re: "Black box"
Robert Baer
http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html and the marketeers that
constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at least 2 weeks.
What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a "UUU"
"no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message that the
call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the so-called call
annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning the message was a
blatant lie.
The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i
should not have used it, and that they would not press the issue to
Qwest (my "provider").
Say what? How the hell else can i catch these bastards?
Pissant bureaucrats!
**
It would appear that a TOTAL disconnect of my phone _might_ stop
these calls..
Greegor
> Well i tried one of those recordings onhttp://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.htmland the marketeers that
> constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at least 2 weeks.
> What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a "UUU"
> "no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message that the
> call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the so-called call
> annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning the message was a
> blatant lie.
> The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i
> should not have used it, and that they would not press the issue to
> Qwest (my "provider").
> Say what? How the hell else can i catch these bastards?
> Pissant bureaucrats!
> **
> It would appear that a TOTAL disconnect of my phone _might_ stop
> these calls..
Companies with trunk lines, and people who
pay for certain special VOIP services can
present any fake phone number they want.
Some outfit started that auto warranty
extension scam and eventually they
actually got busted for it by the FTC
with the help of many state attorneys general.
The sheer volume of the calls caught up to them.
The reason it continues is that they had set
it up like MLM, with lots of subordinate
outfits making large numbers of calls.
They lie and say that they were referred by
your cars manufacturer. They also lie
about who they are and where they are.
Another skanky and abusive telemarketer
that I tracked down was actually a subsidiary
of a small regional telephone company
which probably gave them tremendous
ability to present bogus caller ID information.
Here's stuff on two of the biggest phone scams out there.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=heather+in+accounting+telemarketing+scam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=auto+warranty+scam&aq=1&oq=auto+warranty
alie...@gmail.com
> Well i tried one of those recordings onhttp://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.htmland the marketeers that
> constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at least 2 weeks.
> What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a "UUU"
> "no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message that the
> call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the so-called call
> annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning the message was a
> blatant lie.
> The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i
> should not have used it, and that they would not press the issue to
> Qwest (my "provider").
> Say what? How the hell else can i catch these bastards?
> Pissant bureaucrats!
> **
> It would appear that a TOTAL disconnect of my phone _might_ stop
> these calls..
You're doing it wrong. You're assuming Government will help you and
getting pissed off when you should be having fun with them.
Answer the call, listen to the pitch, answer all the questions as if
you want to buy what they're selling right up until you get to where
they want your credit card number or mailing address then say "just a
minute, I have to go to the bathroom; I'll be right back", then lay
the phone down and listen for the BEEP BEEP BEEP letting you know
they've disconnected, then hang up.
When they call back, apologize for the unreliable phone connection
and repeat the above procedure, with variations like interrupting the
caller to discuss your grandson's first tooth, your hernia operation/
kidney stone/colostomy bag, how the Liberals/Conservatives/Communists/
Christians/Muslims/Atheists are ruining the country, or whatever
amuses you. Eventually they'll decide they're not going to be able to
sell you anything and cross your number off their list.
It may take a while, and the bastards may resell your number to
somebody else, but keep at it. AFAIK it's the only sure way to get rid
of them without going completely off-grid.
Mark L. Fergerson
Michael A. Terrell
Or ask them how hard it is to set up a phone scam like theirs, since
you're out of work. :)
--
Greed is the root of all eBay.
Jan Panteltje
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote in
<1KOdndg809PrBqjW...@posted.localnet>:
Just pick up the phoe with: 'Department of Homeland Security'.
PeterD
Get caller id
Look at caller id
Recognize name, answer.
Don't recognize name: pickup/hangup.
Repeat as necessary.
Get on the federal Do Not Call list.
Best thing is to get a live person on the phone. Then string them
along as much as possible. If you get a man, tell him you'd rather
speak to a woman. If he puts a female on, string her along, then start
getting 'sexy' with her. Tell her you're glad she called, you are
horny. If the man says "No woman available" waste as much time of his
as you can, then tell him you are 12 years old, and lonly. Then thank
him for asking to have sex with you, but you'll have to ask your
parents.
The trick is to waste as much time of theirs as you can. Try to keep
them online for at least 15 minutes with a live person. Don't waste
time with recordings/electronic systems, get a live person on the
line. Then waste, waste time, and always end up with "I'm 12 years
old, thanks for asking me to have sex with you..."
Baron
I ended up with having to give up my number and was issued with a new
one that it permanently withheld and registered with TPS.
