Soliciting calls on home phone.

kregli wrote:
Not much hope. The do not call list doesn't apply to non-profits. Most of these other guys see little enforcement and trivial penalties, so they ignore the list. Reputable companies try to follow the rules, but there are lots of others.

the DNC list used to work but not anymore. caller ID is the best answer...when you see a 'ID Blocked' or a toll-free number just don't answer. like with an e-mail spam filter you will miss the rare call (my HVAC vendor and bro-in-law both block their numbers. I understand my bro-in-law but not my HVAC vendor???) but it's totally worth it (especially if it's my BIL ;))

many moons ago there was a nifty device that acted like an e-mail white list in that it only allowed callers to get thru who had a 4 digit code. Company X would call your number and this machine would answer, greet them and ask for their authorization code. if the code was incorrectly entered after X number of tries the call was disconnected or sent to voice mail. if the caller entered the correct code then and only them would the phone ring. I wish that device was available today.

Telezapper

Call ID and answering machine works for us. If it does not come with a name or number we recognize, the answering machine gets it. If someone really wants us they can leave a message. Or if we recognize the voice as they leave a message we will pick up the phone. Junk messages are quickly deleted.

We ditched our land line because those calls were driving us nuts. Just use our cell phones now. Those bogus callers may find us one day but at least we're not losing our minds hearing the house phone ring all the time.

Check out Nomorobo.com, It is free and works 99% of the time. Very few calls get past and those that do, I ask for the solar rep to come see me immediately so I can waste their time like they are doing to me! They must not like my joke...

Dump the phone company-supplied voice mail and get an old fashioned answering machine. Robocalls will hang up and/or take the number off the list if they encounter the good ol' tabletop machine.

This has worked for us very well- we get very few such calls and we've never even bothered with those fabled "do not call" lists.

I look at my Panasonic cordless screen before answering. If the number is 'unknown', I let the answering machine take over. If the call is from a solicitor , I hang up then block the number. The Pana can block calls without having to pay for an extra provided by the phone providers. The only dumb thing is Pana names the menu option 'save'.

There is a problem with the DO NOT CALL list, it worked for a bit but the 3rd class callers (My name for 'em) quickly figured out the flaw in the law.

There is no agency that enforces it. Oh the FCC will keep a log of complaints, but there is no agency charged with ENFORCING the law.. When it gets bad enough the FCC may act...

But Title 47 Section 227 of the US code (Look it up) states that YOU THE OFFENDED must take enforcement action by filing a suit against the caller... So they lie about who they are and where they area, they make it hard as possible to serve.. Still.. I will be filing against one in the very near future.

We need to lobby our congress critters to add some genuine TEETH to that law.. Allow the government to act on behalf of the offended and fine the company 500 or better yet 5000 per illegal phone call,, Times thousands of calls a day.. Could do two things.

1: Bankrupt the 3rd class calling business (This would be a very good thing)
2: Dent the national debt (Also a good thing)

We use cell phones almost 100% of the time here. Our landline phone has the ringer disconnected and we only answer the phone when someone we know calls out to us over the answer machine.

Have no idea any of the other calls even come in...

Being doing this for the past five years now...

Keeping the landline phone ensures that we probably won't be tracked down on cell phones...

ALways have a PLAN B hehe...

Roy Ken

Not much hope. The do not call list doesn't apply to non-profits. Most of these other guys see little enforcement and trivial penalties, so they ignore the list. Reputable companies try to follow the rules, but there are lots of others.