I'm so sick of scammy calls and charity calls..

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

My phone rang 20 times today. One showed up as being a survey, but then left a message saying it's urgent I call them so I can lower my credit card rates (sure....). Sneaky. Then some religious organization called 6 times in a row. Each call spread out about 10 minutes.

Seriously I think I need to take my phone off the hook.

No real way to stop these calls. Scammers don't care. Charities keep calling even if you tell them not to.

I used to answer all these calls and ask them kindly to please take me off their lists. They never do that.

PinkyandtheBrains. · May 13, 2016

I like the "charities" who still ask me for money after I've said we have no income at this time and are losing our house.

"Well even $20 will help..."

Damn, if I had $20 I could get my kids new clothes at the thrift store, put some gas in my rust bucket, or pay a small bill.

Ugh.

school17777 · May 13, 2016

My home phone is through our internet company. I downloaded a program to screen SP calls. Those calls ring once and then the program hangs up on them. It does let through legitimate calls. If you'd like, I can try to figure out the program. It works and I am happy with it.

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

I like the "charities" who still ask me for money after I've said we have no income at this time and are losing our house.

"Well even $20 will help..."

Damn, if I had $20 I could get my kids new clothes at the thrift store, put some gas in my rust bucket, or pay a small bill.

Ugh.

LOL Yeah. Many years ago when I was a very pov college student I got one of those calls. He said which donation works for you: $150, $100, or $75. I said I'm a college student working odd minimum wage jobs. So then he said, how about $5. LOL No dude..I'm not giving you my last $5. Geesh.

My dad gives these people money. They don't go away after that. No no...they call even more often.

happi duck · May 13, 2016

They seem to have ramped up lately.

I just said to DD yesterday: "we don't talk to anyone why is our phone ringing off the hook?"

Edited May 13, 2016 by happi duck

regentrude · May 13, 2016

Are you on your state's No call list?

We are, and I threaten organizations to report them if they call again. We get very few such calls now.

Edited May 13, 2016 by regentrude

Bluegoat · May 13, 2016

You should act really crazy and maybe they won't call back.

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

My home phone is through our internet company. I downloaded a program to screen SP calls. Those calls ring once and then the program hangs up on them. It does let through legitimate calls. If you'd like, I can try to figure out the program. It works and I am happy with it.

That would be great. We can block numbers, but there is limit of 10 numbers.

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

Are you on your state's No call list?

We are, and I threaten organizations to report them if they call again. We get very few such calls now.

Yes I am. The scammers don't care and they do stuff like spoof numbers. For example, one showed up on the ID as a local hospital. So I answered. It wasn't the hospital at all. We report any of those to the state.

Then charity, political, or survey calls are not subject to the do not call thing.

My husband has gone through some crazy lengths with some of these things. He'll keep someone on the line for an hour acting like he's interested so he can get as much info as possible to report them. And he makes certain charities very sorry they called (pro life ppl and NRA for example). It's very comical to listen to him, but I don't have that kind of patience to do any of that!

Once he told someone to hold on and he put the phone in a drawer. He went back 15 minutes later and that person was still waiting. Comical...

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

You should act really crazy and maybe they won't call back.

My husband does that. It's hysterical.

Doesn't work though.

I need to find some way to block more than the 10 numbers. I think I should be allowed to block any unknown or private caller number. I don't know of any way to do that. I can fathom situations where that is understandable (like a doctor calling you from their home), but generally I don't think people should be allowed to block their number and if they can do that then I should be able to not have to receive their calls.

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

And sometimes he just speaks German into the phone and they hang up. LOL

school17777 · May 13, 2016

That would be great. We can block numbers, but there is limit of 10 numbers.

Here's an article about it: http://www.today.com/money/free-service-proves-it-can-block-unwanted-robocalls-2D11867403

And here is the actual program: http://www.nomorobo.com

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

Awesome thanks!

