« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Telephone calls  (Read 2240 times)

Harrowby Hall

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5063
Telephone calls
« on: February 27, 2020, 08:44:25 AM »
Yesterday I had about 15 (I gave up counting after eight) telephone calls from numbers I did not recognise. As is now my custom, I did not answer them - except for two for which I placed the receiver to my ear and waited for a response. After a few seconds the line disconnected. No messages were recorded on my answer system.

And this morning, the phone rang again at 8.20 am.

Like many of my acquaintances I now use my mobile phone for all calls I make. Where possible - certainly with my family - I use Facetime. The primary reason for my landline now is connection with the internet.

I am sure that many of the calls I do not answer will be from people who wish - by one method or another - to separate me from my money either by providing  services for which I have no need or by defrauding me by some means or other. Were I to answer a call I may find myself speaking to someone in some other country who - by using VOIP - is able to spoof a UK telephone number and to be virtually untraceable.

Do other members have this problem? And, if so, how do you deal with it?

Logged
Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?

Spud

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7337
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2020, 08:49:18 AM »
Yes we have this problem, and talktalk has something called "last call barring", which is a short number you dial and then press the star key twice to bar the last caller's number. It's like reporting spam emails.
Logged

Gordon

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18655
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2020, 08:54:12 AM »
Once I've established that it is a scam, such as asking about the car accident I haven't had, I just tell them to fuck off - I can't see why I should be civil to them.
Logged

Nearly Sane

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 65854
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2020, 08:58:22 AM »
Haven't had a landline in 4 years - have cable for internet. I still get nuisance calls on the mobile but relatively few. As with you, HH, if I don't recognise the number I rarely answer. My mobile also identifies possible scam calls, and selling calls, so I know not to bother with those.
Logged

Roses

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8117
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2020, 09:05:25 AM »
We have a landline, I dislike mobile phones, although I have a basic one, which I only take with me when I am driving. We have a lot less nuisance calls than we used to get, thank goodness, if we don't recognise the number we don't answer the phone, they can leave a voice message if they are people who need to be in touch with us. Spammers never leave messages.

I am getting a lot less spam e-mails too these days, I have very few people on my e-mail list, I am very wary as to who has my e-mail address.
Logged
"At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."

Stranger

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8491
  • Lightly seared on the reality grill.
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2020, 09:28:42 AM »
I bought a really great little device some time ago that answers all my landline calls with a message saying that it's a call blocker, that I don't accept any sort of unsolicited calls, and to press 5 if you have a legitimate reason to call. Since I had it, not one marketing or scam call has come through, at the small expense that some legit callers don't listen to all of the message and get put off. Regular callers soon got the hang of it though.

Looks like the device and company who made it have since disappeared and you can now only get "call blockers" that rely on databases of scam numbers and unconditionally blocking all private and international calls (or not).

It was such a simple and effective idea, I've no idea why it didn't catch on. It would be a great idea for an app for a mobile too but I can't find anything like it.

Since I'm using mobile for virtually everything now, when it finally breaks, I'll probably just not use the landline at all (except for internet).

You can register your number with the Telephone Preference Service which is supposed to stop marketing calls - but obviously only from those who respect the rules.
Logged
∃x(∅ ∈ x ∧ ∀y(y ∈ x ⇒ y ∪ {y} ∈ x))

ippy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12679
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2020, 03:40:05 PM »
Every phone call we have, all of them, we let them go to answerphone if it's important they'll leave a message, friends and family  speak out after the beep, it's me, so & so, and then and only then do we answer or not.

ippy.
Logged

Robbie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7512
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2020, 06:07:42 PM »
I also do that ippy. Most of my incoming calls are on my mobile but the landline does ring. I get some very odd, selling telephone calls which I do not want.

NTtS, I tried to register with the Telephone Preference Service: apparently my number is already registered with them, presume husband did it, prob'ly years ago, because I didn't. Anyway it doesn't work :-).
Logged
True Wit is Nature to Advantage drest,
          What oft was Thought, but ne’er so well Exprest

Walter

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4463
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2020, 07:16:42 PM »
Quote from: Robbie on February 27, 2020, 06:07:42 PM
I also do that ippy. Most of my incoming calls are on my mobile but the landline does ring. I get some very odd, selling telephone calls which I do not want.

NTtS, I tried to register with the Telephone Preference Service: apparently my number is already registered with them, presume husband did it, prob'ly years ago, because I didn't. Anyway it doesn't work :-).

Robbie
them unwanted phone calls?             that's me ;)
Logged

Spud

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7337
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2020, 01:48:01 PM »
Panorama tonight is about this. Someone has located a call center in Delhi and got CCTV footage from inside, where they are scamming people in Britain.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-51660982/criminals-on-cctv-scammers-caught-red-handed
Logged

Sebastian Toe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7760
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2020, 10:22:56 PM »
Quote from: Spud on March 02, 2020, 01:48:01 PM
Panorama tonight is about this. Someone has located a call center in Delhi and got CCTV footage from inside, where they are scamming people in Britain.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-51660982/criminals-on-cctv-scammers-caught-red-handed
I follow that guy on YouTube . He's one clever cookie.
Logged
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends.'
Albert Einstein

SusanDoris

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8265
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2020, 11:39:17 AM »
Quote from: Sebastian Toe on March 02, 2020, 10:22:56 PM
I follow that guy on YouTube . He's one clever cookie.
what conclusions did they come up with on the programme?
Logged
The Most Honourable Sister of Titular Indecision.

