Annoying Calls

[7shooter]

Fox News had an interview with an attorney about the new federal law that went into effect on Oct 16 regarding businesses calling numbers unsolicited. He said that they now need written permission to call and the old rule that said they could call if they had a prior business relationship with you was no longer valid.

The attorney said to do two things that should help stop the calls. The first is to call the toll free govt. # 888 382 1222 from the phone you want protected. The second thing to do when you get calls say to the caller " Put this # on your INTERNAL do not call list ". He also said ( I'm not making this up ) to try to mimic an electronic voice .

Better practice in advance.

 

[Hack]

The original 'do not call' program was a joke. There was too my 'exceptions'. I unplugged my phone for five months during the elections.

I have no faith in the new one.

 

[Bekeart]

UPDATED DO NIOT CALL RULES

Here is link to article detailing the NEW Do Not Call Rules.

******

New Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA) Rules Take Effect on
October 16, 2013

New Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA) Rules Take Effect on October 16, 2013 | The National Law Review

******
Here I copied about requiring NEW consent from person being called.

Under the FCC’s amended regulations, telemarketers must obtain the prior express written consent of the called party for autodialed
or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers and prerecorded calls to residential landlines.
Significantly, there is no “grandfathering” of consents that had been obtained under the FCC’s prior rules.

Instead, telemarketers must obtain new consent that:

* Is in writing bearing the signature of the person providing consent (written consent includes an electronic or digital form of signature pursuant to the E-SIGN Act);

* Specifies the telephone number to which the person is consenting to be called;

* Clearly authorizes the company to call the person using an ATDS or prerecorded message for telemarketing purposes;

* Is not a condition of purchasing goods or services.

*****

Also changes the rules relating to established business relationships.

The second significant change to the FCC’s regulations set to take effect on October 16 is the elimination of the established business relationship exemption for prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential landlines.


*****

Complaint page at:

National Do Not Call Registry page is much easier to use.
https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx

*****

Hope this stops the calls from Card Services.

 

[gdnagle]

Laws are made to be broken like with the old system. My Do Not Call list consists of, turn off ringer, and use caller ID and wait for answering machine to pick up. If I want to talk to ya I answer. If I don't know your number then I don't answer, number unavailable, or private, etc. no answer from me. Works for me as I don't answer the phone much anyhow. Heck did without a phone in the past only really need it now for calling for LEO and ambulance if someone tries to break in.

 

[Jessie]

The above plus if I do answer and there's no reply after the first hello, I hang up. It usually takes two responses to activate their auto recording to start it seems.

 

[SgtLumpy]

Oh good. A federal law prohibiting something. Like all the other federal laws, that should resolve the problem. I'm sure the FTC or the FBI or some agency has enforcement agents standing by, ready to pursue the unknown "Cellphone caller" or "Phoenix AZ" as it shows up on my caller ID and shut those businesses in India and Bangledesh down so that I can enjoy my dinner hour.

Yeah, I'm sure of all that.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Hodgin]

I've battled illegal telemarketers for years. Filed many, many (several hundred) complaints with FTC, FCC, and the state attorney general's office over violations of Do Not Call laws. Only once did I get a response other than a "thank you." FTC called to ask about using my complaint in its case against Dish Network.

Unless enforcement is taken a whole lot more seriously (criminal sanctions), the only thing that may stop these nuisances is technology. The vast majority of these calls are illegal and the caller knows it. A legitimate company isn't going to do much illegal calling because it can be easily traced. Dish Network was an exception but the case was a bit more complicated than Dish making the cases. This new law is good but it doesn't address the problem of illegal calls from illegitimate businesses. These calls either can't be traced or the authorities won't for some reason. The numbers on the caller id are fake and the caller changes numbers frequently so call blocking is very effective for long. The vast majority of scammers don't remove you from their "internal call list" either. If you on the Federal and State DNC lists, then you never should have been on their internal call list to begin with.

One partical solution might be a technology named Nomorerobo. Unfortunately it's not available for my carrier in my area. I plan to rectify that shortly. It's aimed at robo calls.

Stop robocalls with Nomorobo

 

[Arik]

Im not sure if its something I buy or do not buy or ....I dunno. ..I never had much problem with telemarketers. Maybe one or two a night, if that.

And it never really annoyed me. I look at the caller Id. If I dont know the # I simply hit TALK and HANG UP right away. No I rarely if ever get calls

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[H Richard]

I use caller ID and if I don't know the caller I don't answer. If they want something important they can leave a message and if warranted I might call back (on their dime).

