How do you get the phone solicitations to stop ?

[Puzzleguy]

We get so many of these everyday -its crazy

theirs a law concerning the " do not call list" that were on , and i even go their from time to time with complaints

concerning these law breakers -( a waste of time ) 

what can we really do ?

 

[JimErn]

Nothing to be done, with today's VOIP you can not even tie the line up and run up their bill like you used to.

let the calls go to an answering machine, screen them later

[orangeman]

If the Red Cross calls, answer the phone and say there's blood everywhere ; on the walls, floors, everywhere. Then hang up

For all others, answer the phone and say: You are on the air with WSBY............

bb

[Dan]

Years ago I got tired of the calls, so I made a game of it. I get them involved talking about the weather, sports, or, if you really want to get to them, talk politics. I had a lady on the phone for almost 20 minutes. It was nice and we were both polite. I ran out of things to talk about and asked her why she called. I think it was insurance or something like that. I told her I wasn't interested and hung up. 

Edited March 9, 2020 by Dan

[Fedido]

I have an out of town number so when I get a call from that town, I just start blocking it. It has cut down a lot! Now, I hardly get them. 

[dgman]

It’s simple, just don’t answer the phone! If I don’t recognize the number, I let it go to voice mail. If they don’t leave a message, it wasn’t important!

BTW, we don’t have a land line, we each have cellphones.

[Sycamore67]

The FCC  is actually doing somethings to try to reduce them.  They are working with the various phone companies to stop the spoofing of phone numbers.  I get irritated at the calls but feel for the people who fall for their scams.

[Fab4]

Hi Tony:
Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring......We are slow at answering the phone
"I got it Honey, it's a telemarketer"
Pick up receiver
"Hello, you have reached (insert radio station of your choice), you are live and on the air
How can we help you today"
This is always followed by a clicking sound followed by the dial tone
As for stopping them, fat chance, so you may as well have a bit of fun with them
I also have an X rated reply which I won't bore you with but that too is always followed by a click and dial tone
Fab4

[teachnlearn]

I had a guy call selling me windows and told him i live in a huge build and would consider what they had. The building has at least 1000 large windows about 3 ft x 5 ft. Would need triple pane, tinted with high efficiency glass. Told him there were two other building that could use windows. Kept talking to him for 45 minutes until he figured I was ready for the sell and wanted my address and name to send the contracts. I told him he needed to call the owner of the building cause I was just living in an apartment. It was a large multi-floored apartment building with two others surrounding it. I don't know why, but he just hung up. He must have been floating above his chair thinking of the commission he was going to make.

Here's a group of products RJF

https://www.amazon.com/CPR-Call-Blocker-Landline-Phones/dp/B0191XMBV2

IF you have a mean streak, get this.

https://jollyrogertelephone.com/

Look below and listen to robo call on right. RJF

Edited March 9, 2020 by teachnlearn

[kmmcrafts]

My son bought an app on his cell phone called robokiller.. Unfortunately it is a paid app.. But it worked well and stopped most calls to his number after having it for several months then cancelled it.. 

I thought there was a way to block all numbers except the numbers in your phone book list.. this is also a cell phone only option.. I don't like this idea because if my kids have trouble and their phone is dead.. they sometimes use a friends phone so unless I have all numbers for everyone they might be around that just doesn't work.. plus you never know when they may break down out on the road somewhere and use a strangers number. 

For landline, I have no idea.. 

For the most part.. I don't answer the unknown numbers.. and everyone knows I do this and to leave a message.. this will get me to call them right back if it is my kids using a friends phone... Also texting works well because I'll read it.. Just hope those stupid telemarketers don't start with text next..   

[new2woodwrk]

Like Dan, I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the number.

I also get these scams telling me I owe the IRS a lot of money and they are coming to arrest me in the next few days if I don't speak with an agent right away.

I push 1 to speak with the agent and I say "Hello, this is the Panama City Police Dept., your number has been...."

click.

All gone

Also I always add them to my ignore list even though they like a bazillion #'s

Oh and BTW, you can view #'s on landlines - there is a unit you can get to display phone numbers (caller ID): https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Electronics-Telephone-Caller-ID-Displays/zgbs/electronics/172612

Edited March 10, 2020 by new2woodwrk

[jerry1939]

Decades ago, I was getting them the same company selling safety equipment.  After a few, I answered & then put my hand over the mouthpiece, but listened.  He went on and on. Finally he got suspicious and said, "You agree with that Mister ______".

"Are you still there Mister ______"?

"You S.O.B".