Even that didn't stop all the unwanted calls. Apparently they use an
incrementing count dialer to find the hidden numbers. So if you answer
the phone they log the fact and record it.
--
Best Regards:
Baron.
Baron
Nice ! I hadn't thought of that one... ;-)
--
Best Regards:
Baron.
Jim Thompson
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
After the holidays I plan to buy...
And make some additional modifications.
...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |
Help save the environment!
Please dispose of socialism responsibly!
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
to file complaints where i have a number or name (or on rare occasion,
both).
DOES NOT WORK; useless.
>
>
> Best thing is to get a live person on the phone. Then string them
> along as much as possible. If you get a man, tell him you'd rather
> speak to a woman. If he puts a female on, string her along, then start
> getting 'sexy' with her. Tell her you're glad she called, you are
> horny. If the man says "No woman available" waste as much time of his
> as you can, then tell him you are 12 years old, and lonly. Then thank
> him for asking to have sex with you, but you'll have to ask your
> parents.
>
> The trick is to waste as much time of theirs as you can. Try to keep
> them online for at least 15 minutes with a live person. Don't waste
> time with recordings/electronic systems, get a live person on the
> line. Then waste, waste time, and always end up with "I'm 12 years
> old, thanks for asking me to have sex with you..."
* They immediately hang up; communications are impossible.
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
> On Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:15:06 -0800, Robert Baer
> <rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>
>> Well i tried one of those recordings on
>> http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html and the marketeers that
>> constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at least 2 weeks.
>> What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a "UUU"
>> "no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message that the
>> call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the so-called call
>> annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning the message was a
>> blatant lie.
>> The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i
>> should not have used it, and that they would not press the issue to
>> Qwest (my "provider").
>> Say what? How the hell else can i catch these bastards?
>> Pissant bureaucrats!
>> **
>> It would appear that a TOTAL disconnect of my phone _might_ stop
>> these calls..
>
> After the holidays I plan to buy...
>
> http://jfteck.com/
>
> And make some additional modifications.
>
> ...Jim Thompson
is an extra monthly charge.
Robert Baer
> On Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:25:50 -0800 (PST), "nu...@bid.nes"
> <alie...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Dec 25, 9:15 pm, Robert Baer <robertb...@localnet.com> wrote:
>>> Well i tried one of those recordings onhttp://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.htmland the marketeers that
>> You're doing it wrong. You're assuming Government will help you and
>> getting pissed off when you should be having fun with them.
>>
>> Mark L. Fergerson
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1waHJhb2wxo
>
> H. :>
>
Youtube is useless for me; i am on dial-up.
Jan Panteltje
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote in
<LqadnZvkH7yuRKvW...@posted.localnet>:
LOL:-)
PeterD
Most states this is a violation of law... COvered under the
'harrassing and threatening phone calls' statutes...
PeterD
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
WOrks well for most of us. You may have pissed someone off and that's
what is happening.
>
>>
>>
>> Best thing is to get a live person on the phone. Then string them
>> along as much as possible. If you get a man, tell him you'd rather
>> speak to a woman. If he puts a female on, string her along, then start
>> getting 'sexy' with her. Tell her you're glad she called, you are
>> horny. If the man says "No woman available" waste as much time of his
>> as you can, then tell him you are 12 years old, and lonly. Then thank
>> him for asking to have sex with you, but you'll have to ask your
>> parents.
>>
>> The trick is to waste as much time of theirs as you can. Try to keep
>> them online for at least 15 minutes with a live person. Don't waste
>> time with recordings/electronic systems, get a live person on the
>> line. Then waste, waste time, and always end up with "I'm 12 years
>> old, thanks for asking me to have sex with you..."
>
>* They immediately hang up; communications are impossible.
Well, in that case no black box will work. Period.
I'd strongly suggest you involve local law enforcement...
Jim Thompson
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>* IMPOSSIBLE; they hang up immediately online pick-up.
>
>
[snip]
It is trivial to build a box such that...
Phone rings
Observe Caller-ID
If unknown to you or 800, press a button
Your phone stops ringing
Caller still hears ringing, finally gives up
I'm pondering how to automate this, and add features such as...
Allow roll to voice mail
Allow forwarding
Ring X times (just shy of VM activation) then kill the connection.
Nastygrams (but why bother?)
Jim Thompson
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
It's not my problem that you are so cheap that you don't have
caller-ID.
And stop whining... is there anyone who really needs to call you
anyway ?:-)
alie...@gmail.com
> On a sunny day (Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:50:47 -0800) it happened Robert Baer
> <LqadnZvkH7yuRKvWnZ2dnUVZ_vFi4...@posted.localnet>:
>
> >Howard Eisenhauer wrote:
> >> On Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:25:50 -0800 (PST), "n...@bid.nes"
> >> <alien8...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>> On Dec 25, 9:15 pm, Robert Baer <robertb...@localnet.com> wrote:
> >> *Snip*
> >>> You're doing it wrong. You're assuming Government will help you and
> >>> getting pissed off when you should be having fun with them.
>
> >> *Snip*
> >>> Mark L. Fergerson
>
> >>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1waHJhb2wxo
>
> LOL:-)
Ahahahahahaha!
Exactly right!
The "cute little Mexican midget" was a little over the top though...
Mark L. Fergerson
Baron
So their just number collecting !
--
Best Regards:
Baron.
Robert Baer
doing this crap.
Robert Baer
the callers.
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
Sylvia Else
I would think that finding out who is making harrassing calls would be a
function of the police, who would seek the assistance of the telco.
Sylvia.
Sylvia Else
> Well i tried one of those recordings on
> http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html and the marketeers that
> constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at least 2 weeks.
> What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a "UUU"
> "no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message that the
> call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the so-called call
> annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning the message was a
> blatant lie.
> The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i should
> not have used it, and that they would not press the issue to Qwest (my
> "provider").
Why would they assume it was marketeers?
Sylvia.
Baron
Yup ! I also have caller ID, and I look at it before I answer. If I
see no number "Number Withheld" or "Out of Area" I just let it ring.
BT (UK) will put an internal trace on these numbers if you can get to
the right department to do it.
Unfortunately I've discovered that some of these are basically "Skype"
over the Internet, type calls injected into some internal company PBX,
and have nothing to do with the company that owns the PBX. The PBX is
used as an open relay.
--
Best Regards:
Baron.
Baron
The Police are not in the slightest bit interested unless you can hand
the perpetrator to them on a plate.
Its the same with the "I have $25 million your relative has left you"
scam letter !
You can take the letter to them, its evidence, but they don't even
bother to look at the letter other than to have a laugh ! Even though
the letter has a return address on it.
--
Best Regards:
Baron.
PeterD
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>PeterD wrote:
>> Most states this is a violation of law... COvered under the
>> 'harrassing and threatening phone calls' statutes...
> That "law" is virtually irrelevant, since i cannot find out who it is
>doing this crap.
The telephone company has facilities to trace these calls. Absolutely,
it's required. They ONLY release the information to law enforcement.
Call your phone company and ask that a trap be put on your line. Then
contact local law enforcement and inform them of the situation. When
the event happens, tell the local law enforcement, they will then
contact the telephone company and the information will be in their
hands.
PeterD
Robert, where are you located?
PeterD
I suspect that it may not be...
Jim Thompson
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
Is "Reject on No Info" difficult for you?
Martin Brown
Change to ex-directory and select no inclusion in any public catalogues.
This will make you invisible to all but the most determined random
number phone spammer systems. It stops friends finding you too.
>>>> Just pick up the phoe with: 'Department of Homeland Security'.
>>> * IMPOSSIBLE; they hang up immediately on line pick-up.
>>
>> Most states this is a violation of law... COvered under the
>> 'harrassing and threatening phone calls' statutes...
> That "law" is virtually irrelevant, since i cannot find out who it is
> doing this crap.
If you are getting a high proportion of dead air calls then take it to
whoever regulates telecoms in the USA. There must be some standards of
telecom provider performance even in the land of the free spammer.
Dead air calls count as harassment in many jurisdictions.
Regards,
Martin Brown
Sylvia Else
There are some protocols they're required to follow. If the frontline
people won't act, then escalate it to their superiors. The situation
isn't the same as the scam letter, because there are mechanisms in place
to identify the source of harrassing phone calls.
I found
http://www.qwest.com/wholesale/clecs/features/calltrace.html
Note the manual trace requirements. You need a law-enforcement case
number, etc. You don't require that the police actually to have done
anything about it at that point. Make enough fuss, and demand a case
number, and I'm sure the police will create one just to shut you up.
Sylvia.
Baron
Thanks for the info. I'm in the UK.
BT (British Telecom) are the primary provider here.
--
Best Regards:
Baron.
Sylvia Else
I hadn't grasped that I was talking to two separate people with a
similar problem.
