Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

The time nears as it does each year about now when every insurance agency in the country wants you to make a decision on supplemental health care. These calls will continue until the deadline for signing up is reached. The other source of great annoyance is when elections are coming up. Every 2,4, and 6 years you get a double dose as both events happen in November. For most of last year, I had calls with numbers not in my directory blocked. I had to take the block off though due to needing some contractor bids and not knowing what phone number they would be calling from.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

I have noticed that most spam calls will drop by the 6th to 7th ring. I tell anyone who will call me legitimately to let it ring at least 8-10 times. Usually works pretty good for me.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

For me they usually drop after two rings. Makes it convenient.
My phone will announce who's calling so I don't answer the phone if I don't know who it is.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

If I get a call from a number I don’t recognize, I will let it ring silently. If it is important, the caller will leave a message. If they don’t I block the number. Some times these robo-callers will be persistent. The worst thing anyone can do is pick up and hang up immediately. Now the caller knows that there is an active user on the other end.

If someone that I do not know leaves a message, I will call back and start talking gibberish. I will also put emphasis on my phone number so the other party will cross out my name and number.

When I get a text from a real estate agent wanting to buy my house or someone hell bent on wasting my time, I will send the following message:

You have reached the telephone number of a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. You must delete this number, never call this number again and never share it with anyone. This is your only warning. You will be prosecuted to the full extent of Law.

Sometimes I will substitute a few words and text the other party. I have used the following message:

WELL, HELLO! We are very grateful that you have answered our next casting call. As you know this will be an exclusive pornographic movie featuring unattractive, overweight and elderly actors and actresses. We are quite pleased that you chose our production company that has their talent willing to volunteer their time. We shall begin shooting on next Monday.
THANK YOU.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

I set my phone so calls will only come through if you're in my contact list - otherwise it goes straight to voicemail.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I found that works well until you are expecting a call from a doctor's office or from a contractor you want to bid on a project. You can never know what number they are calling from and unfortunately not all will leave a voice mail. It was a hassle trying to get a bid on a driveway repair -- I would get a call from a contractor, they would leave a voice mail, I would call them back, get their voice mail, then when they called back I'm sure they did not want to continue playing phone tag and would not leave a second voice mail. I had to take my call blocker off for the time being. When my projects are completed I'll put it back on.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

With that scenario, I add their number to my contacts list so it would ring through. I created a business group in my contacts list for those numbers. If available, I will add all the phone numbers they can call from which will save some aggravation from missed calls.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I have programmed into my landline phone the numbers of friends, doctors and other numbers that I would want to answer so if the display doesn't show one of preferred numbers I don't answer. If it is something important, they will leave a message on the answering machine. The cell phone has my contacts to reference so same procedure.

The ones that are persistent at present are the crooks offering to buy my house.

Dodie

dbjazz Loc: Long Island, NY

If I don't recognize your number, and you can't leave a message, then I don't need to speak to you. My doctors will leave a message, and any contractor who wants my business should also. If not, then (s)he is off the list.

Red Farmer Loc: Northeast Illinois and Door County

We fixed this problem this week by getting rid of land line.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

We more or less did. Ours stays unplugged. If we loose a cell phone, we plug it in and dial the cell #. When we find the cell phone we unplug it again!

Red Farmer Loc: Northeast Illinois and Door County

I guess that is the advantage to both of us having cells. Cheaper than keeping land line. Also said good reddens to cable TV. Fire sticks and internet. Saving about 150 a month.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

What’s a landline?? Just kidding.
In my last house I also had a landline and the only calls I received on it were scammers and people trying to sell me something.
When I moved to my current house in 2013 I didn’t have a landline installed and have never missed it.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

The answer, I truly believe, is one or both of the following actions.

A huge class action legal suit against all phone companies claiing that they are allowing robocalls and/or calls from spoofed phone numbers which unlawfully takes money from those called or if not monetary the calls cause frustration, stress, iritation, anger and are generally nothing but harrassment. I also think phone companies could prevent the spoofing of numbers and could put blocks on overseas calls unless coming from a legitimate number.

Or,

Urging our legislators to enact laws making it unlawful to make robocalls or to spoof phone numbers.

Unfortunately, it seems the phone compnies are making money from the robocalls and spoofed numbers.

Tdearing Loc: Rockport, TX

When Congress sold us out to the lobbyists (again) you'll remember they said not to worry, it had all been worked out, just list your number on the no-call list and you won't get the cold calls. So, just put your number on that list and see how that works out for you - and be sure to thank your representative next time you see one. :)