Weird Phone Call

[shadow]

I received a very odd phone call this week. I answered a call from a number I didn't recognize. The guy on the other told me that his mom needed some electrical work done, and was wondering if I, as the emergency preparedness coordinator for my ward, happened to have an electrician listed on my list of people with particular skills. He wasn't from my ward, and I'm not actually sure if he lives in the stake, or just his mom does. He told me he had been calling around the different wards, since the stake emergency coordinator doesn't have such a list for the stake.

I guess I understand using your resources for references, but this was so specific to finding a mormon electrician that it seemed odd to me. His demeanor on the phone also made it seem like he thought this was a completely normal phone call to be making between fellow members. I told him to knock it off and just find a good local electrician regardless of religion. Otherwise, we were going to just repeat the whole Independence, Missouri experience of alienating all of our neighbors. But hey, at least we can just blame it on religious persecution.

(I suppose I didn't actually say that to him, but at least I thought it while I told him I didn't know anyone in my ward.)

[Just This Guy]

Since the caller was not from your ward and it sounds like he had been canvasing several wards looking for someone he could ask to volunteer, it sounds like to me someone was trying to use the church for free labor. Why hire a licensed contractor when you can guilt someone with questionable qualifications into doing it for free?

[Korihor]

Recently, I been using the phrase "the ward discount" in such situations.

Seems appropriate here.

[Lithium Sunset]

Since the caller was not from your ward and it sounds like he had been canvasing several wards looking for someone he could ask to volunteer, it sounds like to me someone was trying to use the church for free labor. Why hire a licensed contractor when you can guilt someone with questionable qualifications into doing it for free?

This is exactly what I thought. Cheap or free labor.

[Just This Guy]

If you wanted to jerk them around, then give them the office phone number of an electrical contractor in your area. Preferably one who is a commercial/industrial one and three times the price of a residential contractor.

What your mom doesn't have 480 Volt/3 phase power to her stove? Bummer.

[2bizE]

I used to get weird calls like this as EQP. This essentially was what was said on several occasions.
"I'm calling, even though I'm not moving into your ward...got your name from some bishop... anyway, tomorrow morning during your kids soccer game I need 20 strong elders to move my 3 pianos and 4 Uhaul trucks full of crap into my new home 1.5 hour drive from your house. I expect you to be there."
What I said then: I will see what I can do.
What I would say today: F$&@ Off. click.

[circus watcher]

I used to get weird calls like this as EQP. This essentially was what was said on several occasions.
"I'm calling, even though I'm not moving into your ward...got your name from some bishop... anyway, tomorrow morning during your kids soccer game I need 20 strong elders to move my 3 pianos and 4 Uhaul trucks full of crap into my new home 1.5 hour drive from your house. I expect you to be there."
What I said then: I will see what I can do.
What I would say today: F$&@ Off. click.

Regarding the original post, I was wondering if the caller was searching for a specific individual, maybe someone that doesn't want to be found. If all I had to go on was "...a Mormon electrician living in ______...". The caller may have found a dozen or more Mormon electricians but not the specific person he was seeking.

[RubinHighlander]

This is exactly what I thought. Cheap or free labor.

Cheap as* free!

[Enoch Witty]

This is exactly what I thought. Cheap or free labor.

Cheap as* free!

Except for Canadians, apparently...

[Silver Girl]

I used to get weird calls like this as EQP. This essentially was what was said on several occasions.
"I'm calling, even though I'm not moving into your ward...got your name from some bishop... anyway, tomorrow morning during your kids soccer game I need 20 strong elders to move my 3 pianos and 4 Uhaul trucks full of crap into my new home 1.5 hour drive from your house. I expect you to be there."
What I said then: I will see what I can do.
What I would say today: F$&@ Off. click.

I'd be tempted to say, "Some of us are meeting up tomorrow and we were looking for a way to serve1 What's the address? We'll be there at 9 a.m! And then block his phone number.

[2bizE]

I used to get weird calls like this as EQP. This essentially was what was said on several occasions.
"I'm calling, even though I'm not moving into your ward...got your name from some bishop... anyway, tomorrow morning during your kids soccer game I need 20 strong elders to move my 3 pianos and 4 Uhaul trucks full of crap into my new home 1.5 hour drive from your house. I expect you to be there."
What I said then: I will see what I can do.
What I would say today: F$&@ Off. click.

I'd be tempted to say, "Some of us are meeting up tomorrow and we were looking for a way to serve1 What's the address? We'll be there at 9 a.m! And then block his phone number.

This is good. I never thought of deceiving the guy.
There is this general perception of free labor in the church. I suppose I have fallen for that as well. After moving 29 people one year, I pretty much felt everyone in the ward had damn well better pitch in and help me move. I have never felt that way regarding skilled labor like an electrician. The church does this all the time though with senior missionaries. We need an experienced contractor to lead a construction project for a year for free, all in the name of god and Joseph Smith. Your reward is eternal blessings.
Oh, and if the project isn't complete in a year, we will extend your mission.

[Newme]

Since the caller was not from your ward and it sounds like he had been canvasing several wards looking for someone he could ask to volunteer, it sounds like to me someone was trying to use the church for free labor. Why hire a licensed contractor when you can guilt someone with questionable qualifications into doing it for free?

This is exactly what I thought. Cheap or free labor.

That, and maybe he felt like he could trust someone lds more so than just someone random from the yellow pages.
I don't know the exact statistic, but I've heard that Utah is really high for scams - because of the gullibility and giving out trust - and most of the scammers are lds.