The same point about escalating to higher authority applies in the UK.
See http://tinyurl.com/ydyrzzs if you haven't already.
Never accept a refusal from the person you first talk to about a problem
like this. Always ask to speak to their supervisor if they won't assist.
If you still get no joy, put your complaint in writing, and send it to
the head-office by registered post. Put a note in the letter mentioning
that it was sent by registered post (stops them putting it into the two
hard basket with the intent of denying receipt later).
Sylvia.
Robert Baer
Their only true function is to use traffic violations to collect
money for the city.
It is a fact that in some cities the officers are TOLD (daily) to
earn their pay by writing tickets.
**
They refused to help me.
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
(i think) a week.
Normally you would say this is a slam dunk in that they call so many
times a day and almost every day in a week period.
BUT.
They _stop_ as soon as i try this, i get peace for maybe a week, and
then they slowly start up again.
Been there, tried that.
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
the voice, and (3) they say something relevant.
Translation: one of 50 pass.
Robert Baer
numbers gives peace for a few weeks.
I do pass on new phone number to friends only and they do not blab.
I use the standard 555-1212 on web forms.
Robert Baer
I used *57 three times on a "no name no number" call, the recorded
voice said the calls were traced and i would be charged $$$ each time.
*LIE*
I then called the given number, the so-called call annoyance bureau,
and they HAD *NO* RECORD of them.
I even told them the exact date and times - to NO avail.
When i got the bill, i called Qwest office and they -->immediately<--
and cheerfully dropped the charges!
That attitude makes me believe they know the *57 is a scam.
And the PUC does not give a damn.
Sylvia Else
It seems odd that a lot of people end up in prison then.
> It is a fact that in some cities the officers are TOLD (daily) to earn
> their pay by writing tickets.
> **
> They refused to help me.
What happened when you escalated it by making a complaint about the
matter in writing?
Sylvia.
Sylvia Else
So you didn't say it was marketeers, but you didn't ask them why they
thought it was marketeers?
Have you tried asking to speak to a supervisor?
Sylvia.
Sylvia Else
Perhaps it just doesn't work very well. Anyway, you need to keep
focussed here. Your concern is not whether *57 works as advertised, but
how to address the annoyance calls. The manual trace sounds like the
appropriate course.
Sylvia.
Jan Panteltje
<syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote in
<00f2da7b$0$6697$c3e...@news.astraweb.com>:
Personally I think he should talk to a shrink first :-)
Michael
> On Dec 25, 9:15 pm, Robert Baer <robertb...@localnet.com> wrote:
>
> > Well i tried one of those recordings onhttp://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.htmlandthe marketeers that
> > constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at least 2 weeks.
> > What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a "UUU"
> > "no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message that the
> > call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the so-called call
> > annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning the message was a
> > blatant lie.
> > The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i
> > should not have used it, and that they would not press the issue to
> > Qwest (my "provider").
> > Pissant bureaucrats!
> > **
> > It would appear that a TOTAL disconnect of my phone _might_ stop
> > these calls..
>
> getting pissed off when you should be having fun with them.
>
> Answer the call, listen to the pitch, answer all the questions as if
> you want to buy what they're selling right up until you get to where
> they want your credit card number or mailing address then say "just a
> minute, I have to go to the bathroom; I'll be right back", then lay
> the phone down and listen for the BEEP BEEP BEEP letting you know
> they've disconnected, then hang up.
>
> When they call back, apologize for the unreliable phone connection
> and repeat the above procedure, with variations like interrupting the
> caller to discuss your grandson's first tooth, your hernia operation/
> kidney stone/colostomy bag, how the Liberals/Conservatives/Communists/
> Christians/Muslims/Atheists are ruining the country, or whatever
> amuses you. Eventually they'll decide they're not going to be able to
> sell you anything and cross your number off their list.
>
> It may take a while, and the bastards may resell your number to
> somebody else, but keep at it. AFAIK it's the only sure way to get rid
> of them without going completely off-grid.
>
Actually this is what I have been doing for years: I ask if this a
courtesy call, if yes, I apologize, ask them to wait a second please
and follow procedure above. Took less than 30 seconds of my time (I
dropped my land line some time ago, they do not call cell
phones.....yet). If everybody followed this procedure, phone
telemarketing would die out
JosephKK
>Baron wrote:
>> Robert Baer Inscribed thus:
>>
>>> Well i tried one of those recordings on
>>> http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html and the marketeers that
>>> constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at least 2
>>> weeks.
