<p>For the last several months we have been getting phone calls asking for someone we have never heard of. It is on and off; several calls one day, a call or two another time. Nothing for a few weeks, then a couple the same day.</p>
<p>We assume it is a creditor looking for someone. We have responded with many approaches, beginning with, “No one of that name lives here” to an expletive laced tirade from me. Which ended up with the guy asking me why I was yelling at him. Maybe because he was disturbing in my own home.</p>
<p>The calls stop for a few days and then start again. My response depends on my mood. I tried *69ing them with no result. We don’t have caller id on our land line and I assume the number would be blocked anyway.</p>
<p>Try to call the phone company for help. Before we got caller i.d., we had problems and I think they were able to identify and block certain numbers. I don’t remember the details because it was several years ago but I know that there was an easy solution.</p>
<p>We had that problem once a while ago,though fortunately we didnt get anywhere near the # of calls you got. What I did, when it got ridiculous, was to be very nice and helpful- I told them that obviously someone had given them my number-- and was there a way I could help-- I got them to tell me who they were (they were Ford motor credit, and we only own foreign cars and never finance cars)- they gave me the name of the person they were looking for and I looked them up in the local phonebook- I dont remember if they were willing to give me an address ( I think they did, but I am not 100% sure), but they did look in their file and were able to find some other piece of information (I forget what it was- maybe an employer) because I looked up some truck repair place and saw that the phone # was similar to mine, with some digits reversed. I forget exactly what they were willing to disclose to me, but I do recall that they appreciated my helping and getting them some other phone #s to call, and they noted in their file/database that they had a wrong number and the calls to me stopped. Also, I believe if you tell a collection agency that they are never to call you again and you site the Fair debt collections act, they have to stop calling you (look up clarkhoward.com for the specifics about this). Good luck-- I know how annoying it is!</p>
<p>We had a similar situation a number of years ago…we called the phone company numerous times. Finally they agreed to give us a “temporary” phone number change. We had a completely different phone number for three months. We were told to give it only to those who REALLY needed it. After the three months, we got our original number back. By that time, the offending caller had “moved on” (the message folks got during the three months was that the number had been changed to an unpublished number). Ask the phone company what they can do for you.</p>
<p>The phone number we got 2 years ago when we returned from Germany had apparently been the number of someone with bad credit. We do have caller ID, etc. The phone calls have continued off and on, and go in spurts. It makes me think the people are still using the number on applications and such. The last spurt was about a week ago. I said the XYZ family has not had this phone number for over two years. Since I used the family’s name, the caller immediately assumed I knew them, and I just explained that we got frequent calls from them. After I hung up, I realized I should have gotten specific info from them about who they were, and then asked them not to call again. I think I will start keeping a list of folks who call and see if there is a pattern. There might be months that we don’t get calls, then will get one a day for a week. It’s the Saturday 8 a.m. calls that bug me the most.</p>
<p>If we have a problem with the phone, then we just let the answering machine take most calls. If it is not a call that I’m interested in, then I just ask them to add us to their do not call list.</p>
<p>binx-
I doubt the person who used to have your # still gives it out. There are a lot of sales/marketing lists with old #s on them that still get used. Also, If the person who had your # had a lot of bad debt, there are probably collection agencies that go back over this uncollected debt to try to flush out $$. Also, outstanding debt gets sold to other companies and the calls start up again. Many times they are just trying to get you to tell them how to get in touch with this person (even though you’ve told them you dont know). They figure you are covering for the deadbeat, and if they bug you enough you’ll give them a contact #. Why dont you look up the phone # for dial-a-prayer and tell the collectors that that is the persons number!?!?!!</p>
