse me, would you be the person who would perform #5 on me if I were to order that?'

she leans in closely and with a dusky whisper she says, 'yes I would be that person'

He eyes her beauty and smiles and say, 'well that is great, wash your hands, put on some gloves and please bring me a cheeseburger."

 

[ClashCityTele]

I have several email addresses, one of which is purely for people I don't want to give an email to!!!
Every month or so I access it & delete all the emails.
PS I changed my email add' in TDPRI as I'm now buried under spam emails from the US, and I'm still receiving TDPRI messages & spam to that email!!!

 

[sloppychops]

It used to be a points card. Then it was my email. Now everywhere I go they want my phone number. Bought some new Nikes the other week, "what's your phone number?"

Why? I don't plan on calling you to discuss my new purchase and I sure don't want you calling me. Can't I just buy a freaking pair of shoes without being prodded for my personal information?

"It's our rewards system"

Guess what lady.. I have my own rewards system. It's called a JOB! I work, they reward me with money, I buy shoes. Pretty neat system indeed. Take your points and stuff em and stay out of my life and let me just buy a pair of shoes from your stupid store? Thaaaanks...

Within the last week I've started replying with, "no thanks" when the cashier says, "and your phone number?" (Not even in the form of a question - it's an expectation - which makes me even more mad). One responded with, "It's just for our points system." I said, "No, it's for people to phone me, and I don't want your points."

Guess I'm a crank. Whatever, I don't care. They're not getting my friggin phone number for their info farming garbage.

I have to agree. It's ridiculous how many places just assume we should unquestioningly give them our phone number. I never do it, and have been about ready to say "Eff off" a few times when asked.

It's similar to how so many places now want your Social Security number "for identification only." Well, if you look at the back of your SS card it clearly says that it's not for identification purposes. I tell this to the people asking for it and either get a blank stare or a "you're not cooperating!" glare.

 

[FuzzWatt]

I have to agree. It's ridiculous how many places just assume we should unquestioningly give them our phone number. I never do it, and have been about ready to say "Eff off" a few times when asked.

It's similar to how so many places now want your Social Security number "for identification only." Well, if you look at the back of your SS card it clearly says that it's not for identification purposes. I tell this to the people asking for it and either get a blank stare or a "you're not cooperating!" glare.

Yes, exactly. Part of me wants to just give them Jenny's number 867-5309, or a low effort 111-1111.

Another part of me wants to make a point about the principle of the matter that they do not need, nor are entitled to, my phone number.