>>> What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a "UUU"
>>> "no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message that the
>>> call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the so-called call
>>> annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning the message was a
>>> blatant lie.
>>> The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i
>>> should not have used it, and that they would not press the issue to
>>> Qwest (my "provider").
>>> Say what? How the hell else can i catch these bastards?
>>> Pissant bureaucrats!
>>> **
>>> It would appear that a TOTAL disconnect of my phone _might_ stop
>>> these calls..
>>
>> I ended up with having to give up my number and was issued with a new
>> one that it permanently withheld and registered with TPS.
>>
>> Even that didn't stop all the unwanted calls. Apparently they use an
>> incrementing count dialer to find the hidden numbers. So if you answer
>> the phone they log the fact and record it.
>>
> Been there, done that; does NO good.
Try this: Warn friends and selected relatives, unplug all phones and
anything else that might "pick-up" for a week.
Jim Thompson
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>PeterD wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:55:22 -0800, Robert Baer
>> <rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> They say that they cannot do anything, because....i have zero info on
>>> the callers.
>>
>> Robert, where are you located?
> In Portland Oregon; what difference does it make?
Somebody doesn't like you ?:-)
Jim Thompson
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
Aha! So you are having an answering machine automatically answer?
Why don't you just build a box that prevents ringing if it doesn't
recognize a "valid" CID?
Jim Thompson
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
[snip]
Sounds to me that one of your "friends" is not a friend ;-)
No wonder, if you whine to your friends like you whine here ;-)
Sylvia Else
I confess that the thought had crossed my mind. The level of
indifference he claims to have received from those whose responsbility
it is to deal with the issue beggars belief.
Sylvia.
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
After all, they have an infinite source of money from us taxpayers,
so why should they (gasp!) work?
I cannot climb up a vertical cliff.
Robert Baer
Just as fictional as *57.
Robert Baer
These idiots always hang up like that.
Robert Baer
Will keep it in mind.
So far, it has been quiet after getting extra services (Call
Rejection Enhanced, No solicitation, and 3rd Party Call Block).
Robert Baer
> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:15:38 -0800, Robert Baer
> <rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>
>> PeterD wrote:
>>> On Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:55:22 -0800, Robert Baer
>>> <rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> They say that they cannot do anything, because....i have zero info on
>>>> the callers.
>>> Robert, where are you located?
>> In Portland Oregon; what difference does it make?
>
> Somebody doesn't like you ?:-)
>
> ...Jim Thompson
which uses phone numbers scattered over the US, and a local one that
uses a fraudulent name.
If i catch either one, i will borrow a few thousand dollars and get a
lawyer involved to collect that $500 per call plus whatever else will stick.
Robert Baer
John Devereux
Can't remember if this has been suggested, but how about switching to a
cellphone? (Lots of people are doing this anyway).
--
John Devereux
Sylvia Else
>
> Can't remember if this has been suggested, but how about switching to a
> cellphone? (Lots of people are doing this anyway).
>
They tend to be expensive to use by comparison with a land-line, and
there are unresolved health concerns.
Sylvia.
Jan Panteltje
<syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote in
<00b713ea$0$17161$c3e...@news.astraweb.com>:
The solution is:
Use landline to call out for long conversations from home,
only connect phone when making a call.
Use cellphone for incoming calls, and also outgoing calls when not home.
John Devereux
Jim Thompson
Martin Brown
> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:20:44 -0800, Robert Baer
> <rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>
>> Martin Brown wrote:
>>> Change to ex-directory and select no inclusion in any public catalogues.
>>> This will make you invisible to all but the most determined random
>>> number phone spammer systems. It stops friends finding you too.
>> * Does not work; being unlisted makes zero difference, changing phone
>> numbers gives peace for a few weeks.
>> I do pass on new phone number to friends only and they do not blab.
>> I use the standard 555-1212 on web forms.
>>
> [snip]
>
> Sounds to me that one of your "friends" is not a friend ;-)
More likely he fills in sucker forms with all his personal details to
get $10 vouchers.
> No wonder, if you whine to your friends like you whine here ;-)
>
> ...Jim Thompson
I don't often agree entirely with JT but on this occasion I will make an
exception.
If you are ex-directory and you get cold called ask to speak to the
supervisor and tear a suitably wide strip off them. If I get cold called
and am in a bad mood I play them for as long as possible by putting them
on hold for a few minutes while I "look" for my credit card. YMMV
Alternatively if your telco allows it reject all anonymous calls without
CLID. My boiler service engineer does this and I have to remember to use
the right escape codes as my home phone by default does not send CLID.