 

[Hodgin]

Arik,
What bothers me is that I have to go find a phone to look at the id. I don't mind just hanging up. It's the ringing and seeing who is calling that I don't like. Plus, the vast majority of the calls are illegal and from scammers. Some folks get sucked in by the scams.

Also, some people (an elderly uncle of mine) don't have caller id. They bug him to death.

 

[sophie]

I have been on the no call list for years and updated the no call list about a year ago. I still get 3-4 calls a day that I don't know who they are from. I let them go to the recorder on my phone and guess what, they never leave a message. Stupid computers. Like said above, sometimes I answer just to see who the call is from and no one says anything and if no body is there when I answer I hang up. I guess that is too fast for their computer dialing that they do for someone to be on the other end to answer you. That won't keep them from calling again as we all know. Do you ever notice how they just seem to call right about supper time? I do hope the new laws effective 10-16-13 help us all when it comes to irritating unwanted phone calls. Just for grins I am making myself up a greeting or "mimic of an electronic voice" and writing it down now so I can try it out on the next caller I get. Surely I can sound like a recording.--My wife says I can

 

[perrazi]

if you have a few minutes when this happens, it's fun to see how long you can keep them on the line. time is money to them and several minutes of not selling anything gets to there pocketbook.

 

[Hodgin]

if you have a few minutes when this happens, it's fun to see how long you can keep them on the line. time is money to them and several minutes of not selling anything gets to there pocketbook.

There are some funny you tube videos on dealing telemarketers.

 

[rog8732]

I had an experience recently with a non-robotic caller that irks me to this day. I was expecting a call and when I answered I was briefly puzzled by the accent (heavy Asian female). I politely informed the caller to please remove me from their call list, and was asked "why". I replied they were disturbing my peace and quiet, and not to call anymore, in a polite manner. I was rudely told that she would call all she wanted to, and I could not stop her. Perhaps the slamming phone in her head-set was enough to stop it,for she has not called back... But I realized, short of unplugging my phone,which imposes on my life, I really could not stop her.
I realize these folks are just doing their job, and I always try to be polite, but her reaction was a first.

 

[Mcwsky09]

The two that really bug me are.
1. the recording that says something along the lines of this is your last chance to take advantage of this offer - oh how I wish - I get that one pretty much every day - and the couple of times I picked up to see how to get off the list there was never anyone to talk to - what is the point of calling to offer me some service if there is no way for me to talk to someone and sign up for whatever **** you are pushing?
2. Karen J Hall apparently had my phone number before I got it - and there are bill collectors looking for her - and early on I was getting about one call a day - which tapered off to about 1 call a week - and is now at least one a month - caller ID doesn't always help - and when I answer and tell them that I am not now nor have I ever been Karen J Hall and that I have had this phone number since 2005 so that anyone you are looking for who had this number prior to that is in no way shape or form connected to me or anyone I am even acquainted with and you are wasting your time and mine by calling me. Sometimes that reduces the frequency of the calls - but I don't think they believe me - or sell the debt to someone else who has no record of my statement that I am not not nor have I ever been a female never mind being Karen. The thing that gets me is why none of these companies have access to, I dunno, maybe a phone book, or maybe the internet. If they want to get a hold of Karen J Hall they should call a phone number that is currently associated with Karen J Hall - not one that she apparently had over 10 years ago.

 

[walkin jack]

I FINALLY woke up to the totally fool proof way to eliminate nuisance calls. 2 years ago I jerked my home phone out of the wall by it's roots and gave it a fling over the back fence after a particularly pushy and obnoxious caller. well that was what I did mentally but what I really did was have my home phone disconnected. I've had this telephone number for 35 years. I must admit that it felt pretty weird to not have a home phone number......for about 3.8 seconds that is. Not getting those calls any longer is wonderful.

we've had cell phone for about 15 years. I have heard of people getting sales calls on their cell phones but it has never happened to us. (knocking on wood) Good to know that if they ever find me on my cell phone that there is relief out there.

 

[Arik]

I had an experience recently with a non-robotic caller that irks me to this day. I was expecting a call and when I answered I was briefly puzzled by the accent (heavy Asian female). I politely informed the caller to please remove me from their call list, and was asked "why". I replied they were disturbing my peace and quiet, and not to call anymore, in a polite manner. I was rudely told that she would call all she wanted to, and I could not stop her. Perhaps the slamming phone in her head-set was enough to stop it,for she has not called back... But I realized, short of unplugging my phone,which imposes on my life, I really could not stop her.
I realize these folks are just doing their job, and I always try to be polite, but her reaction was a first.

