Q Talk

[KathyPet]

I have always been hesitant to disconnect from my land line because the service inside my house is on my cell phone is not great.  I usually have to go out to my screened porch to get a clear connection on my cell which is not great in the winter.

However I am getting more and more irate at the constant barrage of telemarketing calls I receive.  IMwould say 90% of my incoming calls are from places where I know not a single soul or from unknown caller.  I do not answer and they never leave a message of course.  I do add them to my blocked call list but they keep on coming and it is irritating at the very least.  THe thing that is really eating at me is that I pay Verizon a fee for my home phone every month so that these annoying calls can come through.  I feel,strongly that the service providers for landlines could and should do a lot more to prevent these calls from coming through.  THe FTC has passed or is considering regulations to allow the phone companies to block these sort of robo dialing marketing calls and I am sure the phone companies have the technology to do that.  I am just tired of paying for a service which is more irritating then of any real benefit to me.

[BirkiLady]

Are you on the National Do Not Call list?  If not, sign up and when you receive these annoying calls, turn them into the DNC list! It takes time, but you'll find after a while they do become much less frequent. The number is: 1-888-382-1222 - follow the prompts to sign up. When reporting an annoying caller, be sure to follow the prompts EXACTLY. There is not a do-over!  You may be able to contact your Attorney General for more information.

[Daysdee]

I would not get rid of my landline just because of those bothersome calls, which I get too even though I am on the "do not call" list.  As a senior, I feel safer with a landline.  I seldom use my cell phone and am not too comfortable with it being my only way to make a call.   I do have a security system I could use for emergency help.   I have been blocking the unwanted calls--hope it is working.  I seldom answer anymore unless I recognize the calling number.

[Pearlee]

I am on our state's and the national Do Not Call list (which you have to renew periodically and I do) and I still get tons of unwanted calls, just like @KathyPet  does.

[KathyPet]

I have been on the Do Not Call list since it was first available.  THe,problem is that only law abiding marketing companies use the registry to ensure that people who,do not want to be called are not called.  The telemarketing scam artists are not at all concerned about breaking the law by not using the registry.  in addition there are so many loopholes in that law about who you can get calls from that it is a joke.  I have seen no reduction in marketing calls and in fact the calls have steadily increased in numbers over the last two years or so.

[mistyada]

Your state may have a Do Not Call List too. I always report these calls to the state Attorney General.

I dumped my land line more than 5 years ago. I have not had any problems. Plus my cell phone costs less than a basic ATT landline. 

[alicedee]

Because your cell phone doesn't work well at home it's probably best to keep the land line.  Maybe keep your land line phone  off the hook during the day and tell those  who call you to use your cell number.  Then you can call them back on your land line?

i got rid of my land line and don't miss it at all, but my cell phone connection is good.  

[Ibby114]

I only have a land line still becasue my cable package was more affordable that way! But I never use it- if fact I never even set it up.  I probably should, though - just in case there's a need...

[Momof3rescuetzus]

We shut off our ringer. My friend keeps her home phone in a drawer, and plugs it in when needed. I never knew she did this. I have seen her use it once. 

[ValuSkr]

If annoying calls are the only reason to ditch your landline, have you looked into Nomorobo?  It's a free service; go to their website to learn how it works and whether your phone company offers it.  I've had it almost a year and it works like a charm.  Believe it or not, the phone rings so seldom now, I'm sometimes lonely.  

I also have Verizon; but I have FIOS, that probably makes a difference.

The Do Not Call List - National or not - doesn't work.  It's a waste of time.