Nuisance phone calls

[Biggd]

I don't answer any calls unless they are in my contacts. Just let it go to voice mail. If it's important they will leave a message. Not many cold callers leave a message. You can add any number to the "do not call registry". It doesn't filter them all out but it helps cut them down to a minimum.
I also have a land line and when I'm ordering anything or filling out anything I use that number because we never answer it. It goes right to voice mail.

[chipj29]

I let my fax machine answer all of their calls. I only have a landline because it is cheaper to keep it (Comcast bundle). Anyone that knows us calls our cell phones. I do have to use the fax machine on occasion, so I leave it set up.

[rsmlp]

Originally Posted by chipj29

I let my fax machine answer all of their calls. I only have a landline because it is cheaper to keep it (Comcast bundle). Anyone that knows us calls our cell phones. I do have to use the fax machine on occasion, so I leave it set up.

What's a "fax machine"? Oh wait, isn't that some 20th century technology that has zero relevance today?

This is a silly thread. Obviously don't answer any calls you don't recognize. If it's that important they'll leave a message or get in touch with another way. Cell call, text or email.

[donmac]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

What's a "fax machine"? Oh wait, isn't that some 20th century technology that has zero relevance today? ....

Not so fast. Some of your government's classified agencies still consider FAX more secure than email for a variety of reasons and it is not uncommon for them to rely on FAX rather than a scanned and emailed document.

(This message will self destruct in .....)

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

What's a "fax machine"? Oh wait, isn't that some 20th century technology that has zero relevance today? l.

Roll your eyes all you want, but fax machines still have a purpose. And as I stated in my post, I still have the need to use mine once in a while. And you may not believe it, but we have a fax machine that is still being used where I work.
To clarify, both my fax machine at home and the fax machine at work is not a stand alone fax machine. They are 3-1 print/scan/fax machines.

[rsmlp]

Originally Posted by chipj29

Roll your eyes all you want, but fax machines still have a purpose. And as I stated in my post, I still have the need to use mine once in a while. And you may not believe it, but we have a fax machine that is still being used where I work.
To clarify, both my fax machine at home and the fax machine at work is not a stand alone fax machine. They are 3-1 print/scan/fax machines.

The ONLY reason fax machines have a "need" is because people (luddites) have failed to embrace 21st century technology. There is virtually ZERO need for a fax. Paper is yesterday. Embrace and learn technology.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

The ONLY reason fax machines have a "need" is because people (luddites) have failed to embrace 21st century technology. There is virtually ZERO need for a fax. Paper is yesterday. Embrace and learn technology.

Thanks for the advice, I will take that into consideration

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

The ONLY reason fax machines have a "need" is because people (luddites) have failed to embrace 21st century technology. There is virtually ZERO need for a fax. Paper is yesterday. Embrace and learn technology.

I disagree with that. They both have a purpose and in my business i use both. Also as i do my fax is paperless. My incoming faxes go to my mail box.


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[Doobs41378]

Originally Posted by joey2665

I disagree with that. They both have a purpose and in my business i use both. Also as i do my fax is paperless. My incoming faxes go to my mail box.


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We too use fax at the office. You’d be surprised how many people still prefer fax over email.


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[SAMIAM]

I,too,found a message on my land line that there was a warrant out for my arrest due to unpaid IRS taxes and I needed to call right away.
Having heard of this scam,I got my 120 dbl boat air horn and dialed up the number.
After engaging him in conversation briefly,I put the horn right against the mouthpiece and let him have it....so much fun

[tis]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I,too,found a message on my land line that there was a warrant out for my arrest due to unpaid IRS taxes and I needed to call right away.
Having heard of this scam,I got my 120 dbl boat air horn and dialed up the number.
After engaging him in conversation briefly,I put the horn right against the mouthpiece and let him have it....so much fun

I would love to have seen his face!

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I,too,found a message on my land line that there was a warrant out for my arrest due to unpaid IRS taxes and I needed to call right away.

Having heard of this scam,I got my 120 dbl boat air horn and dialed up the number.

After engaging him in conversation briefly,I put the horn right against the mouthpiece and let him have it....so much fun

That is hilarious. Gonna give it a try.