I doubt she knew you slammed the phone. No matter how hard you hit it it just goes "click" on the other end. Ive tried this with a friend. As soon as the phone touches that little hangup button the call is disconnected

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Marshwheeling]

My wife left her cell phone behind the other day, and I picked up a call from an out-of-state number.

"Is Michelle there?"

"State your business."

"I have a business matter to discuss with Michelle ****."

"I go by "Michael" now."

Click.

 

[walkin jack]

I guess we all have stories about irritating calls. Here's one of my favorites, paraphrased for polite company.

I worked shift work for nearly a quarter of a century. One morning after a particularly difficult graveyard shift I got home and kissed my wife good bye as she went to work. Got into bed and 45 minutes later the phone rang. We had kids in school and I didn't like to have our phone off the hook so I just put up with what ever calls came in.

So I picked up and said "hullo" I was VERY tired and pretty irritated about being woken up.

Caller. "Can I speak to Bob?"
Me. "Yes you can." and I hung up.

He called right back and with some attitude in his voice said, "I need to speak to Bob."

Me. "Well I don't care if you do. But he's not here. And he ain't comin' here. You have the wrong number." and I hung up again

He calls right back

Caller. "Hey, you hung up on me...TWICE!

Me. "Did that make you mad?"

Caller. "Yes it did!" and then he proceeded to tell me what all he was going to do to me when he came over.

Me. "Well I'm sorry if I made you mad, but I want you to check THIS out..." And I hung up again.

I realized I could have had a lot of fun with this twerp but I was just too tired so I left the phone off the hook and hoped none of the kids got kicked out of school or injured before I could get my nap out.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

What is hard to understand is why some folks get 2 or 3 of these calls a day, others (like myself) get 2 or 3 a week. We've had the same # for 30 years and it's posted in the phone book. Any ideas?

 

[7shooter]

I used to have a number that was close to the number a pizza shop had in the last town I lived in. I would get calls from drunks at around midnight or later wanting to order a pizza. I started taking their orders.

 

[cowart]

I doubt she knew you slammed the phone. No matter how hard you hit it it just goes "click" on the other end.

Here you go

 

[cowart]

You can purchase a device that will block up to 1,500 numbers from calling you. Go to Ebay and scan for "Pro Call Blocker" and "2.2". Costs about $60

 

[rwsmith]

I average...

3 calls/day. sometimes more.

 

[rwsmith]

The more contact you have....

What is hard to understand is why some folks get 2 or 3 of these calls a day, others (like myself) get 2 or 3 a week. We've had the same # for 30 years and it's posted in the phone book. Any ideas?

The more contact you have with anything electronic, buying, web pages you visit or ANYTHING besides sitting in you chair quietly, gets on calling lists.

 

[timn8er]

For years I've been doing battle with telemarketers & robocallers. I would dutifully note the time, number, & name of the company. After I had all the info, I would tell them I was on the do not call list, & most of the time they would hang up on me. I would then go to the FTC site & file a complaint. After the dozens & dozens of complaints that I filed, I realized it wasn't doing me any good. It was like trying to hold back the tide. So nowadays all I do is check the caller ID & let the machine take it. Unless I'm feeling bored...Then I do my best to workout on them!

 

[arjay]

Ditching the landline was one of my smarter moves.I never hear from telemarketers.

 

[Thomas Orr]

What is hard to understand is why some folks get 2 or 3 of these calls a day, others (like myself) get 2 or 3 a week. We've had the same # for 30 years and it's posted in the phone book. Any ideas?

Some of this is from company's that buy lists of uncollectable debts. The deadbeat found your number in the phone book and used it for himself. That name and number then gets passed on. No one ever verifies the information!

 

[Hodgin]

They get the numbers from a lot of places as I understand it. We do a lot of buying over the internet so our number is available in several. These places sell info to others and so on. There are also automated dialers that can dial numbers randomly at the same time. I've heard that's why some of the time you pick up the phone and no one is there. They got some other suckers first.

Sometimes I call back. Occasionally I'll get the "we'll take you off our list," which they normally don't. Most of the time I get a message saying "that number is no longer in service" or some such nonsense.

 

[Texas Star]

I hate these calls! Someone recently has been calling me looking for someone in Katy, TX. I looked up Katy and it's near Houston.

I've never heard of this guy who supposedly used me as a reference on a debt. I wonder how he got my name and phone number.

Is it illegal to blow a whistle or use a sound-air can blast on these people?