Um_2_4 · May 13, 2016

Solve all your problems and get google voice as your home phone#. You just need a good internet connection (not satellite or dial up in other words) and a box like this (http://www.amazon.com/OBi200-VoIP-Phone-Adapter-T-38/dp/B00BUV7C9A/ref=pd_sim_229_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41vWOd8lFKL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0SEQW35Z31KBP2SY5BRR) and you use your regular handsets.

No bills unless you call international (and they have cheap rates for that) and you get voicemails in your email inbox or on your android phone. I have had it for 3+ years now and don't pay a dime for home phone service. (except like $15 per year for e911 service so I could call 911 from home phone instead of cell, I thought this is important because I have several littles here and wouldn't want to waste time looking for my cell.)

Set up is easy peasy. I have never had any sales/political/charity calls because our # is not in those directories they use.

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

Solve all your problems and get google voice as your home phone#. You just need a good internet connection (not satellite or dial up in other words) and a box like this (http://www.amazon.com/OBi200-VoIP-Phone-Adapter-T-38/dp/B00BUV7C9A/ref=pd_sim_229_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41vWOd8lFKL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0SEQW35Z31KBP2SY5BRR) and you use your regular handsets.

No bills unless you call international (and they have cheap rates for that) and you get voicemails in your email inbox or on your android phone. I have had it for 3+ years now and don't pay a dime for home phone service. (except like $15 per year for e911 service so I could call 911 from home phone instead of cell, I thought this is important because I have several littles here and wouldn't want to waste time looking for my cell.)

Set up is easy peasy. I have never had any sales/political/charity calls because our # is not in those directories they use.

Downside to that is we lose power. We actually don't have a landline, but it's basically the VoIP stuff except there is an emergency back up provided by the company.

I am intrigued by this though because the rates to Germany are better than what we pay.

Thanks!

Um_2_4 · May 13, 2016

Downside to that is we lose power. We actually don't have a landline, but it's basically the VoIP stuff except there is an emergency back up provided by the company.

I am intrigued by this though because the rates to Germany are better than what we pay.

Thanks!

Well, you could invest in a good UPS backup. We have family overseas where it is standard to lose power for anywhere from 2 hours/day to 8 hours/day so they have major UPS systems in the home to keep internet/computers up as most of them use Whatsapp to talk to family abroad on their wifi (data rates are $$$$). Then you would only lose service if the Internet provider themselves lost power at the hub.

Edited May 13, 2016 by Um_2_4

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

Well, you could invest in a good UPS backup. We have family overseas where it is standard to lose power for anywhere from 2 hours/day to 8 hours/day so they have major UPS systems in the home to keep internet/computers up as most of them use Whatsapp to talk to family abroad on their wifi (data rates are $$$$). Then you would only lose service if the Internet provide themselves lost power at the hub.

Yeah and that would be so expensive I wouldn't save money on going with the Google voice. LOL

We don't lose power very often, but we never know when it will happen.

Although at this point we are heavily considering just going down to Internet and not getting TV and phone and trying these other things that are out there. They are getting so flipping expensive.

vonfirmath · May 13, 2016

My husband does that. It's hysterical.

Doesn't work though.

I need to find some way to block more than the 10 numbers. I think I should be allowed to block any unknown or private caller number. I don't know of any way to do that. I can fathom situations where that is understandable (like a doctor calling you from their home), but generally I don't think people should be allowed to block their number and if they can do that then I should be able to not have to receive their calls.

Some people don't have a choice of whether their number is blocked. When I had a phone at my office at Boeing, it came across as "Blocked' to everyone I called.

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

Some people don't have a choice of whether their number is blocked. When I had a phone at my office at Boeing, it came across as "Blocked' to everyone I called.

I assume that was Boeing's doing.

Except for a few circumstances I really don't think this is fair.

mamiof5 · May 13, 2016

Same here, and we are supposed to be in the no call list. Ugh!!! Maybe I should learn a few words in German :)

SparklyUnicorn · May 13, 2016

Same here, and we are supposed to be in the no call list. Ugh!!! Maybe I should learn a few words in German :)

Don't bother with their swear words though.. Lame...LOL

GailV · May 13, 2016

My husband has gone through some crazy lengths with some of these things. He'll keep someone on the line for an hour acting like he's interested so he can get as much info as possible to report them. And he makes certain charities very sorry they called (pro life ppl and NRA for example). It's very comical to listen to him, but I don't have that kind of patience to do any of that!

