Is telephone phobia a thing?

Warrigal

Warrigal

SF VIP
Location
Sydney, Australia
I hate telephones, really hate them.

As a child growing up in the 40s and 50s we did not have a telephone in the house. On the rare occasion when a call needed to be made, we either asked a neighbour if we could use their 'phone and left some money for the cost, or we walked around to the public phone in the next street.

Hubby's upbringing was different. His father was an ambulance driver and there was always a 'phone in the house so that he could be contacted if needed to do an extra shift.

We've had the 'phone connected since 1966 when we moved into my current home and I have never really adapted to it.

Today I needed to sort out a couple of matters concerning the electricity bill and roadside assistance for my car. I have been putting both off for some time but I knew that I really needed to do it today. Yesterday I sifted through the unfiled paperwork and had everything ready to go but I nearly squibbed it.

Twice, feeling absolutely lethargic, I went back to bed for a nap. Finally at 4 in the afternoon I picked up the phone and dialled the numbers.

What a sook I am! Both calls were answered by a human being and with their help the problem was attended to.

Can anyone else relate to my hatred/dread of telephones ?
 

I never liked to talk on the phone, especially doing business. I always told my wife if I need to speak to someone that has to do with business, I would rather do it face to face. People are less likely to lie when when speaking face to face. Over the phone, you can’t always tell if they are being truthful.
 

Don't have a phobia but at times a clear frustration of it.
I stick to my boundaries on it (even though I have hands free in car I will not answer or call back till I am parked)
If you do not have a ringtone I know is you, I don't answer it. Caller ID better say who you are if you are a business and
I get my standard ringtone.
If family has an emergency... call DH if it's after 8pm; he is still up I am not.
 
I can relate. The thing I dread the most is making telephone calls. I have to force myself to make a call. I try to do everything on email. I have no problem with someone calling me and answering. But to make the call myself is a whole different thing.
 
I never enjoyed talking on the phone, even when I was younger. Most of the people I communicate with prefer texting these days and I am fine with that. If I want a conversation with someone then I prefer it face to face.
 
I like talking on the phone. That makes me the oddball among family and friends. They all prefer text. I am not very fast thumbing it on a phone so I use the voice dictation when texting. It’s a one-sided conversation. Ha!
 
I'm fine with personal calls from / to relatives and friends. It's the business calls I detest.

This week, I got a notice from my auto insurance company that my insurance would be cancelled November 15th due to non payment. My payment was due 10/25. I paid it 10/21 and got a receipt by email. As soon as I got the notice, I went straight to the agent's office. She told me not to worry, they had my payment and that was "just an error" notice from the corporate office. I told her I wanted something in writing confirming what she had said. I didn't get it. She just showed me on her computer they had the payment, but refused to address a written notice.

So, I went straight home and called the corporate office. We were on the phone 30 minutes, and most of that time, I was left on hold. She finally came back on and said all was resolved. I told her I wanted a written retraction of the cancellation notice by mail. She said they didnt do that.

I then emailed the agent and told her I want an email confirming my insurance is in force, not cancelled. She finally sent one and copied headquarters. All together, this unnecessarily consumed the bigger part of my afternoon, and I never received any apology or explanation of their GROSS error. So, for business - yes, I hate phones and emails as well. But even more, the rudeness and incompetency of how places conduct business these days . . .
 
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