It varies widely on the rep. They each have their own office culture. Some are amazing on the phone; others are awful.

I had a congressman (Maurice Hinchey) who, when I was Chair of my Student Senate, would actually come to the phone and talk to me if he was around. And he really listened and either voted the way I asked or got back to me telling me why it wasn't going to happen.

Not too many left like that I don't think, though. Maurice is long since retired. Some are still good on the phone, though.