Unsolicited Phone Calls

g8tr72

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Jun 8, 2016
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Patience exhausted.

This is an open query for assistance in combating repeated unsolicited phone calls from a various companies. I am enrolled in every do not call list that has ever been created. I still get them.

I refuse to except that it is not possible to eliminate this.

The "do not answer calls from unknown numbers" defense is really inconvenient for me since I get calls related to my business from potential clients. I need to answer every call. Blocking the numbers is also not effective since the numbers are computer generated.

Does any one know of any viable solutions to this issue?
 

MJMGator

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My dad says he gets a lot of those on his home phone and cell phone. I ditched my home phone years ago and only have a cell phone. I only get maybe half a dozen calls a year like that, so I’m not sure what triggers it?
 

Swamp Donkey

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Patience exhausted.

This is an open query for assistance in combating repeated unsolicited phone calls from a various companies. I am enrolled in every do not call list that has ever been created. I still get them.
First and foremost, don't give your number out. You don't need to give them your number for a haircut or to buy sparkplugs. Just say no. Or lie and say you have none, or give them your bosses office number, or use a fake number (same number, so you can look up the part if needed and if they are using it for an account number) whatever.

Secondly, answer the phone but don't say anything for a few seconds. A real person says "hello" a robocaller does not. Then block that number.

You can call your state AG and report DNCL violations, but realize that most are scams anyway coming from Nigeria or Russia on a VOIP line showing a fake number.
 

MJMGator

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First and foremost, don't give your number out. You don't need to give them your number for a haircut or to buy sparkplugs. Just say no. Or lie and say you have none, or give them your bosses office number, or use a fake number (same number, so you can look up the part if needed and if they are using it for an account number) whatever.

Secondly, answer the phone but don't say anything for a few seconds. A real person says "hello" a robocaller does not. Then block that number.

You can call your state AG and report DNCL violations, but realize that most are scams anyway coming from Nigeria or Russia on a VOIP line showing a fake number.
Yeah, I never give my phone number out to businesses. If they insist, I tell them to make one up but they ain’t getting mine.
 

TLB

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Jan 6, 2015
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Haven't had a land line in nearly 2 decades.

Never answer a number I don't know - let it go to voicemail. Legit call? Call them back. Solicitor? Block the number.
 

Zambo

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I get a lot of these. I tell them to hold on for a second, then I mute the phone and go about my business until they get sick of waiting and hang up. I waste twice as much of their time as they do of mine.
 

GR8 2B

A Florida Gator
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2016
4,055
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Patience exhausted.

This is an open query for assistance in combating repeated unsolicited phone calls from a various companies. I am enrolled in every do not call list that has ever been created. I still get them.

I refuse to except that it is not possible to eliminate this.

The "do not answer calls from unknown numbers" defense is really inconvenient for me since I get calls related to my business from potential clients. I need to answer every call. Blocking the numbers is also not effective since the numbers are computer generated.

Does any one know of any viable solutions to this issue?
Allow me to refer you to a recent thread I created:

Ingenious IT boss banishes hapless callers to on-hold Hades with Extension 666

I expect a full report if you use this. :fistbump:
 

gingerlover

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Sep 20, 2014
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Pretend you don’t speak English and then start screaming about the voices. It’s always fun to mess with them. You can also do the old man hard of hearing gag. It’s great to hear their frustration rise each time you say hello.
 

Zambo

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I did the "can you hold for a second" thing yesterday. The guy hung up the instant I put him on hold :lol:

I guess they are on to me.

I think my favorite ones are when they call to sell me solar, and then when I tell them that I already own a solar system that reduces my electric bill so much that the power company actually sends me money every year, they STILL try to sell me a solar system. Hilarious.
 

AugustaGator

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I get a lot of these. I tell them to hold on for a second, then I mute the phone and go about my business until they get sick of waiting and hang up. I waste twice as much of their time as they do of mine.
Then ask them to repeat it.
 

Black Dahlia

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Nov 25, 2017
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I get a couple of calls a day with the same prefix as my phone number; because they're the same prefix I know the number is fake. They always leave a split second of silence on my voice mail. It doesn't really matter because I only answer numbers I recognize, all of which are already programmed into my phone.

I find it strange that in my entire lifetime not one single telephone solicitor has ever had anything of the least value to offer me.
 

Politigator

L-boy's Cousin
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Oct 5, 2018
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If you have a landline through an internet provider some of them have "nomorobo". It dramatically reduces the number of these calls.

As for mobile phones there are apps. I use robo killer. I pay $2 a month for it. It eliminates almost all unwanted calls.
 

ThreatMatrix

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Aug 28, 2014
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We get 5-10 calls a day on my business line. I refuse to go to a phone tree and my staff has to answer within three rings. I just put the the down and let them blab away. Figure that at least ties up them up for a bit. Today we got three calls in a row from a solicitor speaking Vietnamese. I wanted to ask how much for a sucky fvkcy.
 

Concrete Helmet

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Jul 29, 2014
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First and foremost, don't give your number out. You don't need to give them your number for a haircut or to buy sparkplugs. Just say no.
This more than anything else.....I've reluctantly given my number out maybe 3 times in the last few years and EVERY time I have I've gotten a rash of unknown numbers that start calling within a few days of giving it out.....I typically always let my phone go to voice mail even when I do know who's calling because I hate talking to anyone unless I'm in the mood....
I did pick up once a couple years back after seeing the same number call repeatedly for about a week and some Apu sounding guy on the other end said he was offering a way to lower interest on my credit card....I told him I don't pay interest on my credit card so how would he help me. He ask me if I had a girlfriend to which I said no,....he then said "maybe you have a boyfriend?" and again I said no......he then told me that's the reason I should go f vck myself!!! and hung up....:lol:. The number never called back...
 
Jun 2, 2015
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I have Spectrum and on my land line I signed up for them to block all robo-calls. I have an answering machine and never pick up on calls from numbers that I don't recognize and 9 X out of 10, they never leave a message. If they continue calling I go on Spectrum and add them to the blocked off list.
 

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