Once he told someone to hold on and he put the phone in a drawer. He went back 15 minutes later and that person was still waiting. Comical...

My brother does that sort of thing with people who come door to door. He says the mission teams seem to lose their Christian ideals after awhile.

As for me, I'm still waiting for Jack from The Computer Company to call back. There's something wrong with my computer, you guys! And Jack was going to help me with it! Except that I was apparently a little too obtuse, so he had to go get his supervisor. And they PROMISED they'd call back in a couple of days to work things out ... but they didn't. I think by the time Jack calls again I will have thrown my computer out, that's how concerned I am. And if anyone else calls from The Computer Company, you can rest assured I'm going to find out if they know Jack and can tell me if everything is alright with him.

Edited to clarify that my brother has never stuck a door-to-door missionary in a drawer.

Edited May 13, 2016 by GailV

nd293 · May 13, 2016

I switched to mobile phone only 5 years ago for this reason. I hardly get any junk calls on mobile and it's easy to block calls. Eventually I win - I block enough numbers that they either give up or run out of numbers!

mamiof5 · May 13, 2016

Don't bother with their swear words though.. Lame...LOL

Lol!!! No problem, I don't swear. But some German words to confuse them. I guess I could use my Spanish?? But many folks speak Spanish around here. Could be worth a try though! ;P

VeteranMom · May 13, 2016

Do you have a teenage boy in the house? Hand the phone to him and let him talk with the person on the other end of the line. My sons have a friend who will talk to solicitors. He tells them jokes and sings for them. He's not mean. He just entertains the way only a 14 year old can.

Elfknitter.# · May 14, 2016

Just saw this on FB and thought of your thread

:lol:

Noreen Claire · May 14, 2016

You should act really crazy and maybe they won't call back.

My husband likes to sing to them... :laugh:

mom2scouts · May 14, 2016

I wish son #2 still lived at home. He is very quick witted and could always come up with the most amazing comebacks or the most ridiculous stories to tell them. Once they asked if he had a minute and he spent 15 minutes telling them he was probably going to die soon and couldn't spare a single minute of his life for a phone survey. LOL. The people had been calling almost daily and the calls stopped after that conversation!

My husband used to work for a university. A few weeks after they eliminated his position, we kept getting calls from the university asking for donations. They started the calls asking if I was aware of certain things that were happening at the university. Of course I was because my husband was involved in all those exciting things they were telling me about. After I started telling them I couldn't donate because my dh, the person who did that work, just lost his job at the university and we didn't have any income, they finally left us alone.

elinnea · May 14, 2016

My dd has this out of tune lap harp and I let her give "concerts" for anyone foolish enough to call my house, particularly around dinnertime. The German thing works too.

Dmmetler · May 14, 2016

I once handed the National Wildlife Federation to my DD so she could discuss conservation priorities with them. I don't think they've called back since!

Ellie · May 14, 2016

I almost never get those calls any longer, because I never answer them. Over time, they know that they will get nothin' out of me, and so they quit calling.

Before I had caller ID, I'd answer, and they'd say, "Mrs. Andrew?" And I'd say, "No, she's not here. May I take a message?"

So now I hardly ever get them. I guess we can't eliminate them completely, but only a couple a week instead of dozens is a big improvement.

Davysmom · May 14, 2016

Yes I am. The scammers don't care and they do stuff like spoof numbers. For example, one showed up on the ID as a local hospital. So I answered. It wasn't the hospital at all. We report any of those to the state.

Then charity, political, or survey calls are not subject to the do not call thing.

My husband has gone through some crazy lengths with some of these things. He'll keep someone on the line for an hour acting like he's interested so he can get as much info as possible to report them. And he makes certain charities very sorry they called (pro life ppl and NRA for example). It's very comical to listen to him, but I don't have that kind of patience to do any of that!

