Unlisted number, now public

[NYlakesider]

Unlisted number, now public!

We have two phones at our house. One a conventional land line we have had for 30 years.

The other A VOIP that we get from Spectrum. (had about a year) This one is only used to call 6 numbers and only 6 known numbers call It. Only myself, wife 2 sons and their wives have this new number. We call no one else on this number!

We do not have cell service so we get lots of junk calls at our old number. Unless expecting a call we let it go through to answering machine. Obviously a good call we pick it up if home. This has cut way down on the increasingly robo calls and other BS calls.

Somehow just found out today the VOIP number is listed in the white pages, we have no clue why as explained above its super restricted. Called the cable provider and asked how does a supposedly unlisted number show up on the white pages. Could not get a good answer except “There are ways” Basically told to live with it!

Any out there got a clue of how our UNLISTED number is now listed in white pages. I feel but cannot prove this is due to something the cable provider is doing or done!

 

[Rpg]

The rules AT&T and their successors applied to land line ‘unlisted’ numbers apparently aren’t the same as those the explosion of phone service providers use.

I suspect your provider sold their number list: another funding stream for the provider.

 

[NYlakesider]

The rules AT&T and their successors applied to land line ‘unlisted’ numbers apparently aren’t the same as those the explosion of phone service providers use.

I suspect your provider sold their number list: another funding stream for the provider.

My first thought!

The person I talked to (after a 1/2 hr wait) said he did not know how it got out but there are ways. A good bet he got his information right out of the company manual on how to answer!

Do not recognize the number it will not be answered, but of course it will ring. O well "C'est la vie"

This number out must be pretty recent, this morning was the first wrong call that we have had in months! I did pick it up as it displayed it was coming from my propane company and she told me how she got the number!

 

[Muss Muggins]

The default when you sign up for service is a listed number. You may not have given it out, but Spectrum did. Did you think it was going to be unlisted? Regardless, it is listed. Try this:

How can I list/unlist my information on the Directory Listing and Directory Assistance Listing?

Unlisted number, now public!

We have two phones at our house. One a conventional land line we have had for 30 years.

The other A VOIP that we get from Spectrum. (had about a year) This one is only used to call 6 numbers and only 6 known numbers call It. Only myself, wife 2 sons and their wives have this new number. We call no one else on this number!

We do not have cell service so we get lots of junk calls at our old number. Unless expecting a call we let it go through to answering machine. Obviously a good call we pick it up if home. This has cut way down on the increasingly robo calls and other BS calls.

Somehow just found out today the VOIP number is listed in the white pages, we have no clue why as explained above its super restricted. Called the cable provider and asked how does a supposedly unlisted number show up on the white pages. Could not get a good answer except “There are ways” Basically told to live with it!

Any out there got a clue of how our UNLISTED number is now listed in white pages. I feel but cannot prove this is due to something the cable provider is doing or done!

 

[Ματθιας]

What does the fine print on the agreement/contract say?

 

[kwselke]

I have not seen a telephone directory in six or eight years, yellow or white. I did not think they were published anymore. Many robocalls are simply calling every possible number combination in an area code. There is little that can be done against that other than screening with voice mail or a dial through type gate-keeping app.

 

[vytoland]

if the company violated your privacy....kick em to the curb.....

 

[NYlakesider]

The default when you sign up for service is a listed number. You may not have given it out, but Spectrum did. Did you think it was going to be unlisted? Regardless, it is listed. Try this:

How can I list/unlist my information on the Directory Listing and Directory Assistance Listing?

I asked for and PAID FOR a unlisted number, that is why I'm so urinated off. Up to today It seemed to be OK, based on that I think this just occurred recently. My other 30 YO number has always been listed!

 

[NYlakesider]

if the company violated your privacy....kick em to the curb.....

I THINK there the reason, proving that is going to be impossible.


Thanks for the answers!

 

[LVSteve]

First, check REALLY carefully with those on your "special" list. Loose lips and all that. Did any of them have the number in their cellphone? Did they recently update the phone. If so, ALL the numbers in their phone may have been skimmed during that event.

Once you are ABSOLUTELY sure none of them are the source of the leak, call the provider again and inform them you are taking the matter up with the FCC and the FTC unless you get a new unlisted number free of charge.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I asked for and PAID FOR a unlisted number, that is why I'm so urinated off. Up to today It seemed to be OK, based on that I think this just occurred recently. My other 30 YO number has always been listed!

Spectrum's takeover of Charter was recently completed. Perhaps that's the difficulty . . .

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

"Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by incompetence."
Probably-like so many companies today-the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is up to, the fingers on the hand don't communicate.

 

[H Richard]

All the above is the reason I am in the process of cutting off my AT&T number that I have had for over 50 years, and going with cell phone only. The price keeps going up and the number of calls I get on it are 90% junk robo calls. The phone companies have crapped in their own nest letting the industry get in this condition.

 

[NYlakesider]

All the above is the reason I am in the process of cutting off my AT&T number that I have had for over 50 years, and going with cell phone only. The price keeps going up and the number of calls I get on it are 90% junk robo calls. The phone companies have crapped in their own nest letting the industry get in this condition.

No cell service within 5 miles of my house.

 

[NYlakesider]

Thanks for all that responded, as I have to shut down for the day I will hope the "night shift" has a few ideas!

 

[rwsmith]

When they say....

My first thought!

The person I talked to (after a 1/2 hr wait) said he did not know how it got out but there are ways. A good bet he got his information right out of the company manual on how to answer!

Do not recognize the number it will not be answered, but of course it will ring. O well "C'est la vie"

This number out must be pretty recent, this morning was the first wrong call that we have had in months! I did pick it up as it displayed it was coming from my propane company and she told me how she got the number!

When they say, "There are ways."

It really means, "After we tell you that it's strictly private, we sell it to any company that will buy it."

 

[WardenRoss]

Side note:

I changed our landline answering machine to only ring 2 times before it clicks to message.

For some reason, it has almost eliminated all the computer generated calls.

Wifey hates it though. Impossible to get to the phone before it clicks to message.

 

[doublesharp]

I've got Spectrum for my landline. Mine is not an unlisted # but I do take advantage of Spectrum's Nomorobo junk call blocker. It does ring once and then goes silent if it's spam.

 

[shouldazagged]

My sister refers to Spectrum (which I also use) as "Sphinctrum". I like that.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Looked into your issue a bit and it seems all unlisted numbers can be "discovered" if someone is determined. That's our brave new world for you.


Since you specified Spectrum as your provider, I looked at the features available to their "Voice" customers.

There is a feature called "Nomorobo" that limits nuisance calls.

Another feature called "Accept Selected Callers" allows only numbers you specify to ring through, all others are forwarded to voicemail.