topic Re: Unsoliticed Calls in Community Chat

Unsoliticed Calls

bonnielu — Wed, 03 May 2017 20:48:24 GMT

I am on the DO NOT CALL LIST and with the sophistication of cellphone technology as well as Home Phone Connections -- Comcast I can block calls. But I am having to spend more time checking and blocking then ever before. What good is the Do Not Call List and is there a solution to constant ringing. I really don't want to shut my ringers off nor do I want to be constantly annoyed. I never pick up the phone without recognition of the caller. I am wondering the value of Do Not Call.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

gmkb — Wed, 03 May 2017 20:55:15 GMT

There is no value to the DNC list. For a few years it worked very well, but the businesses soon found there were no repercussions and now the phone rings off the hook every day.

I don't answer those calls either, but the constant ringing is annoying.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

chickenbutt — Wed, 03 May 2017 20:56:56 GMT

There's a whole thread about this, right here in this forum (should still be on first page), that has a lot of ideas and additional things you can do.

HTH

ETA - here ya go - https://community.qvc.com/t5/Community-Chat/Fed-Up-With-Scam-Robocalls-and-Telemarketers/m-p/3734821#U3734821

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

millieshops — Wed, 03 May 2017 20:58:36 GMT

@bonnieluA company has to be afraid of the fines before Do Not Call can work. I don't see many companies that are afraid and I don't see anyone with government power willing to even try to make them afraid.

In the past 3 months I think I've had more Robocalls than I've had totally for the previous ten years. Ironically, none at all today as I sit here writing this response to you.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

Carmie — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:01:48 GMT

Do Not Call is not worth anything if business don't want to adhere to the guidelines. They are chancing that we do not report them.

i had a local roofing, window and siding company call me. I asked the female caller if she checked the DNC list,before she called me. She said " What is that?" I explained that her company could be fined for calling people. She got upset and said her boss told her to call and gave her a list of numbers.

I told her I was not going to report them this time because they were a mom and pop business.

If you get calls, you must report the callers or it won't deter them.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

bonnielu — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:02:13 GMT

@chickenbutt Thanks I will check it out. I am grateful to Comcast who now lets us block unlimited calls. And my cell phone also allows blocking. And there are apps for that LOL which id the caller (hopefully). But the ring... oh my... never stops. I used to engage them in conversations but gave up on that. Not enough time in the day.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

chickenbutt — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:03:08 GMT

'Unlimited' is pretty awesome! Thumbs up for that.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

Cats3000 — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:10:17 GMT

We have both our cell phone numbers and our land line number onThe "Do Not Call List". It is a federal government "feel good" program that offers the people nothing. As far as I understand, it monitors "trends" only and might get involved if there are an inordinate amount of calls eminating from one phone number. With today's technolgy, I guess that rarely happens. In addition, the politicians made sure that their "robocalls" were excluded. That's why I consider it a federal government "feel good" program that offers nothing.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

DiAnne — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:13:14 GMT

I seldom get random calls but I think it is because I have had a unlisted number for years. I just get a couple of calls a week.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

Mz iMac — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:21:35 GMT

FWIW.....

According to my local news, the DNC option only works on calls originating within the US.

90% of the scam & robo alls originate outside of the US even though the #'s showing up on the caller ID indicates that the call is US made.

I think it's funny when I see my name on the caller ID. That darn doppelganger again!

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

Marp — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:33:58 GMT

@bonnielu wrote:
@chickenbutt Thanks I will check it out. I am grateful to Comcast who now lets us block unlimited calls. And my cell phone also allows blocking. And there are apps for that LOL which id the caller (hopefully). But the ring... oh my... never stops. I used to engage them in conversations but gave up on that. Not enough time in the day.

@bonnielu, I can't help with your phone because they are blocked by Comcast and my landline calls are blocked by my Panasonic phone.

However, for my Android smartphone I keep "do no disturb" turned on but set to allow certain contacts to ring through. I still get unsolicited/robocalls but the phone doesn't ring. Every couple of days I go through the call log and just delete them.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

Stormygirl — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:48:35 GMT

AM also on the DNC list.....even checked to make sure it was updated. Can tell you it doesnt seem to be doing much good anymore as I have had solicitation calls almost every day and sometimes up until almost 10 pm at night. Very irritating. Sometimes when I accidently answer the call half asleep NOONE will take NO for an answer anymore. Whats up with that??? Everyone wants money......access to my computer (scam), pretend they are from IRS, rich politicians wanting money, fake police associations etc etc. If I am feeling gamey at that particular time I will have my fun with them by messing with their head....and having my say. Is really funny when I speak their language. LOL

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

riley1 — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:53:52 GMT

DNC is a joke - they want you to think it will help but it really does nothing for you. And, with more and more robocalls, they can't do much.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

Tantallum — Wed, 03 May 2017 22:17:53 GMT

@gmkb wrote:
There is no value to the DNC list. For a few years it worked very well, but the businesses soon found there were no repercussions and now the phone rings off the hook every day.
I don't answer those calls either, but the constant ringing is annoying.

