topic Re: Answer to Robocalls? in Community Chat

Answer to Robocalls?

Marp — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:03:42 GMT

Good idea let's do it or a resounding no?

Americans are being bombarded with robocalls. It’s an epidemic, and it’s getting worse. By a recent estimate, 71 million of these scam calls are being placed per hour, often completely illegally.

The problem is that it’s almost impossible to get rid of them. Scammers can easily set up software to robocall people, often with spoofed caller ID so that people mistake the malicious calls for a friend or neighbor. The companies behind these calls can change names, legal classifications, and set up shop wherever they can to confuse law enforcement.

But Roger Meiners, a professor of law and economics at the University of Texas at Arlington, has a brilliant proposal for how to defeat robocallers once and for all: just levy a 1-cent tax on every outgoing phone call.

In the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Meiners explained how it would work:

Most taxes aren’t popular, but this one will be. Call it the Penny for Sanity Tax: a 1-cent tax on every call made. Fifty billion robocalls would cost $500 million—a powerful incentive to stop.

Because the tax would apply to all calls, it would avoid litigation about what can be legally disfavored. It would be impossible to evade by sneaking around classifications of calls. And it would not necessitate hiring more bureaucrats to enforce a complicated rule.

You and I would pay the tax too, on our legitimate phone calls. But we don’t make many calls, so the tax would be a pittance, hardly noticed among the many charges that appear on our monthly bills. Even a chatterbox who makes 50 calls a day would pay a mere $15 a month. And if a penny a call isn’t enough to stop robocalls, make it a nickel.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Carmie — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 21:59:44 GMT

I wonder who would pay the bill if the robo caller hacked into someone else phone number. And, what about the calls that originate over seas? How would anyone get them to pay? I can't see how this would work. Some of these callers are pretty good at hiding their locations. You can't call them back, but they can call you.

For the past couple of months, I have been getting at least 10 calls a day from Affordable Healthcare. They start every morning at 8:15 A.M. and some come after 9 pm. have a call blocker on my phone, but it only blocks 250 numbers and it is full.

Last week my 14 year old granddaughter was interested in the call blocker. She counted fifty different phone numbers all from Affordable Health Care since February. She stopped counting after that, but there are more numbers blocked from previous months.

I have listened to their recording and pushed #7 to talk to a rep..

they hang up on me when I ask them to stop calling. I have even used a whistle and blew it in their ears when they answer...yes, I am frustrated. I have also reported them to the Attorney General's office.

I would pay $$ to stop their calls.

Here is a screenprint of calls from this company. I have blocked hundreds on their numbers. Everytime they call, they use a different one. Every call on this short list is from a different phone number.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Peaches McPhee — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:24:08 GMT

First thought: It would be a pittance for individuals, but quite a bit for legit organizations. My little nonprofit, for example; it would cripple us.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

IamMrsG — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:36:06 GMT

I get quite a lot of calls identified as coming from myself. In fact, an elderly lady called here the other night and left a message asking why I keep calling her.

So, in addition to being hounded with unwanted robo calls, would I also have the indignity of being charged for the calls?

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Daysdee — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:40:40 GMT

I have the call blocker and use it a lot. Any caller that hangs up on my answering machine gets blocked. I do notice that some just call back using another number. It has cut way down on unwanted calls though.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Cakers3 — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:40:45 GMT

We already pay tax for using our cell phones. (No landline).

I vote "no". There has to be a better way to control this without making people pay.

A penny is a penny and then you have to track all calls and make sure there is no error on the bill?? Too much.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Puppy Lips — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:44:22 GMT

@Cakers3 wrote:
We already pay tax for using our cell phones. (No landline).

I vote "no". There has to be a better way to control this without making people pay.

A penny is a penny and then you have to track all calls and make sure there is no error on the bill?? Too much.

Agreed. I am against adding any new taxes. Once they are added, you can't get rid of them, and they only go up and up.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Marp — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:04:23 GMT

@Peaches McPhee wrote:
First thought: It would be a pittance for individuals, but quite a bit for legit organizations. My little nonprofit, for example; it would cripple us.

@Peaches McPhee, I have to ask how many calls a day does your "little nonprofit" make a day? Using the example pf 50 calls a day times an average of 20 working days a month would be 1,000 calls a month for about $10.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Still Raining — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:10:34 GMT

Nope, not at all in favor a fee/tax.

I solved this by filling all the numbers I know or need in the phone’s address book and then setting Do Not Disturb to only those numbers. If someone else cares enough they will leave a voice message. I already blocked one call this morning and I was not disturbed.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Peaches McPhee — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:31:04 GMT

@Marp wrote:
@Peaches McPhee wrote:
First thought: It would be a pittance for individuals, but quite a bit for legit organizations. My little nonprofit, for example; it would cripple us.
@Peaches McPhee, I have to ask how many calls a day does your "little nonprofit" make a day? Using the example pf 50 calls a day times an average of 20 working days a month would be 1,000 calls a month for about $10.

Interesting question, @Marp. I'm gonna say alot more than 50 (maybe we aren't so little after all). We have 450 employees, say each make 10 a day. That's $900 a month, $19,800 a year.

