USING 3-4 DIGIT NUMBERS TO GET PAST Anynomonus Call block.

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 25, 2008 Posts: 11

Does any one know how to get rid of unwanted callers.

I have had my phone number for 6 yrs and once in a while get calls from bill collectors for the previous people who had this number.

I have anynomonus call block feature on, but these bill collectors are now using 1602 as there number and it shows "unknown" or "Local Call" on the caller id.

I guess this is a trick they are using to get past the anynomonus call block.

Any help would be great and very much appreciated.

Thanks a lot!!

Posts: 339 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 04, 2005 Posts: 339

The calls with spoofed Caller ID are technically not anonymous, as Caller ID was presented. Therefore, anonymous call blocking filters won't catch them. Now, the FCC does require that telemarketers display a correct phone number that you can call back to during regular business hours. If you are receiving calls from telemarketers who are presenting an invalid phone number, you can report them to the FCC. Information about doing this can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/callerid.html

For bill collectiors, however, typically have to follow rules governing how they interact with the persons they are attempting to collect from. If they're calling you to reach someone that previously had your phone number, I'm not sure what recourse you might have. If you have told a paticular collector that the person they are looking for is not at that number, I would think that they would be required to stop contacting you. You could find more information here http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

Posts: 46

steeve725 wrote:

Does any one know how to get rid of unwanted callers.

You might consider "investing" in some free software. Look at PhoneTray Free v1.31 on this site: http://www.phonetray.com/.

You will also need a voice modem. I use a MultiTech modem which you can read about here: http://www.multitech.com/PRODUCTS/Families/MultiModemZPX/

With this combo you can "reject" calls by CID phone number or any part of a CID phone number. You can optionally send the "disconnected" tone which, if the call is placed by an autodialer, will usually cause the computer to drop the phone number from the call list. Or, you can cause a special tone to sound (or use a voice announcement you have recored) when you get a call from a number you have "blacklisted" or "whitelisted". This has worked like a charm for me for over three years (Vonage & Comcast).

Posts: 4751 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4751

I agree with Trekologer. The straightforward approach is to explain to a bill collector once. Add that you're keeping a log and that further contact will result in a complaint filed with the FCC and/or your attorney.

Posts: 14 · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject:

Steve48 wrote:

I agree with Trekologer. The straightforward approach is to explain to a bill collector once. Add that you're keeping a log and that further contact will result in a complaint filed with the FCC and/or your attorney.

Actually, from my observation when I lived in Seattle, WA USA, that approach doesn't always work. The bill collectors will continue on calling and calling. I had to sue an entire collection agency, because the agency is a corporation; you sue everyone!

Generally, to stop the collection calls, if they are not for you, is to get the account info and company billing phone number from the bill collector. Next, contact that company that is trying to collect from someone that used to have your number, and explain to them that the person they are searching for is not there. After that, give them 72 hours to contact their collections agency.

I've done the calling format and found it easier than to sue a collection agency, as collection agencies are equipped with bonds for lawsuits.

Posts: 4751 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4751

Yeesh. So how did your lawsuit work out?

Posts: 14 · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

Steve48 wrote:

Yeesh. So how did your lawsuit work out?

Funny you should ask... In my business, I collect data, lots of data, all kinds of data, including useless data, which sometimes becomes useful in the future. When initiating a lawsuit, exerps of my data is given to the magistrate and most of the time, I'm told that I have have way too much evidence, which results in a settlement.

Marcos

Posts: 26 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Oct 29, 2005 Posts: 26

Wouldn't is be easier to just not answer calls that show up with number[s] you do not recognize??? Too many people have a unexplainable need to answer a phone even if they don't know whose calling. It's a feeling of self-importance. If you don't answer it they will eventually stop calling.

Posts: 1178 · Member of the Week Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 1178

what you say Remag is true of some unwanted solicitors. but in the case of bill collectors, they tend to keep leaving messages knowing that if the actual debtor is listening, they will never pick up the phone. hence from the bill collector's end, they will never know whether they are reaching the debtor or not.

it is always best to talk with them and explain to them that the person they are looking for is no longer using the number.

or use mcmiranda's advice.

Posts: 174 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 174

This may work if a LIVE person is doing the calling, however, I went through this last year with a collection agency looking for someone who had my number previously. It was an automated announcement only system which directed me to call a toll-free number.

My solution was to Google the number. Once I found the company and website to which the number belonged, I did a whois, discovered their contact information and began leaving the recorded messages that I had been receiving from their company with commentary that if this annoyed them, they could well imagine how annoyed I was.

The phone calls stopped very quickly.