Sunday, January 22, 2017

How To Stop Robocalls

Ahoy!!! The Sacramento Bee tells us how to stop those annoying robocalls. They point to a free service, nomorobo, that blocks calls if it determines it's a robocall. I must have misread the article as I thought it said AT&T supported nomorobo. When I tried to add my number, it said AT&T didn't support it, but maybe it's our particular type of phone line not supported- they differentiate between Uverse and such. I'll try again later.

They also have a link to the national Do Not Call registry.I think we might already be on that one, but when you try to add your number, they e-mail and let you know if you're already on it. I haven't checked my inbox yet.

The robocalls drive the wife nuts as she seems to feel driven to pick up the phone when it rings. I don't, and generally let the answering machine handle calls. Robocalls seem to usually hang up if they get the answering machine. But, since I've been having so much fun answering the phone with my new greeting: "Ahoy!", I've been grabbing the phone when it rings, too. It's no fun answering with "Ahoy" to a robocall.

15 Comments:

At 8:51 AM, Blogger Henchman Of Justice said...

Never works does it?

Robocalls made illegal, but after 2 decades, still occuring constantly.

At what point does a man come to terms with reality that the world we live in is a hoax........

 
At 9:00 AM, Anonymous BGG said...

My wife also is nuts about answering the phone. "What if it's and emergency ?" She says. Let em call 911.

 
At 9:13 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

you got UVERSE , your screwed
there is no regulatory commission in this state or country that can help you and thats why AT&T started UVERSE .
the old way before uverse you could go thru CPUC with any complaint but not now with uverse
and get caller ID , it shows the numbers when someone calls and if its strange # then it goes to the machine

 
At 9:36 AM, Blogger gabriele gray said...

I live in an area where there will be a local election in March. I seldom live answer my phone (and I don't have an answering machine)because people that know me email me or call my cell... but the phone kept ringing and ringing, so I answered it.
It was a recorded message from someone running for public office. I'm going to look at the regulations about robocalls like this and if they're not allowed, well I will campaign against this unfit for public office (he already serves) slime machine. And I will go to his campaign office and let them know...might even picket outside...
I already changed my political affiliation to Decline to State so I won't get all the party-slanted mailings.
Other times if I decide to actually answer the phone (needing easy amusement) I'll pick it up....and say nothing...waiting to see what the other person says...if anything. Thinking about buying a very shrill high pitched whistle.

 
At 9:37 AM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Well, damn! I'd seen uverse mentioned in stuff I got from AT&T but thought it was something I had to sign up for, not that I was already on it.

Oh, well. That's what answering machines are for.

 
At 9:54 AM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

I don't get those robocalls from candidates at all. I remember getting one with a recording of George (of Mesopotamia) Bush, and wondering how stupid to they think I am that I'd listen to the whole thing and make a decision based on it.

 
At 10:32 AM, Anonymous Mary Ann said...

I use the call blocking feature on my phone and set it to not even ring. Yes you do have to add each new number to the call block list but so worth it. Many are repeat callers so they only get through once.

 
At 10:48 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am on the DO Not Call list, but I still get calls. It does not work.

 
At 11:26 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Two points: Uverse is VoIP meaning through the internet hence not regulated by the Cal PUC as copper wire land lines are.

Also, non profit organizations and politicians were exempted from the Do Not Call list so both are free to make such calls.

 
At 11:40 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

They always find a way around any blocking crap! From India for example

 
At 2:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nomorobo only works if your telephone service supports simultaneous ringing. That means when someone calls you, they're also ringing a Nomorobo number. If Nomorobo thinks it's a telemarketer, the caller is hung up on. All you experience on your end is your phone ringing once that initial time. Nomorobo describes this as a helpful single ring notification, but I think it's more a matter of their not being able to stop it from happening.

If Nomorobo thinks it's a legit incoming caller, then your phone rings again and you can pick up the line. I don't know how that part of the service works, but I suspect the second ring is really Nomorobo calling you and then patching you through to the caller who is already on the line.


[This](https://www.amazon.com/Tel-Sentry-Automatic-Blocking-Election-without/dp/B00U1PPWDO/) call blocker is an excellent substitute if you can't use Nomorobo. I've used it for 2 years and had only one telemarketer get through. I used to receive several unwanted calls every day. When you read how the device works you'll be surprised something so simple stops a telemarketer, but yeah, it does.

 
At 4:55 PM, Blogger Bill said...

The DO NOT CALL list does work, provided you continue to re-signup annually. I do it in less than a year so that I'm still on the list during the 3 to 4 weeks it takes to activate your number. As soon as your number comes off the list, the robocalls will start coming.

 
At 7:10 PM, Blogger gabriele gray said...

No escape, Anonymous is right:
CHAPTER 118. An act to amend Section 2194 of, and to add Section 2194.1 to, the. Elections Code, relating to voter information
...it goes on to say who can't access the info and then adds:
"(3)  Shall be provided with respect to any voter, subject to the provisions
of Sections 2166.5, 2166.7, and 2188, to any candidate for federal, state, or
local office, to any committee for or against any initiative or referendum
measure for which legal publication is made, and to any person for election,
scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes, or for governmental purposes,
as determined by the Secretary of State."
So I won't go and picket but I will continue to be rude whenever I want to. Or probably just pick up the phone...wait 15 seconds and then hang up. So the 'no call' list is working, it's just all the election bs.
Time to put up a 'No solicitations, no politicking' sign on my front door.
Or perhaps, going for honesty:
"Unpleasant grouch lives here who does not want to talk to strangers . Do not knock".

 
At 7:30 AM, Blogger Henchman Of Justice said...

Because the "laws" American politicians create are those designed intentionally to allow an "end around".

Surely a law covering all devices past, present and future with a simple statement that marketing calls are all illegal and any attempt to subvert that one law is also illegal.

Then, of course, the lack of enforcement and non effective punishment.

To own a business is to say yes to losing everything on your back if you play fair.

Sorry small businesses, but gubbamint don't like fair play, and so corporations reign.

 
At 7:36 AM, Blogger Henchman Of Justice said...

Lying politicians create the end around, one year instead of in perpetuity.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home