topic Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls in Community Chat

How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

Marp — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:10:54 GMT

My landline phone is a Panasonic model Kx-TGF353 (one corded and three handheld phones). One of my favorite features is the way "silent mode" works.

I have mine set for 24 hours of silence so the phone does not ring at all UNLESS the caller is listed in at least one of the groups I have allowed to ring through.

For example, among my groups I have a family group, urgent group and business group. I have allowed the numbers in all of those groups to ring through even when in "silent mode" so when the phone rings I know it is a caller I recognize. You can easily change the setting to allow or disallow a group to ring through at any time. Also, different ringtones can be assigned to each group so you can readily distinguish who may be calling.

Another great feature of this model is "call block". Callers can be blocked when the phone is ringing or from the caller ID list. This phone has a setting that will allow a single ring when a call from a blocked number comes in OR you have the option of setting it so it does not ring at all.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

GCR18 — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:19:52 GMT

That sounds great. I have a Panasonic with just the call blocking. It does a good job until I've reached the limit of numbers blocked. Thanks for the tip.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

Marp — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:33:14 GMT

@GCR18 wrote:
That sounds great. I have a Panasonic with just the call blocking. It does a good job until I've reached the limit of numbers blocked. Thanks for the tip.

That is how I ended up with this particular model. It blocks 250 numbers compared to the 30 something my older Panasonic model blocked.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

Sunshine Kate — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:37:46 GMT

I have a Vtech and it does the same thing. I don't use the feature though. I have a nonpublished phone number and it's rare I get an unsolicited phone call.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

LIndaMJ — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:47:07 GMT

We bought the Panasonic KX-TGF 344 system last month. Best $100.00 we ever spent!

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

ID2 — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:59:36 GMT

How I stopped unwanted phone calls=Dumped my landline phone and use my cell phone for everything. Best thing I EVER did. Everyone else gets unwanted calls but me. I haven't received an unwanted phone call for the 5 years. Happy dance!

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

cotton4me — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 15:44:08 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
How I stopped unwanted phone calls=Dumped my landline phone and use my cell phone for everything. Best thing I EVER did. Everyone else gets unwanted calls but me. I haven't received an unwanted phone call for the 5 years. Happy dance!

____________

@ID2

You're lucky because we get them on our cell phones too. These criminals run numbers to see what works so it can be a cell or landline. I had a weird experience when I bought my new car. The dealer was adding my cell phone number to the car and an unknown caller came through. It made me think people are sitting nearby trying to pick up signals. It was very strange. I don't think there's really any escape from these people.

@Marp - it's sounds like you got a great phone. I bought a Digitone call blocker several months ago that works the same way but it's not part of the phone. Mine also blocks 250 numbers but I'm concerned that's not enough. I hope newer models will add more. I've had mine 5 months and I've already blocked 70 numbers. Ahh, the sound of silence.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

almc2708 — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 15:37:17 GMT

Thank you for the VALUEABLE information. I am considering buying the Panasonic like yours. The unwanted phone calls are such a nuisance.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

KingstonsMom — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 17:57:00 GMT

I stopped all of my unwanted calls by purchasing the Callblocker by Digitone.

It has many ways to stop unwanted calls (by area codes, etc.) and stores up to 2,000 phone #'s.

Best $100 I've ever spent and at first it took me a while to adjust to how little my phone rings, but at least when it rings now, I know it's a call I want!

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

raven-blackbird — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:30:40 GMT

Good Afternoon, Bakersfield Police Department, generally works for me.................................raven

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

chickenbutt — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:37:16 GMT

Oh wow, I like the sound of that. My Panasonic system doesn't have that silent mode, AFAIK anyway. I should check. It's several years old, however, so it probably doesn't.

A few weeks ago I just turned mine off because the robocalls started coming between 9 and 10pm. That's WAY beyond the pale, IMO.

I was really disappointed, when I was able to sign up for nomorobo as it still lets the calls through. Sure, it only rings a couple of times but that is enough to be problematic.

I'd be totally willing to get a newer system where I can use the silent mode so that ONLY calls from the list of numbers i have on the phone will get through at all.

For me, it's only worth the blocking if the phone doesn't ring AT ALL and the calls are stopped before they get through. I also have the blocking capability on the phones but it's the old '30 number limit' deal. Every now and then I have to empty it out of the older ones. That's not very productive.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:37:26 GMT

I've had the same land line phone number for 38 years. I have some of those features on my phone but those robo callers are pretty smart they use different numbers.

Sometimes it even says "private caller". I have complained to my Congressman and he says, "I'm on it". Sure he is.

My phone announces who's calling on the first ring. They're pretty smart because you can't say, "Don't call again" because it's a recording.

It has gotten a lot better since Christmas.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

chickenbutt — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:40:09 GMT

Bummer - it looks like you have to have the corded main set with the answering machine.

Oh well. If they come up with an all cordless model, no answering machine, and it does all of those things that would be great!

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

2cockers1cat — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:15:47 GMT

@chickenbutt, Amazon has many cordless versions of that phone, kx-tge273, 274, 275---the final # tells you how many handsets are in the unit. We ordered a re-furnished one last March (slightly different model, the keys aren't as large, so I need my glasses).

Oops's! Just realized you specified no answering machine. Amazon's sellers probably have that covered, too.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

jackthebear — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 01:59:41 GMT

@GCR18 wrote:
That sounds great. I have a Panasonic with just the call blocking. It does a good job until I've reached the limit of numbers blocked. Thanks for the tip.

I have the Panasonic too. Just delete the older numbers I think they are unused now anyway

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 15:02:34 GMT

We use Nomorobo. If it's a robotic call, the phone rings once and then cuts the caller off.

Using just your cell phone isn't going to stop the problem. The more you give out your cell number for everything, the more you up your chances of ending up with these annoying calls. I am also getting them on my cell phone.

My DH and I just called to drop our home phone the other day. Because we have our phone, internet and cable all bundled together, the price actually went UP if we dropped our phone.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

newziesuzie — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 15:34:54 GMT

@raven-blackbird wrote:
Good Afternoon, Bakersfield Police Department, generally works for me.................................raven

Lol!

Unfortunately that only makes it worse

because if we answer they mark the number as

a good number and make more calls to it

from other scam artists

and they're not afraid of our police or

authorities since most of the scam artists

are in other countries.

☹️

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

Tuffcookie — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 15:39:41 GMT

Mape, I have the Panasonic 380 model. I got it because it had the capacity to block 250 calls. I absolutely love it! It is nice to out-smart the telemarketers who don't care that you are on the "Do not call" list.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

Juniebugz — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 05:03:56 GMT

@SydneyH

This thread may be of help.

Re: How I Stopped Unwanted Phone Calls

qualitygal — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:26:11 GMT

Any calls we get shows on our t.v. screens as long as we aren't watching a movie (DVD) or on NetFlix, yet our phone still shows who is calling. But if someone really misses our answering, they can leavve a message. We don't get a lot anyway.