Yep, there is no penalty to businesses who ignore the DNC list because the government does not fund any positions of people to enforce it.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

lulu2 — Wed, 03 May 2017 22:25:49 GMT

@DiAnne wrote:
I seldom get random calls but I think it is because I have had a unlisted number for years. I just get a couple of calls a week.

Oh how I wish this were true. We have an unlisted number but I was told it does no good because many solicitations are random generated.

There is a number that claims they are a call center for political and non-profit organizations. If you call their number they tell you how to be taken off their call lists. They tell you to call during business hours, yet no human being responds. I've blocked their number but it still rings once. I've kept a tally since Monday. So far we've had 74 calls.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

Kachina624 — Wed, 03 May 2017 23:13:03 GMT

I have a recording on my line put there by my phone company (CenturyLink).   When a caller dials my number he gets a recording that says, "this number does not accept sales calls.   If this is a sales call, hang up now and add this number to your DNC list.   If it's not a sales call, press 1" . Only then does my phone ring.

I get maybe one ring from an unknown area code or sales person every month.   It's practically eliminated a major annoyance. I've never gotten the IRS call.

Call your phone company and see if they have anything that would help you.   If you answer all the calls you get, you're asking for trouble. Once word gets around that the phone at your house is answered, you'll get no peace.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

Carmie — Thu, 04 May 2017 00:15:54 GMT

@DiAnne wrote:
I seldom get random calls but I think it is because I have had a unlisted number for years. I just get a couple of calls a week.

I have never had a listed phone number because of my DH's profession but,I get calls a few times a day. I keep blocking numbers, but they just change the number they are calling from and call again.

do you remember Magic Jack? With a system like that, you can change your area code to anywhere in the US and make calls. If you live in NJ, for example, but want to make it look like you are calling from CA, you just set up an account with a CA area code.

sometimes, I answer the phone on the first ring... dummy me. I just hang up on people I don't want to talk to. I get people looking for donations most of the time. Who in their right mind would donate money over the phone?

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

SilleeMee — Thu, 04 May 2017 00:24:03 GMT

I've always wondered if there are people who actually answer the calls and do business with the telemarketers...?? seriously

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

SilleeMee — Thu, 04 May 2017 00:26:32 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
@DiAnne wrote:
I seldom get random calls but I think it is because I have had a unlisted number for years. I just get a couple of calls a week.
I have never had a listed phone number because of my DH's profession but,I get calls a few times a day. I keep blocking numbers, but they just change the number they are calling from and call again.

do you remember Magic Jack? With a system like that, you can change your area code to anywhere in the US and make calls. If you live in NJ, for example, but want to make it look like you are calling from CA, you just set up an account with a CA area code.

sometimes, I answer the phone on the first ring... dummy me. I just hang up on people I don't want to talk to. I get people looking for donations most of the time. Who in their right mind would donate money over the phone?

Now there's an app you can download on your cell phone and do the same thing.

Re: Unsoliticed Calls

gmkb — Thu, 04 May 2017 01:01:32 GMT

This is not about telemarketing, but a scam that is taking place re the phone.

On Easter Sunday we came home and found we had no TV, no internet, just the phone was still working. All our systems are connected.

My husband called the 24/7 number and fortunately got a knowledgeable and helpful person. He said that there are rogue companies that confiscate phone numbers. Our phone number was confiscated and that is why everything was shutting down.

The rogue co. cancelled our service with the intention of our buying their service.

The young man contacted this rogue company, told them we wanted to keep the service we had and put my husband on the line to confirm he wanted to keep the original service. He told my husband it would take an hour or so to reconnect us. He also told us there might be a reconnection charge on our statement, but call and it would be taken care of by accounting.

We were reconnected and sure enough we got a bill around $500. He called, they took care of the charge. Infuriating that unscrupulous people cause so much trouble for the provider and for us.