If you have the right sort of black box I cannot see why you are
whining. RTFM !!!!! Or as a cheapskate you bought the wrong one.
Happy New Year everybody else.
Regards,
Martin Brown
krw
Not everywhere. It was cheaper for me to have two Verizon cell phones
with the 750Min/Mo deal than one Verizon POTs line (note that Verizon
<> Verizon). The cell phones came with "free" LD, too, saving a *lot*
more. Prepaid can be a lot cheaper than that (as low as $.06/min).
POTS tariffs are controlled by PUCs and they often have an outdated,
Robinhood, bent.
Robert Baer
within 2 business days after receipt.
Two months later i received the un-cashed check and more dunning letters.
It took me 6 months and a high-powered lawyer to straighten that out.
That was a long time ago when i had a few nickels to rub
together..now i pick up pennies off the sidewalk.
Robert Baer
does one get to use it at less than $30/month?
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
Right now i have been enjoying (shh!) s i l e n c e due to the 3 new
services.
Robert Baer
>
> Alternatively if your telco allows it reject all anonymous calls without
> CLID. My boiler service engineer does this and I have to remember to use
> the right escape codes as my home phone by default does not send CLID.
* I now have 3 services that do a lot of what has been mentioned, and i
have beem enjoying silence for 2 weeks so far (shh!).
Robert Baer
and i use a long distance calling card and pay well under two cents per
minute.
And i bet that 750Min/Mo deal required a N-month contract in the $200
range to get it started..am not counting the $$$ per month fees......
Sylvia Else
Sometimes events occur that the frontline staff are incapable of dealing
with. I've tended to find that rather than arguing with them, or
accepting repeated promises that it'll be fixed, it's much quicker, and
less stressful, to start a relevant proceeding before a small claims
tribunal of some sort (they exist in many jurisdictions). This is
usually enough to escalate the problem to a level where someone is
competent to address the problem, or at least has the authority to write
off any alleged debt.
Sylvia.
Jan Panteltje
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote in
<tK2dnc2jN74O7aHW...@posted.localnet>:
> In an un-related incident, i got dunned for a bill that i had paid
>within 2 business days after receipt.
> Two months later i received the un-cashed check and more dunning letters.
> It took me 6 months and a high-powered lawyer to straighten that out.
> That was a long time ago when i had a few nickels to rub
>together..now i pick up pennies off the sidewalk.
Get some law insurance, do not bother, send it to them.
Law insurance is dirt cheap over here.
What happens is that *they* will write a letter to who- or what ever it is that treated you wrong,
that usually scares the sh*t out of those enough to seriously look at the facts.
Worked for me in the past a couple of times.
It has a side effect too, you get known as 'do not make problems with that person'.
:-)
Result: No more problems.
No matter how much money they have for a lawyer, my insurance is one of the biggest in the country...
Will eat them alive.
But you better know you are right.
Jan Panteltje
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote in
<tK2dnc-jN77L7KHW...@posted.localnet>:
No way, if you use a prepayed cellphone.
Incoming calls are free.
Jan Panteltje
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote in
<tK2dnc6jN77m7KHW...@posted.localnet>:
You are so incredibly ignorant, do you *ever* think before you come up
with these things?
Oh, no, do not answere.
LOL
krw
You have to be *very* careful how they "write it off". You don't want
it following you as a bad debt. You need them to admit that the debt
has indeed been paid in full.
krw
<rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>krw wrote:
>> On Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:20:29 +1100, Sylvia Else
>> <syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote:
>>
>>> John Devereux wrote:
>>>> Can't remember if this has been suggested, but how about switching to a
>>>> cellphone? (Lots of people are doing this anyway).
>>>>
>>> They tend to be expensive to use by comparison with a land-line, and
>>> there are unresolved health concerns.
>>
>> Not everywhere. It was cheaper for me to have two Verizon cell phones
>> with the 750Min/Mo deal than one Verizon POTs line (note that Verizon
>> <> Verizon). The cell phones came with "free" LD, too, saving a *lot*
>> more. Prepaid can be a lot cheaper than that (as low as $.06/min).
>>
>> POTS tariffs are controlled by PUCs and they often have an outdated,
>> Robinhood, bent.
> I have unlimited local which is much less than six cents per minute,
>and i use a long distance calling card and pay well under two cents per
>minute.