Once he told someone to hold on and he put the phone in a drawer. He went back 15 minutes later and that person was still waiting. Comical...

No one ever stays on the line for us! We let our very chatty young ds handle all these calls. He gets very sad when they hang up. One day, the cops or CPS will probably show up because he often says he lives alone with no parents! Or tries to insist he is the parent. Haha.

We are on the do not call list, but we still get several a day.

SparklyUnicorn · May 14, 2016

I almost never get those calls any longer, because I never answer them. Over time, they know that they will get nothin' out of me, and so they quit calling.

Before I had caller ID, I'd answer, and they'd say, "Mrs. Andrew?" And I'd say, "No, she's not here. May I take a message?"

So now I hardly ever get them. I guess we can't eliminate them completely, but only a couple a week instead of dozens is a big improvement.

I almost never answer them and yet they keep calling.

One thing we stopped getting though are bill collector calls. When we moved to another state we got a new number. That was an absolute nightmare. We'd get calls constantly from bill collectors probably looking for whoever had the number last. And many of these were automated with absolutely no means to let them know they had the wrong number. We haven't gotten any of those in quite some time.

Sammish · May 14, 2016

Here's an article about it: http://www.today.com/money/free-service-proves-it-can-block-unwanted-robocalls-2D11867403

And here is the actual program: http://www.nomorobo.com

This looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!

We recently got Hiya for our cell phones, which I LOVE - spam calls ring once, and then are rejected. If one gets through, I report it, which helps out people down the line. And it looks like this will work the same for our landline. I'm so excited! :hurray:

SparklyUnicorn · May 14, 2016

This looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!

We recently got Hiya for our cell phones, which I LOVE - spam calls ring once, and then are rejected. If one gets through, I report it, which helps out people down the line. And it looks like this will work the same for our landline. I'm so excited! :hurray:

I'm excited too. I really hope this helps!

JumpyTheFrog · May 14, 2016

We began using Skype as our phone service seven years ago after moving and finding that even after a month, the local phone company still didn't have the land line working yet. I guess telemarketers don't have our number because we get about five telemarketer calls per year and zero robocalls (except confirming appointments).

Seasider · May 14, 2016

This is why we finally ditched the land line. Just too many solicitations.

school17777 · May 15, 2016

This looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!

We recently got Hiya for our cell phones, which I LOVE - spam calls ring once, and then are rejected. If one gets through, I report it, which helps out people down the line. And it looks like this will work the same for our landline. I'm so excited! :hurray:

Yes, it works the same. I love it, although I wish the spam calls wouldn't ring at all.

MomtoCandJ · May 15, 2016

I hand the phone to dd2.... Her sweet 2 yr old self LOVES talking on the phone

cjzimmer1 · May 15, 2016

As soon as a I see a number and/or name that I know will be spam, I just pick up the phone and drop it back into the cradle. I used to just ignore them but my answering machine doesn't pick up until the 4th ring and now my 3 year old thinks it great fun to grab the phone when it's ringing so I just hang up after the first ring so he doesn't get a chance. I'd let him talk but then he wanders off with the phone and we spend hours trying to find where he left them after the battery dies.

SparklyUnicorn · May 15, 2016

I don't like Skype at all.

What we have isn't really a land line, but I guess being it's from a major company our name probably is in some directory somewhere. We only have cheapo pre paid phones so I don't really want to go to cell only.

The dumb thing though is we hardly ever use the phone at all.

FaithManor · May 15, 2016

Singing in Latin usually equals removed from list. It has worked several times for me. A friend of mine blows a whistle into the mouthpiece/microphone which seems to be effective.

SparklyUnicorn · May 15, 2016

Singing in Latin usually equals removed from list. It has worked several times for me. A friend of mine blows a whistle into the mouthpiece/microphone which seems to be effective.

I love the whistle idea!

The Well-Trained Mind Extended Guide

I'm so sick of scammy calls and charity calls..

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