Electronics

[Nightowlz]

On 8/27/2014 Mz iMac said:

I solved that problem by turning the ringer off my answering machine landline phone & doing the following...

My answering machine message is this: I SCREEN all calls. Leave a message if you want me to call you back.

I can't remember the last time I received a robo call. I am also on the "Do Not Call List."

Needless to say, all my fam & friends know that if they do not leave a message, as far as I am concerned, they never called!

LOL!!! I do the same thing. We screen all calls with the answering machine. We never answer the phone. All friends & family know they have to speak up if they want us to answer the phone. We can see the number on caller id or on the TV screen if we are watching it so we know if it's someone we want to talk to or not. I turn the ringer down when we go to bed so we don't get woke up. We get these scam calls on a daily basis. You would think they would give up since they always get the machine. We are on the Do Not Call List but what a joke that is.

[jackthebear]

1. get caller ID and USE it, do not answer a call unless you know who is calling. Anyone legitimate will leave you a message.

2. get an answering machine and use that.

3. get a phone that lets you block a junk call, (Panasonic) as somebody posted up thread eventually you may fill that up, but you can easily delete a #

Don't give out your phone number when asked at checkouts, you can say unlisted, I prefer not to or I don't have a phone or even make one up

I follow the above and get few calls, I also try to keep my junk mail down as well.

[sarpy]

When we get a call from anyone, our cable co. prints the caller's name and the number on our TV set. Do not even have to get up to see who it is. Makes it very easy on us old seniors. The Do Not Call list is a joke.

[dooBdoo]

(As I posted on another thread.) The advice from the security officers at the hospitals I work with:

If you don't recognize the Caller ID or if it's from a company that doesn't make "cold calls" (regarding the longstanding computer support scam, that would be Microsoft, Apple, etc.):

Rule 1: Do not answer, and definitely don't call back.

Rule 2: Do not answer, and definitely don't call back.

Rule 3: Do not answer, and definitely don't call back.

These calls have nothing to do with the Do Not Call Registry. Their automated system scrolls through random numbers hoping someone will pick up. If you answer, your number will be marked as an active number and the likelihood of more calls goes up.

If you'd like to take steps to stop these calls from getting through, take a look at Nomorobo.

It's safe, it's free, and it blocks many unwanted calls. You can go to the website, plug in your info where it says "Get Started Now," and see if you can sign up.

It's not available everywhere yet, but if it's not offered in your area or by your provider you'll see a number to call and ask them to add the service.

The more people who ask for it, the more widely it will be available.

(To learn even more about the company, watch the video on their home page and also scroll down the home page of the site and click on the many articles about this service.)

Link goes to: https://www.nomorobo.com/

[madcity411]

On 8/27/2014 dgluvr said:

The thing is- a landline is still more reliable in a real catastrophe in the world we live in now- a cell phone is not going to get through when all the towers are flooded with calls. Unfortunately the landline is expensive to keep- and the phone companies don't like them because of the upkeep. They made it too expensive for seniors to afford them ( like $50 for just LOCAL calls!) Disgusting.

You are so right! Just wait until a major incident happens, and it will. History has a bad habit of repeating.

[Havarti]

I have a call blocker that has helped me and it runs about $40 - the best $40 I have spent in years!. Here is the latest version of the one I have: http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Call-telemarketer-programming-accidental/dp/B00E914II6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electr...

I programmed mine to stop all incoming calls from toll free area codes such as 800, 822, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888, 889. Then when I receive a call from a regular area code I do not answer unless I know who it is.

If I don’t recognize the number I Google it and look to see if anyone as reported information on that phone number being a telemarketer – or not. If I find that the number is from a telemarketing business, I simply press a button the call blocker box and it adds that number to the blocked calls. When they call, it disconnects them. I will tell you that the phone has to ring once for the call-blocker to check it, so I have learned not to answer any call on the first ring. If it is a blocked number, the call blocker will disconnect the call before it can ring a second time.

The thing I have had a hard time with is UNblocking a call that I accidentally indicated should be blocked. I have had mine for over a year and have not been able to figure out how to unblock an important number. It blocks up to 1,500 unwanted phone calls. It works with land lines, VoIP, and DSL services. If you have some other type of phone service you should check with the company before purchasing it. I have to say this handy machine has helped ease some of my frustration with the ever increasing number of companies that ignore the Do Not Call list.

[curlywhitedog]

On 8/27/2014 Domestic Goddess said: The Federal "Do not Call" number is 1-888-832-1222 Registering with this number will permenently restrict telmarketers from calling your home. You can also file a complaint with them if a company continues to call your home (after you ask them not too) by calling this number. Hope this helps!

The Federal Do Not Call list is a joke, telemarketers have no respect for the list and mock it's existence multiple times throughout the day. The only exemptions to this list were supposed to be legitimate survey takers, political calls and/or anyone you've done prior business with but day after day after day I got calls for rug cleaning, window replacement, kitchen/bath renovations, credit card lowering rates, real estate solicitations, free cruises, etc. We get calls from people claiming to be soliciting for the local police/fire dept., cancer research, domestic violence...all of them good causes, none of them the real deal, and all of this **gasp** despite being on the Federal Do Not Call List, both home phone and cells. Filing a complaint against these phone scammers is useless, by the time enough people have reported them and they open up an investigation (if in fact that ever do) the scammers are out of one business and on to the next. They're as slippery as eels. If I sound angry it's because I am, I'm angry that my cable service only allows me to block 30 numbers and that I had to spend money to eliminate the daily harassment and interruptions to my day.

Adding to the real problem is the fact that most scammers know how to route their numbers through different channels to disguise the actual number they're calling from. The piece de resistance was looking at my caller ID one day and finding that the number I was getting the call from was my own and there's not a darn thing I can do about that. How am I supposed to report or block that telemarketer?

It's an absolute disgrace that this law has no teeth in it and that people have to deal with these pieces of garbage day in and day out but for every law that's passed there's always someone who thinks it doesn't apply to them.

I wasn't thrilled with having to spend the $80 I spent to buy the call blocker but I was willing to do whatever I had to do for peace to reign supreme once again in the curlywhitedog household.

I plugged in my call blocker and I swear to God, I heard the angels sing.

Maria

[curlywhitedog]

Havarti:

Following your link I was able to get to the question and answer forum on Amazon for your device. Here ya go:

To reverse blocking of a number: 1. Press "BLACKLIST." 2. Scroll the blacklisted numbers with the arrow keys until the number you want unblocked appears on the screen. 3. Press "REMOVE" then "SET." That's it! Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks again! Have a great day, Matt Thompson ProCallBlock

Maria

[docsgirl]

I agree that the Do Not Call Registry is beyond a joke. I signed up several months ago and have been getting several very strange calls several times a day. They are from unknown area codes and strange numbers. If I don't recognize who is calling, I don't answer. My machine picks up and they never leave a message. I don't understand how a person can sign up on the Do Not Call Registry and get more junk calls than ever before. I often wonder what would happen if I answered the phone. Would they somehow be able to get more information about me? Best not to answer. docsgirl

[Mz iMac]

On 8/28/2014 curlywhitedog said:

I plugged in my call blocker and I swear to God, I heard the angels sing.

Maria