That in entirely dependent on your PUCs tariffs. My local calls were
call unit based and the monthly charges were very high (LD was
astronomical). The point is that POTs lines are not all the same,
everywhere. I got rid of one POTS line for the cheaper cable modem
when they became available and the other for a cell phone, which *was*
cheaper than the local charges alone and got LD thrown in.
> And i bet that 750Min/Mo deal required a N-month contract in the $200
>range to get it started..am not counting the $$$ per month fees......
12 months, $0 startup, $30 or so for the phones, and less than $60/mo
(fees included). I've renewed it three times (the second and third
were for two years) It's about $5 more now but I've never paid
anything other than phone "upgrades" up front. My contract has
expired so they're constantly sending me renewal adverts. Since I
don't use my phone much I'm thinking about a prepaid phone. AIUI, the
Verizon network is a necessity here so was thinking about PagePlus.
John Devereux
> John Devereux wrote:
[...]
>>
>> Can't remember if this has been suggested, but how about switching to a
>> cellphone? (Lots of people are doing this anyway).
>>
> Pray tell, (1) how does one use a cell phone for dial-up;
In the UK most of them can be used for internet access. Or perhaps you
can come to an arrangment with a neighbor to share an internet
connection (via wifi)?
> (2) how does one get to use it at less than $30/month?
I did not know where you were when I wrote that, and in any case I don't
know what is available to you locally.
Most people in the UK have both land-line and mobiles. It can be
feasible to switch to mobile only, depending on your contract and usage
of course. Some of them have "free" internet access, or some free number
of megabytes downloaded per month etc. It is true that $30 per month is
at the lower end of the scale and might not be acheivable with your
internet usage. Then again if you are still on dial-up perhaps your
internet usage is very low anyway.
--
John Devereux
JosephKK
Just so that there is less misunderstanding, i get lots of these calls as well.
The phone rings, and if i or the answering machine picks up, they hang up.
It may be a form of privacy intrusion.
JosephKK
>On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:20:44 -0800, Robert Baer
><rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>
>>Martin Brown wrote:
>>> Robert Baer wrote:
>>>> PeterD wrote:
>>>>> On Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:38:11 -0800, Robert Baer
>>>>> <rober...@localnet.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Jan Panteltje wrote:
>>>>>>> On a sunny day (Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:15:06 -0800) it happened Robert
>>>>>>> Baer
>>>>>>> <rober...@localnet.com> wrote in
>>>>>>> <1KOdndg809PrBqjW...@posted.localnet>:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Well i tried one of those recordings on
>>>>>>>> http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html and the marketeers
>>>>>>>> that constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at
>>>>>>>> least 2 weeks.
>>>>>>>> What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a
>>>>>>>> "UUU" "no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message
>>>>>>>> that the call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the
>>>>>>>> so-called call annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning
>>>>>>>> the message was a blatant lie.
>>>>>>>> The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i
>>>>>>>> should not have used it, and that they would not press the issue
>>>>>>>> to Qwest (my "provider").
>>>>>>>> Say what? How the hell else can i catch these bastards?
>>>>>>>> Pissant bureaucrats!
>>>>>>>> **
>>>>>>>> It would appear that a TOTAL disconnect of my phone _might_ stop
>>>>>>>> these calls..
>>>
>>> Change to ex-directory and select no inclusion in any public catalogues.
>>> This will make you invisible to all but the most determined random
>>> number phone spammer systems. It stops friends finding you too.
>>* Does not work; being unlisted makes zero difference, changing phone
>>numbers gives peace for a few weeks.
>> I do pass on new phone number to friends only and they do not blab.
>> I use the standard 555-1212 on web forms.
>>
>[snip]
>
>Sounds to me that one of your "friends" is not a friend ;-)
>
>No wonder, if you whine to your friends like you whine here ;-)
>
> ...Jim Thompson
No long term memory? And you want to make a product that does much
of what Robert wants. Consistency error.
JosephKK
Be that as it may, the box is a one time only cost, the added "services"
are recurring monthly cost. Over a years time, the services may well cost
more that the box.
Jim Thompson
It's already made, as I've previously posted.
Lacks CID pass-thru feature, but they're working on it.
Whose memory is it that's going ?:-)
...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |
"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot
strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring
about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage
earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the
brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build
character and courage by taking away people's initiative and
independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for
them, what they could and should do for themselves."