Anchorman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16038
  • Maranatha!
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2020, 11:59:55 AM »
Logged
"for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."

Spud

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7337
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2020, 01:24:15 PM »
Quote from: Sebastian Toe on March 02, 2020, 10:22:56 PM
I follow that guy on YouTube . He's one clever cookie.
Good to know there is someone with that ability on our side!
Logged

Sebastian Toe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7760
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2020, 05:17:10 PM »
Quote from: SusanDoris on March 03, 2020, 11:39:17 AM
what conclusions did they come up with on the programme?
He's publishing his version in 4 episodes!
I guess to get more income from Youtube.
I don't blame him for that!
Logged
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends.'
Albert Einstein

Sebastian Toe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7760
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #15 on: March 04, 2020, 05:21:27 PM »
Quote from: Spud on March 03, 2020, 01:24:15 PM
Good to know there is someone with that ability on our side!
There are many "scam-baiters"  on Youtube, who call up these low life scammers and spend as much time as they can, wasting the crooks time.
Some of the videos are hilarious.
Try searching for Kitboga for example and watch him take some of them to the edge of despair!
« Last Edit: March 04, 2020, 05:42:15 PM by Sebastian Toe »
Logged
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends.'
Albert Einstein

Roses

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8117
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #16 on: March 08, 2020, 11:34:05 AM »
Since we moved here getting on for 8 years ago, we periodically get phone calls for a 'Mrs Davies'. No one by that name has ever lived here. I can only think we were given her landline number by BT as she had moved from her home, or maybe died. You would think by now callers would have realised she wasn't around to take their calls ::)
Logged
"At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."

jeremyp

  • Admin Support
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 33307
  • Blurb
    • Sincere Flattery: A blog about computing
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #17 on: March 09, 2020, 04:36:13 PM »
Quote from: Sebastian Toe on March 04, 2020, 05:21:27 PM
There are many "scam-baiters"  on Youtube, who call up these low life scammers and spend as much time as they can, wasting the crooks time.
Some of the videos are hilarious.
Try searching for Kitboga for example and watch him take some of them to the edge of despair!
Kitboga is hilarious. The best ones are when he leads them round the houses for four hours and then redeems the Google vouchers they made him buy.
Logged
This post and all of JeremyP's posts words certified 100% divinely inspired* -- signed God.
*Platinum infallibility package, terms and conditions may apply

Steve H

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11147
  • God? She's black.
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #18 on: March 14, 2020, 09:05:02 AM »
Are landline phones doomed? How many people on here, apart from LR, actually have a landline any more? I don't.
Logged
I came to realise that every time we recognise something human in creatures, we are also recognising something creaturely in ourselves. That is central to the rejection of human supremacism as the pernicious doctrine it is.
Robert Macfarlane

Nearly Sane

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 65854
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #19 on: March 14, 2020, 09:35:30 AM »
Quote from: Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz on March 14, 2020, 09:05:02 AM
Are landline phones doomed? How many people on here, apart from LR, actually have a landline any more? I don't.
I think the only thing keeping them going is those people getting internet through it.
Logged

Harrowby Hall

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5063
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #20 on: March 14, 2020, 10:16:40 AM »
As NS says, my only real use for my telephone line is to connect to the internet.  A couple of years ago my peace was disturbed for two days by Virgin digging up the road to lay down ducts for their cable services. I was looking forward to being able to get fibre to the premises which would have allowed me to get all services without a telephone line or a TV aerial - but Virgin have never been anywhere near us again.
Logged
Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?

SusanDoris

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8265
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #21 on: March 14, 2020, 10:21:41 AM »
Quote from: Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz on March 14, 2020, 09:05:02 AM
Are landline phones doomed? How many people on here, apart from LR, actually have a landline any more? I don't.
well, I certainly do! I own a mobile which I carry around with me when I am out so that I can phone for a taxi if necessary to take me home. I never use it otherwise.
Logged
The Most Honourable Sister of Titular Indecision.

Roses

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8117
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #22 on: March 14, 2020, 10:35:13 AM »
All my children, siblings, extended family, friends and many other people with whom I am in contact, still have landlines.
Logged
"At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."

Aruntraveller

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11679
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #23 on: March 14, 2020, 12:03:38 PM »
We still have a landline, but I do live with a technophobe  ::)
Logged
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. - God is Love.

Roses

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8117
Re: Telephone calls
« Reply #24 on: March 14, 2020, 12:06:53 PM »
It is so much cheaper to use the landline than my mobile phone, especially if phoning family and friends in Guernsey.
Logged
"At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »