Robo calls

[Anonymous]

My new best friend 

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

The FTC Do Not Call list.

Since opting IN I have received a robo call here and there offering "debt reduction" from credit cards (I keep it under 8%) and student loans (last loan paid 2008).  FTC makes it easy to report unwanted robo calls! 

Cell phones included.  There is an option for debt collectors and if you've asked them to cease and desist, another topic that is discussed in the rebuilding forum.

[Anonymous]

I still have a land line and I get a lot of robo calls and some manual dial, even though I am already on the Do Not Call list.  I even went on there again and put my numbers on there, in case I needed to 'renew' or if it fell off.

Didnt see a change, seems to be about the same number of calls, averaging about 10 a week.

I get very few on my cell phones, as in one every 3 months.

I get debt collector calls for a woman that keeps giving out my number on her apps.   No real way to defend against that, they just come in from different companies every couple months.

It seems to work better for you than for me.

[Thomas_Thumb]

I get frequent nasty robo calls on my land time - up to 6 times a day from one number (should take the time to block this number -pretty sure my service can do that.

Fortunately I have caller ID - if I don't know the # I never answer. If it's important, as the message says, leave a call back #. Wonder why no messages are left by these frequent callers!

Unlike my land line, I get virtually no junk calls on my cell phone.

[barbaralee]

I have had my cell phone number for 7 years now, and in the last year I have been getting calls for some guy named Jacob Dillinger who apparently doesn't know how to pay his bills. It's quite annoying. I have even stalked FB, thinking about sending a message to all the Jacob Dillingers I can find... something short and succint like "Pay your bills!!!". 

I have also gotten calls saying that I took out a payday loan, approved for a loan I applied online, and my personal favorite, I will be arrested at noon if I don't call some number and make some payment. 

It's sad that these calls have become my new norm.

[Anonymous]

---

@barbaralee wrote:

I have had my cell phone number for 7 years now, and in the last year I have been getting calls for some guy named Jacob Dillinger who apparently doesn't know how to pay his bills. It's quite annoying. I have even stalked FB, thinking about sending a message to all the Jacob Dillingers I can find... something short and succint like "Pay your bills!!!". 

I have also gotten calls saying that I took out a payday loan, approved for a loan I applied online, and my personal favorite, I will be arrested at noon if I don't call some number and make some payment. 

It's sad that these calls have become my new norm.

---

I dont get calls for Jacob, but I dont know anything we can do to stop getting calls for another person that continues to deliberately give out my number on apps and for bills.

I get calls for a Mary on my cell phone and for a John and his wife on my landline.

It has been at least a couple years for each and it isnt the same debt collectors, it is newer ones.  I get calls for John and his wife from different medical providers and also new and old debts.

Nothing stops them from putting a phone number down that doesnt belong to them, I dont think anyone checks it, except for things like non payment after the fact.

I dont know of any defense for us, except telling the caller in a stern voice, 'this is my number and dont call for them anymore'.  The second call gets a louder message and a threat to call the Public Untilities Commission for my State, in Tallahassee, FL.  

Anyway, hate CAs and really really hate CAs calling me when it isnt for me.

[Anonymous]

---

@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

I get frequent nasty robo calls on my land time - up to 6 times a day from one number (should take the time to block this number -pretty sure my service can do that.

Fortunately I have caller ID - if I don't know the # I never answer. If it's important, as the message says, leave a call back #. Wonder why no messages are left by these frequent callers!

Unlike my land line, I get virtually no junk calls on my cell phone.

---

When caller id first became available the number you got was real. Today since they are maintained via computer the caller id can be spoofed and you do not get the real number. Also, most phone companies are not really interrested in allowing for blocked calls so you look at buying at home blocking units. A few months back (summer 2015?) Consumer Reports offered up a lot of info on this plus an evaluation of after market call blocking equipment. So far I have not found equipment that was really that good and in reading Consumer Reports on the units and local phone companies I find it unreal that the service is not very readily available. I am with Century Link and they claim it is available but when I try to use it the other number is not blockable (heard this from other phone companies I have been with). Consumer Reports said it is not that hard to do at the exchange level but the phone companies aren't really interested. Depressing ;(

[Anonymous]

I got another Robo call from Rachel, the robo call girl that wants to lower my CC interest rates.

I answered it because the caller ID showed my name and the actual number I was answering from.

I was thinking, how can my phone be calling me?  I havent seen that one before.

And to make it even more unpleasant, I could press 9 to speak to a representative, or no other options.  I held on without pressing 9 and it dumped me back to dia ltone after a minute.

Never have much success in talking to a representative and asking for the name of the company or a supervisor, they just put me on hold or dump the call.

Another annoying call, but imaginative use of caller id.

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I got another Robo call from Rachel, the robo call girl that wants to lower my CC interest rates.

I answered it because the caller ID showed my name and the actual number I was answering from.

I was thinking, how can my phone be calling me?  I havent seen that one before.

And to make it even more unpleasant, I could press 9 to speak to a representative, or no other options.  I held on without pressing 9 and it dumped me back to dia ltone after a minute.

Never have much success in talking to a representative and asking for the name of the company or a supervisor, they just put me on hold or dump the call.

Another annoying call, but imaginative use of caller id.

---

Of late the group using Rachel and usally 6.9% interest has been shut down several times. They have moved off shore. It seems many of the Robo Calls are legal and it is ok to spoof the caller id. The "Federal Do Not Call" list is great in theory but the fly by nights know the odds of getting caught and prosecuted are so small it is a "no worry mate". Our phone companies could actually offer a service for us to block telephone numbers at the exchange level but do not really want to do this ... so there we hang! Truth, I am for the government mandating that any telecommunication provider offer the call block service and we can choose whether we want to receive or not. The other matter is the caller using electronic equipment can change phone numbers so fast that it is difficult to keep up with them.

[Anonymous]

I block every number I don't know that comes through. It's kind of fun.

Plus, it results in my having a lot more peace at home versus getting wrong number calls, sales calls, or misdirected calls for someone like Jacob Dillinger.

[Anonymous]

NomoRobo is a blocking service that people seem to be reporting good results with as well.