-William J.H. Boetcker
JosephKK
>On a sunny day (Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:46:00 +1100) it happened Sylvia Else
><syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote in
><00f2da7b$0$6697$c3e...@news.astraweb.com>:
>
>>Robert Baer wrote:
>>> Sylvia Else wrote:
>>>> Robert Baer wrote:
>>>>> Well i tried one of those recordings on
>>>>> http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html and the marketeers that
>>>>> constantly call _continued_ to call; i "gave it a try for at least 2
>>>>> weeks.
>>>>> What really pissed me off was that one of them came up with a "UUU"
>>>>> "no number" ID and so i (finally) used *57, got the message that the
>>>>> call was traced; after trapping 3 of them i called the so-called call
>>>>> annoyance bureau and they had *NO* record, meaning the message was a
>>>>> blatant lie.
>>>>> The PUC said that *57 was not for tracing marketeers and that i
>>>>> should not have used it, and that they would not press the issue to
>>>>> Qwest (my "provider").
>>>>
>>>> Why would they assume it was marketeers?
>>>>
>>>> Sylvia.
>>> Maybe that is one of their parrot answers?
>>
>>So you didn't say it was marketeers, but you didn't ask them why they
>>thought it was marketeers?
>>
>>Have you tried asking to speak to a supervisor?
>>
>>Sylvia.
>
>Personally I think he should talk to a shrink first :-)
That is an asshole thing to say.
JosephKK
I think that if the radio energy of handheld transmitters were a real
problem that there would have been substantial evidence of it in the
various amateur radio communities. After all they have been using
equally or more powerful UHF radios held up against the head for
far longer. Likewise emergency services personnel.
In short, the evidence i have seen does not support the cell phone
radio energy problem.
Robert Baer
to WA and some got trashed.
At the receiving end (my name was used as sender and receiver as i
was moving), i filed for loss as UPS is supposed to insure that.
They refused to send out an investigator saying nothing got lost when
clearly to anyone that actually looked, there was a large loss of
contents from 2 boxes with findings packed by them into one box.
I called again asking how to handle that problem and was told to file
for loss.
This was done about a dozen times and each time the record of filing
was wantonly removed from all internal records.
So i asked the WA dept of insurance (or whatever they called it then)
to intervene.
Well, the head of the WA dept got no response either (2 times), and
so sent a letter of demand with a deadline.
I then received the response dated ONE day after the deadline, with
the name of the WA department head and *my* address.
I know that the regional manager of UPS wanted me to open that
response and thus commit a Federal Offense (tampering with the mails).
Real bullshit; typical of what happens to me.
Robert Baer
> On a sunny day (Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:41:15 -0800) it happened Robert Baer
> <rober...@localnet.com> wrote in
> <tK2dnc-jN77L7KHW...@posted.localnet>:
>
>> Jan Panteltje wrote:
>>> On a sunny day (Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:20:29 +1100) it happened Sylvia Else
>>> <syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote in
>>> <00b713ea$0$17161$c3e...@news.astraweb.com>:
>>>
>>>> John Devereux wrote:
>>>>> Can't remember if this has been suggested, but how about switching to a
>>>>> cellphone? (Lots of people are doing this anyway).
>>>>>
>>>> They tend to be expensive to use by comparison with a land-line, and
>>>> there are unresolved health concerns.
>>>>
>>>> Sylvia.
>>> The solution is:
>>> Use landline to call out for long conversations from home,
>>> only connect phone when making a call.
>>> Use cellphone for incoming calls, and also outgoing calls when not home.
>>>
>> That costs a _lot_ more money than a simple land line.
>
> No way, if you use a prepayed cellphone.
> Incoming calls are free.
Robert Baer
It is an extra cost, period - i am not that stupid.
Robert Baer
Once i had a "tiff" regarding a debt that never happened; letters to
the billing agency and to the debt collection agencies did no good.
I responded by letter every month that i got a bill with the exact
same wording to no avail for almost two years.
Phone calls at work from collectors were not exactly helpful for sanity.
At least the monthly bills stopped; they became 2-3 times a year for
five years.
I kept originals of all paperwork in case they were stupid enough to
take me to court.
Robert Baer
Robert Baer
only one needed URL is slow due to ??? (Fidelity).
Mouser is not too bad; DigiKey is slightly worse.
Robert Baer
But it is virtually impossible to get the idiots to stop.
Really asinine when the same caller calls up to 5 times in a day.
Robert Baer
However, if the same idiots get thru, there should be a recoverable
record to use in a court of law.
JosephKK
Damn, and i used to be worried about my strange excursions.