I guess you are right. It would not cripple us at all, really.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Marp — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:36:28 GMT

@Peaches McPhee wrote:
@Marp wrote:
@Peaches McPhee wrote:
First thought: It would be a pittance for individuals, but quite a bit for legit organizations. My little nonprofit, for example; it would cripple us.
@Peaches McPhee, I have to ask how many calls a day does your "little nonprofit" make a day? Using the example pf 50 calls a day times an average of 20 working days a month would be 1,000 calls a month for about $10.
Interesting question, @Marp. I'm gonna say alot more than 50 (maybe we aren't so little after all). We have 450 employees, say each make 10 a day. That's $900 a month, $19,800 a year.

I guess you are right. It would not cripple us at all, really.

LOL @Peaches McPhee , I would not call any organization with 450 employees "little". BTW, there is a typo in your post, the figure would the $10,800 a year.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

corita — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 21:23:58 GMT

I bought a new phone at the end of Nov. last year. This item has a 'call block' feature!! I was getting many, many calls a day. I find these calls so intrusive and irritating! Since using the new phone, l have blocked over 140 numbers. These are numbers that called me. I am so pleased and happy!!

My message on the phone is "leave a message, if you don't, your call is not important and your number will be blocked". None of the 140 numbers left a message!! Loving the peace and quiet!! Anyone who knows me or really needs to communicate with me will leave a message!!!

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

lovesrecess — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 21:40:55 GMT

We are the victims of these annoying calls....the robocall companies should be paying and paying big...but we should not be paying anything because of them....doubtful they could ever collect a dime since most of these companies are based overseas and are already skirting the law. The tax sounds like a good idea but in reality it probably couldn’t actually work.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

JustJazzmom — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:03:42 GMT

The FCC has recently shutdown 4 robocall centers & I can’t find the article about it.

But did find this article — so this technology is coming from various phone service providers.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/verizon-is-set-to-release-technology-to-stop-robocalls/

And to answer Marp’s question — not one single penny to them to stop robocalls to my house. Why should I pay to avoid calls? This should fall on phone service providers to stop these calls from going through.

I especially dislike neighborhood spoof calls.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

JustJazzmom — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:06:07 GMT

@Carmie , I’ve read that pressing any number to get the caller to stop calling you just tells the caller ‘we got a live one’. This is why you keep receiving their calls.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

pitdakota — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:29:54 GMT

I saw just a blip on Shark Tank a couple of weeks ago with 2 guys that had come up with some type of a software system consumers can purchase that when the incoming call rings, it activates a voice recording with a voice that states they are having trouble hearing the caller, can you repeat that again a time or two. I think there was also a point where the voice asks them to hang on and there is a barking dog or something, then comes back and says okay, now what were you saying? Evidently the system they have can recognize the robocalls and the system was supposedly updated to add new numbers several times a day.

The actual recording they played was really funny and all of the sharks that night were really laughing. I had to leave though so I don't know whether the guys were successful in having their venture picked up by one of the sharks or not. But couldn't help thinking......I would love that type of a robocall spoofer system! LOL

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Robertak — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:37:53 GMT

It's horrible. I never answer house phone anymore. House phone set to maximum rings before voicemail picks up to tie up their caller. Have anonymous call reject activated. And have the ringer turned off. Check the voicemail a couple times a day. So far my cell isn't getting many calls but if it starts will set up only contact list calls ring. Its so annoying almost feels like harrassment.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

lovesrecess — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:52:04 GMT

Voicemail is pretty much obsolete now....few people like getting them as they are annoying and texting is so much faster and easier. I block every call that comes on my cellphone if I don’t recognize the number. I hit answer, end, and then block. The next call will be from the same number with the last digit changed, for some reason the calls are not nearly as often for the past week...maybe one of the robocall centers that was shut down was sending calls to my area. Cut the landlines...you will get fewer robo calls on your cell

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Carmie — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 02:05:17 GMT

@JustJazzmom wrote:
@Carmie , I’ve read that pressing any number to get the caller to stop calling you just tells the caller ‘we got a live one’. This is why you keep receiving their calls.

I have received hundreds of calls from this company...with at least 50 different phone numbers. These calls have been coming for about a year and a half. It has only been a few times this past week that I have been answering, I block the calls when I am here immediately, but when I am not here, the answering machine picks up and I block them later.

The call log I posted are from my answering machine. I have only tried to press a number a few times this past week. I am at my wits end.

No matter if I answer and speak to a rep, block the call or press to be removed nothing has changed. I am willing to do anything to get these calls to stop.

I am thinking about buying that red button that QVC sells to block phone numbers...my phone blocker only holds 250 numbers and it is full.

The calls are all a recording, never a live person unless you press a number to speak to a person. The number you push is different on each call.

The calls appear to be selling Obama care, not Medicare supplements or Advantage Plans.

Re: Answer to Robocalls?

Bridgegal — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 02:07:49 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
Nope, not at all in favor a fee/tax.

I solved this by filling all the numbers I know or need in the phone’s address book and then setting Do Not Disturb to only those numbers. If someone else cares enough they will leave a voice message. I already blocked one call this morning and I was not disturbed.

Thank you. I just set up DND on my iPhone. It lets anyone on my contact list through all others go to voice mail. I hope it works. I don't answer my phone unless I know who is calling but just the annoyance of it all is bad.