Jun 14 2008
She’s Not There - Finally
The wireless cord has finally been cut.
I was laid off from my last job early December 2007. The company had provided me with a cell phone and laptop. I returned both.
I probably could have kept the phone number but felt it was a good thing to just let it all go. I wasn’t much into the area code. Mine is better.
Things were pretty busy what with dealing with filing for unemployment, going to workshops and of course, Christmas and New Years.
So it was sometime in January, probably while I was updating my resume and beginning the job search networking process, that I thought to check on my old cell phone.
Whaddya know…I could still access my voicemail system!
I found it highly amusing to change my message to something along the lines of, “You have reached the defunct voicemail of Ms. Q, former employee. I can be reached via my personal email by those who have it, and will send out new contact information for those who don’t.”
Yep, a variation of: “Don’t call me, I’ll call you.”
A few of my friends had no idea that my cell phone number was provided by my former company.
A friend I hadn’t heard from in over a year called me at home in March. He said that he had first tried my cell phone.
He had listened to my “Don’t call me, I’ll call you” message.
Weird. I was laid off but my phone was still on the job.
I just called my old cell number and it’s out of service.
Finally.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
So how long after you gave it all up did you get your own cell phone?
I don’t think that I’ve ever really wanted to be someone with that much of a tie between me and my company. That is, a work cell phone or laptop gives me some type of tether that I feel would always connect me a little bit to work. I like have my own time that is totally disconnected from work.
Derek: I got my own cell phone within a month. I really didn’t want to get one but it really is convenient to have. I may be able to live without a TV but when it comes to coordinating with others, it is just so nice to have.
It also gives others a way to contact you. I’ve had people say, “I’m stuck in traffic..” or, “Where are you? I’m waiting at…”
It’s also a device that people expect you to have and one that is difficult to resist having. Like a computer! The people who don’t have a computer are slowly losing touch as more services (like banking) move toward the Internet. One person I know could not get his W-2 on paper, his employer only had it available online and he could download it to PDF and print it himself.
I do know a couple of people without cell phones. One will probably get one when his job/lifestyle makes it worthwhile. The other person has little need for one. Interestingly, I think if he did need one, his life would have changed quite a bit.
In most cases the person who handles hardware and services isn’t always in touch with the folks who deal in HR. Depending on the company 24 hours after termination all services are cut off. At my job they have a check list and a department that handles this sort of thing. Another friend of mine who works at Bloomberg told me the minute you walk out the door e-mail, voice mail and any other services you had are either redirected or terminated. They don’t play.
I was about to get online and send you an e-mail. I checked your blog first. I was missing me some Ms. Q. I hope all is well.
I have the cell phone that belonged to a guy that left the company 3 years ago. I’ve had the phone over a year and about once a month I’ll get a call for him.
These almost have to be from people who have not called his cell phone in three years.
The first call I got for him was when I was in the UK. I got two calls while I was there and one was a wrong number (sort of).
Oh goodness! I hope I never have to get an email W-2! It’s hard enough to get that tax stuff done without having to worry about whether or not I have printer ink! Although, I suppose it would be convenient in that you could lose as many copies as you wanted…
Before cell phones I think the story goes that once my mom & dad had dinner in the same restaurant, both wondering why the other person never showed up!!
On the post itself - I had an email address like that for awhile after getting divorced. My ex husband ended up with the cable. I doubt he ever downloaded my email, but he could have. Because he kept the cable, my old email address just continued to collect emails that I never received. They never bounced or anything, because the bill was still being paid. For all I know, that address might *still* be getting emails!
Back to the phone thing again, not sure if I can post a picture in your comments, but I had to go search the Doonesbury archives for this cartoon for you:
I guess I can’t put a cartoon in the comments.
Maybe this way? [IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/Jill_Ilene/Doonsburyphone.gif[/IMG]
If not, the link at least should work:
Doonesbury cell phone cartoon
Just be careful that the o0ld company does not try to come back and bill you for all this time. I don’t trust them. That is L-A-Z-Y! The fools!
Sorry to hear about your situation, but it’s interesting that you still have access to your system. At my place they cut everything as you leave the door, they leave no stone unturned.
The company I left over a year ago still has not deleted my system account information. Every so often I go and take a peak. It pleases me that they are still struggling without me.
I suppose I could be mean and move things around but I’m in a good place as far as that hell hole is concerned.
One day I may leave the information somewhere though…
UT: I thought my company would have taken care of this right away - they certainly disabled my email account fast enough but the cell phone minutes went into a shared pool so many it didn’t hit their radar right away.
Nice of you to think of emailing me! I’m not usually “offline” for so long, at least without warning but I’ve been very busy!
delmer: I had that same number for maybe 7 years so whoever gets it next may end up getting calls for me.
Jill: That is funny about your mom and dad! But I can see that happening! It’s funny to be able to call someone and say, “Where are you?” and learn that they are just across the street or something.
Thanks for the Doonesbury cartoon! That was funny. And unfortunately true for most people!
Rolando: I never received the bill in the first place - it was billed directly to the company so no worries there. Plus, I have found a new job (been at it since early February) and I’m loving it. I used to travel for my prior job and now I have this daily commute! Weird.
I was also surprised to be able to access my old vmail system.
Bec: it’s fun to be able to take a peek. I found it amusing to be able to access my vmail and even change the message. I was tempted to change it again but then the phone was finally out of service and I really didn’t have the energy for putting together a goofy new message.