Next thing he heard was me hanging up.

jerry

 

[jerry1939]

51 minutes ago, teachnlearn said:

I had a guy call selling me windows and told him i live in a huge build and would consider what they had. The building has at least 1000 large windows about 3 ft x 5 ft. Would need triple pane, tinted with high efficiency glass. Told him there were two other building that could use windows. Kept talking to him for 45 minutes until he figured I was ready for the sell and wanted my address and name to send the contracts. I told him he needed to call the owner of the building cause I was just living in an apartment. It was a large multi-floored apartment building with two others surrounding it. I don't know why, but he just hung up. He must have been floating above his chair thinking of the commission he was going to make.

Here's a group of products RJF

https://www.amazon.com/CPR-Call-Blocker-Landline-Phones/dp/B0191XMBV2

IF you have a mean streak, get this.

https://jollyrogertelephone.com/

Look below and listen to robo call on right. RJF

Why the heck didn't he just swat the darn bee & buy enough solar panels for the whole city?  You can always have them installed and pay with a check that will bounce.  

[teachnlearn]

Recognize many scam services spoof the caller id and list it as something else. So don't take the Caller ID as trusted information.

There are services that will change your phone number and Caller ID to anything you want. Service I'm picking has different rates and will charge per call, along with your voice.  So if you want to call you friends and list the White House and tell them your President Trump and would like to talk to them. Go too it. Just tip them off after a while or probably there is some law broken.

So if someone would like to list their phone number here, I'm sure they might get a batch of calls from Celebrities and the President of the United States. RJF

https://www.spooftel.com/

[barb.j.enders]

My husband was great at getting some sales people to stop calling.  One was, the local paper wanted to know if we wanted to take the paper daily?  He said it wasn't required as the dog was finally housebroken!!  He did tell the Optimist Society that he couldn't donate as he is a pessimist by nature!! And the last one was when Time Life books called and woke him (he worked shift work at the time), the sales guy went on and on about the large number of colour plates (pictures) that this particular book had.  When hubby asked if it came in braille, the sales guy  just hung up.  (no he isn't blind!)  These days, I just ignore the call or if I do answer, I ask for their phone number so I can call the police.

[teachnlearn]

2 minutes ago, barb.j.enders said:

My husband was great at getting some sales people to stop calling.  One was, the local paper wanted to know if we wanted to take the paper daily?  He said it wasn't required as the dog was finally housebroken!!  He did tell the Optimist Society that he couldn't donate as he is a pessimist by nature!! And the last one was when Time Life books called and woke him (he worked shift work at the time), the sales guy went on and on about the large number of colour plates (pictures) that this particular book had.  When hubby asked if it came in braille, the sales guy  just hung up.  (no he isn't blind!)  These days, I just ignore the call or if I do answer, I ask for their phone number so I can call the police.

I took a blind friend on a US tour. It took 7 years cause he spent most the time feeling his way to learn it. RJF

What can I say, just finished the day looking at the perfect house for $170,000 in pouring rain. Finished basement floor was wet and the 'finished' basement shower was a shower stall over the floor drain.

Our family is going to be living in a little box on two beds for the rest of our life.RJF

[amazingkevin]

I get these alot and just hang up and block their number.

[jerry1939]

Two things:

1. Have an Android iphone on T-Mobile & installed the free app "Call Blocker".  Real happy with it.  When I wake the phone from it's sleep, it shows Missed Call from (always an 8__ number.  It doesn't ring or vibrate.

2. Many years ago, before Caller ID, our oldest son lived 200 miles from us.  Never had a seizure in his life, but had one driving in the city during rush hour. Hit a tree, but no other car.  Before air bags existed.  Smashed his face in.  A friend of his called and notified us. As parents, we would NEVER refuse to answer a call from an unknown number !!!

[fredfret]

They called told me I had a warrant for my arrest if I didn't pay the IRS. Told them I'll wait on the porch for the officer as it sure beats working. They hung up. 

[teachnlearn]

Yesterday we got a letter from Ontario Canada stating someone died with my name and I was left with millions. TD Bank. Have had these scams emailed for years. First time we got someone paying mail cost to scam us. My wife's name was used as getting the money. The person that died had my last name. I'm hurt, my wife got the money and they left me nothing. RJF

 

18 hours ago, jerry1939 said:

Decades ago, I was getting them the same company selling safety equipment.  After a few, I answered & then put my hand over the mouthpiece, but listened.  He went on and on. Finally he got suspicious and said, "You agree with that Mister ______".

"Are you still there Mister ______"?

"You S.O.B".

Next thing he heard was me hanging up.

jerry