The Vermont Telecommunications Relay Service is designed to connect hearing disabled people with people and businesses that use regular voice telephones. Although the relay service has been in existence for more than 10 years, many people don't understand how it works. As a result, people who receive relay calls often hang up, believing the caller is a telemarketer. Thus the Don't Hang Up campaign was developed.
The goal of the Don't Hang Up campaign is to decrease the frequency of hang-ups by people who are unfamiliar with relay. The campaign includes a public service announcement, as well as articles in business publications.
But the best way to reduce hang-ups, especially by businesses, is to identify them and educate the party that hung up about relay. You can help in two ways:
When you experience a hang-up on a relay call, fill out the on-line form below and VTRS outreach will contact the business to educate them about relay.
Consider changing the way you have your relay calls announced; instead of saying, "This is the Vermont Relay Service...," ask the CA to say "This is a customer of your business calling through the Vermont Relay," or "This is [your name] calling through Vermont Relay." Some people have found that this kind of greeting reduces hang-ups.
