Land line phone question

[oldrooster]

found out part of the pron;em, I told her just don't answer the phone at all, let the answering machine pick it up, and the phone had caller ID. so she can call the person back if she knows them. Her friend at church said she refuses to leave a message because if someone is too busy to pick up the phone, she's too busy to leave a message so she would hang up... I told the family member then when you see her number come up wait a couple of minuted and call her back and say one time you where on the throne, or cooking on the stove, and could not answer. she told me one of her sisters said she couldn't do that because there was a "law" against it and she could go to jail for not answering the phone. Funny thing I know that sister does that so certain "laws" only apply to certain people, not everyone.....

 

[Blooie]

I’d simply ask, “May I ask which Mr. Smith you want to reach?” But then I like things simple.

And living room lawyering aside, no, there IS no law that says a ringing telephone MUST be answered. If a law requiring communication was required, then every home would be required by law to have one installed, because in order to pass an “answering” law, there has to be a presumption that the law actually fits based on previous law requiring subscription to land line service. A telephone is there for the convenience of the person who pays the bill, not for the convenience of outside callers.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Try telling her and her sisters that for her own safety she shouldn't announce that her husband has died to every caller. Potentially untrustworthy callers may be looking for widows and elderly pensioners to take advantage of. Tell her it's safer to tell them he's not available and to take a detailed message. The message is important in case anything fishy happens later, and of course for the others who live there. Maybe? Good luck!