Telephone Sales Call - I am beginning to hate the sound of the phone.

[Robin Hood]

We live in a very small town. I have been very upset that I have been receiving recorded sales messages from local businesses in our very polite community. These are people I thought would never stoop so low and if they chose to do this, there must be money to be made in it. I decided to call the businesses and ask them why they are doing this and found out that they are not. They had no idea I had received calls from them. One business said their office is not even open on the day that I got the call. I called the other immediately after I received their call and no one had been using the phone. I have no idea if our business number is being used in this manner.

Can people swipe the use of your phone number to gain income? How does this work? How can I find out. The phone company can't answer the questions.

[Holly IN]

I know that I have to add myself to the No call list because mine expired. Rigth now we are getting survey calls. These are just as bad as sales calls because they do not let you talk at all so I just hang up on them. Get yourself on the No call list.

Holly

[j.griff]

If you have a phone service like Vonage- you can choose to have any company's name and/or number show up in the caller id of the people you call. Seriously- you can't depend on caller id to accurately identify whether a legit company is calling you or not- it's always best to not give any info out to anyone calling you- instead hang up and call the company's 800 number yourself (the one on your banking/billing statement, or the one listed in the phone book). very very frustrating.

[Robin Hood]

If you have a phone service like Vonage- you can choose to have any company's name and/or number show up in the caller id of the people you call. Seriously- you can't depend on caller id to accurately identify whether a legit company is calling you or not- it's always best to not give any info out to anyone calling you- instead hang up and call the company's 800 number yourself (the one on your banking/billing statement, or the one listed in the phone book). very very frustrating.

That sounds so unethical; so unethical that it sounds illegal. Don't we pay for exclusive use of numbers? Or will this be the latest new charge on our phone bills?

I know that caller id is not always accurate by the nature of some of the calls I get, but it usually errors on the side of not enough info, not lying about info. Of course, how would I know if someone I don't know and choose not to answer is lying or stealing? I am really disturbed by this. I need to calm down.

[Robin Hood]

I know that I have to add myself to the No call list because mine expired. Rigth now we are getting survey calls. These are just as bad as sales calls because they do not let you talk at all so I just hang up on them. Get yourself on the No call list.

Holly

I did this 2 weeks ago and since I have, my calls have tripled. When I get recorded messages, I set the phone down and let them talk on. I am pretending that I am taking up phone time for them so it will cost them more and perhaps preventing other calls from going through. There is probably no sense in that, but it makes me feel like I am getting some revenge.

[j.griff]

It IS disturbing- and unethical, and I agree that it shouldn't be "legal"- BUT- the type of people who pull those scams aren't exactly the most ethical lot, KWIM? They are scavengers, predators, etc.

[Robin Hood]

That sounds so unethical; so unethical that it sounds illegal. Don't we pay for exclusive use of numbers? Or will this be the latest new charge on our phone bills?

I know that caller id is not always accurate by the nature of some of the calls I get, but it usually errors on the side of not enough info, not lying about info. Of course, how would I know if someone I don't know and choose not to answer is lying or stealing? I am really disturbed by this. I need to calm down.


I think I misunderstood you. What I am not understanding is how the tiny little privately owned cemetary number is in my caller id and the message is clearly not form them. Or how the privately owned tire shop number down the road is in my id when their phone was not even in use.

[Holly IN]

The no call list is not effective right away. I think it is either a 30 day or a 60 day waiting for it to be active.

Holly

[j.griff]

People with certain phone services, can choose to display the number of your local cemetary as the number they are calling from- even though they aren't actually calling from that number. They can display the Bank of America 800 number, and choose the display name to be Bank of America if they wish. I am not sure what "good" such a feature would serve- really. I just know that it's possible.

[Robin Hood]

People with certain phone services, can choose to display the number of your local cemetary as the number they are calling from- even though they aren't actually calling from that number. They can display the Bank of America 800 number, and choose the display name to be Bank of America if they wish. I am not sure what "good" such a feature would serve- really. I just know that it's possible.

I guess I did understand and what is, is what is. Grrr. Well, I have already notified the locals whose phone numbers have been displayed and they are mad, too. One was so mad he was going to call the police. I am concerned that our business number is being used in this manner without our knowledge and hurting our good reputation in this little community.

[j.griff]

You could contact a local news station/paper and inform them of the practice, and ask them to run a story about it- to warn consumers and clear the names of the small businesses whose numbers are being used.

[Robin Hood]

You could contact a local news station/paper and inform them of the practice, and ask them to run a story about it- to warn consumers and clear the names of the small businesses whose numbers are being used.

That's a great idea. I wanted to write my first letter to the editor, but I am a terrible writer. I'd chicken out. Thanks.