<p>I know this seems very juvenile, but since I have been provoked, this is where I am heading. I have put our # on every possible federal do not call list, and yet we continue to get calls from chimney cleaning companies. For years I tried to say that we were on the do not call list, and the offender would just hang up on me rather than acknowledge what I was saying. I have tried to play along and ask questions about the company in an attempt to find out where they are located so that they can be reported and fined. After I ask one too many questions, the offender hangs up. I have looked this up on the web and found that this annoyance with chimney cleaners is country wide. The calls almost always disturb our dinner. I am going to purchase an air horn and use it. Perhaps then the caller will make a notation by our phone number that we are never to be called again. :)</p>
<p>That’s strange…never heard of the persisting sweeps!!!</p>
<p>A bit off-topic (the air horn reminded me)…we had several dealings with a service-providing business after our move 4 yrs ago. It was a nation-wide company and we’d brought some of their equipment with us from PA, so it would have been significantly costly to go elsewhere for service.</p>
<p>After several frustrating episodes with this company, I had an incident where the technician who came to our house was EXTREMELY condescending – he suggested that a proposed solution we’d come up with was dumber than a box of rocks, and proceeded to tell me why it couldn’t be done. I was so frustrated, I called the company, insisted that I talk to the manager, and completely-totally-lost it. I told him that I wanted the guy off my property, and insisted that they send someone who had a clue…and I didn’t intend to wait another 4 days to be put back into the “queue”. Every interaction with the company since has been quite professional and good (and they’ve sent the same technician, who has been great to work with). I’m totally convinced that I have flashing hot pink highlights when my account is brought up on their computer with a big <em>psycho B</em>*** from H***" warning sign!!! If I ever need to bring out this well-hidden skill to use on telemarketers, I say, “bring 'em on!!!”</p>
<p>momof3sons- if you are on the do not call lists, you can report the violators through the sign up sites. You at least need the offending caller’s phone number, or a company name.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, even with caller id, many of theses numbers show as “no data”, and I don’t know any way around it. I normally let our answering machine screen calls, but depending on my mood, I will pick up, and a least get a company name, do I have enough info to file a complaint.</p>
<p>I’ll then end the call with a “Thanks, I’m now reporting you to the federal do not call list”. The threat is usually enough to stop future calls from the offending telemarketer.</p>
<p>My biggest peeve is unsolicited calls calls or texts on our cell phones. The landline calls are annoying, whereas calls to the cell cost the user money.</p>
<p>The cell calls are an issue for us, too. We have a family plan. One of us will get a spam text, then a few minutes later the next phone gets it, then the next. We pay 20 cents per text, so it adds up. I’ve tried to report them, but the info that comes through is limited. Usually some web address.</p>
<p>I wish cell phones had a button that would automatically block certain numbers or types of numbers (like NO number.)</p>
<p>binx, out of curiosity are your family plan numbers sequential? Two of ours are, one is out of sequence by a couple of digits, and one is “way off”.</p>
<p>I’m surprised there is no technology that allows you to block specific numbers, or area codes as incoming. I actually called our provider last week to find out why “I” had to pay for unsolicted marketing. </p>
<p>Bad enough to have to sort through the junk mail, but mail service costs the marketer, not the recipient.</p>
<p>Landline incoming (with the exception of a few very specific plans) is more more of an annoyance then an actual expense.</p>
<p>If you have to pay for cell minutes/text useage thet’s unwanted, I classify it as “theft of service”, which any any cable or fee based service provider is very quick to prosecute.</p>
<p>You can call your cell phone company and get certain numbers blocked. </p>
<p>It seems some gamer has a cell phone number very similar to mine. I got a gazillion text messages. Cell phone provider has now blocked any text message with certain words, e.g., halo. I guess it’s conceivable I’ll miss an important message some day, but having my phone go off every 15 minutes all through the night with a text message to play some game wasn’t fun either.</p>
<p>violadad,
More times than I care to count, I have told the caller that I am on the federal do not call list. They slam the phone down on me. I have tried sounding like I am really sincere and wanting to know more info such as where the company is located, etc. They hang up. They are on to this. I do not have caller ID and I doubt that it would be of much use with these folks. It’s air horn time for me. Someone is going to get the message. Loud and clear. :)</p>
<p>Our cell numbers aren’t sequential, but all the numbers are the same except the last two digits. So yes, I’m sure they are being computer dialed.</p>
<p>I’ll have to look into blocking certain words - see if they can do that. Sometimes I suspect the cell company of doing it!</p>
