Seen in Print

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Oh, and when I am in a certain saucy mood, I have said, in reply to their first remark: "Tell me your full name" (you're calling me by mine), your address, and (especially, spoken with vigor) where you park your car, so I can plan a visit right to you, no matter wherever you are."
They have consistently declined to answer.

(Is that bad? Does that make me a bad person? Oh, I hope so.)

[HONDO74]

Oh, and when I am in a certain saucy mood, I have said, in reply to their first remark: "Tell me your full name" (you're calling me by mine), your address, and (especially, spoken with vigor) where you park your car, so I can plan a visit right to you, no matter wherever you are."
They have consistently declined to answer.

(Is that bad? Does that make me a bad person? Oh, I hope so.)

Most of the people doing the phone calls are just trying to earn a living so I try not to be nasty to them. I just tell them SORRY, but thanks for calling and hang up.

[sleepmac]

Hondo, I appreciate your compassion toward such workers trying to earn a living.

Dan Weinhold

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Most of the people doing the phone calls are just trying to earn a living so I try not to be nasty to them. I just tell them SORRY, but thanks for calling and hang up.

It's very rare that there is a living being at the other end of the calls I get.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Hondo, I appreciate your compassion toward such workers trying to earn a living.
Dan Weinhold

I appreciate Hondo's point, also, but do you both really think it is all that simple? Nothing nefarious is ever intended?

Life is complicated.

I'll try his softer approach, not that it will make much difference in protecting myself against intrusion and potential larceny. They start at 8:00am and proceed straight through until 9:30pm-ish, telling me I need this and that, or responding to my answering with silence.

Interesting. I just this moment got a call from (201) 970-1813, for the umpteenth time, always silent when I say Hello. How do these people get-off on such a move, just hearing a person answer the phone and then saying nothing? This particular number, allegedly from Hackensack, NJ, upon my calling them back using *69, tells me I am harassing them!!!

What DEFENSE does one have?

Just trying to earn a living?! Let's not be totally naïve. There is a point where we have to defend ourselves from folks that aren't always "just earning a living." So is an outright thief, "just earning a living"? Earning a living doesn't make them holy or innocent nor righteous.

[E7]

If you're not really busy you can start a conversation. I once talked with some guy selling some kind of mining shares for about an hour. or ask them their phone number so you could call them when THEY were off work!

[MurphOnMillerAve]

If you're not really busy you can start a conversation. I once talked with some guy selling some kind of mining shares for about an hour. or ask them their phone number so you could call them when THEY were off work!

Doesn't staying on the line with them for such a length of time afford them more information about us, as well as more ways to penetrate our lives?

[E7]

Doesn't staying on the line with them for such a length of time afford them more information about us, as well as more ways to penetrate our lives?

Not if you don't tell them anything. Once upon a time.............

[Rufus T. Firefly]

If you're not really busy you can start a conversation. I once talked with some guy selling some kind of mining shares for about an hour. or ask them their phone number so you could call them when THEY were off work!

I used to have a list of questions by the phone back when there were humans at the other end of the line. Let them do their spiel and then, "I've got a few questions for you..........."

Name?
Business name?
Location?
Phone Number?
Fax#?
e-mail address?
Business location?
License to operation in VA?
Supervisor's name and contact info?
Age?
Shoe size?
Religion?
Ethnicity?
Children?
Home address?
Are they home now?
Where do you keep the rope and cleaning supplies?
Banking information? Account name and numbers?
SS#

Never got all the way through before they hung up.....

Now I just answer with a very loud HELLO! in a very gruff Northumberland (England) accent and before they can respond I tell them, "No! I don't want any more puppies!" and hang up. Or, "Yes! Helicopters do eat their young!" and hang up.

I get very, very few humans calling that number now. It's clear that "they" do keep data on responders,

[rogruth]

Murph,
When you answer the phone and no one responds it is usually because the human answer person hasn't had time to take the call from the computer that made the call.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Thanks, Roger.

[webenda]

Murph,

Your number has not been posted on any of the reverse phone number search sites that I use.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-201-970-1813
https://www.whitepages.com/phone/1-201-970-1813

Try some of your other numbers on 800notes or whitepages.

Here is one of mine.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-410-575-1863
While my nephew was in jail I was plagued by bill collectors looking for him. Before answering I used 800notes to identify what type of call it was. When they called again, I answered and if they asked for my nephew I gave them his jail phone number and address. That stopped the calls to my number.

In another case, Acorn Windows would not stop calling. They were ignoring the National Do Not Call Registry. I filled out an online form with the Better Business Bureau (they were registered members of BBB.) They told the BBB I was lying but would take my number off their call list.

Another method is two phone numbers. I use my public phone number for filling out forms. That phone rings all day long after I buy something. I never answer. If I want the business to call me I use my cell phone number and add them to my list of contacts. That way their business name comes up when they call.

[robert.]

There is a catch with the do not call list. If you give a company your phone number. They can use it along with anybody that does business with them.
If i give Giant foods my phone number.( It is used for my customer discount card) Giant foods can give my number to any vendor they use. Anyone they buy from or sell to.

[webenda]

I understand Robert. You block Giant foods if you want to but you have not blocked the companies they share your number with. That is where using a phone number I never answer (with the ringer turned off) comes in handy.

[Roy]

I just this moment got a call from (201) 970-1813, for the umpteenth time, always silent when I say Hello. How do these people get-off on such a move, just hearing a person answer the phone and then saying nothing? This particular number, allegedly from Hackensack, NJ, upon my calling them back using *69, tells me I am harassing them!!!

Why don't you find out who it is? It might not be a business. Use the reverse lookup with the number, to find out who it is.

Like Wayne, I keep my ringer off much of the time - especially when I'm sleeping. I do have voice mail, so people can leave a message.