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[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I,too,found a message on my land line that there was a warrant out for my arrest due to unpaid IRS taxes and I needed to call right away.
Having heard of this scam,I got my 120 dbl boat air horn and dialed up the number.
After engaging him in conversation briefly,I put the horn right against the mouthpiece and let him have it....so much fun

It was far louder on your end than on his end.

[rsmlp]

Originally Posted by Doobs41378

We too use fax at the office. You’d be surprised how many people still prefer fax over email.


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I understand that some people prefer fax over email/scan/docusign but fax is no longer NEEDED and requires a land line-another anachronism. People do what is comfortable for them. It took a while for the car to replace the horse and buggy too.

In 5 years no one will be using fax just like very few will reading books vs e-readers although admittedly this will probably take longer than it should. Old habits take a while to expire.
Consider brick and mortar stores Vs online shopping. Obviously the latter is taking over.

It's progress and that is a a good thing. Embrace or get left behind.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

I understand that some people prefer fax over email/scan/docusign but fax is no longer NEEDED and requires a land line-another anachronism. People do what is comfortable for them. It took a while for the car to replace the horse and buggy too.

In 5 years no one will be using fax just like very few will reading books vs e-readers although admittedly this will probably take longer than it should. Old habits take a while to expire.
Consider brick and mortar stores Vs online shopping. Obviously the latter is taking over.

It's progress and that is a a good thing. Embrace or get left behind.

For my clients and vendors it isn't a matter of old habits but they feel it is much more secure to send a fax over a land line then to an e mail and not having to worry about security breeches from your email provider.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

I understand that some people prefer fax over email/scan/docusign but fax is no longer NEEDED and requires a land line-another anachronism. People do what is comfortable for them. It took a while for the car to replace the horse and buggy too.

In 5 years no one will be using fax just like very few will reading books vs e-readers although admittedly this will probably take longer than it should. Old habits take a while to expire.
Consider brick and mortar stores Vs online shopping. Obviously the latter is taking over.

It's progress and that is a a good thing. Embrace or get left behind.

Umm...

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[Rusty]

Telegrams were popular at one time also.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

I understand that some people prefer fax over email/scan/docusign but fax is no longer NEEDED and requires a land line-another anachronism. People do what is comfortable for them. It took a while for the car to replace the horse and buggy too.

In 5 years no one will be using fax just like very few will reading books vs e-readers although admittedly this will probably take longer than it should. Old habits take a while to expire.
Consider brick and mortar stores Vs online shopping. Obviously the latter is taking over.

It's progress and that is a a good thing. Embrace or get left behind.

1. Fax does not require a land line.
I can send and/or receive a fax from my computer. Digital on my end of course but not necessary on the other end.

2. Land lines are far from an anachronism.
Imagine if Walmart went to a cell service only phone system. In Gilford (for example) my calls drop once I am 10 feet inside the building. How well will their Cell service fair. And once I drive down the hill towards Shaws it is hit or miss if I get service so that does not work for Shaws either.

Sure Walmart can solve that issue if they choose to spend the money, but they have 3500+ stores in the US alone. One can only imagine the cost to solve that problem.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

1. Fax does not require a land line.
I can send and/or receive a fax from my computer. Digital on my end of course but not necessary on the other end.

It might be digital at your end but you are sending it to someone who has to send it via landline to who you want to receive the fax. Maybe efax?

Than again maybe something new has has been developed that I don't know of.

[TiltonBB]

There is some confusion about what constitutes a land line.

Many people now consider their VOIP phone to be a land line. Your voice is transmitted over the Internet instead of through the traditional hard lines installed in homes. VoIP has features that are similar to landlines, but also many differences that keep it in a class of its own.

People who purchase the cable TV, internet, phone packages from companies like Metrocast or Comcast often refer to their VOIP phone as their land line.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I don't answer any calls unless they are in my contacts. Just let it go to voice mail. If it's important they will leave a message. Not many cold callers leave a message. You can add any number to the "do not call registry". It doesn't filter them all out but it helps cut them down to a minimum.
I also have a land line and when I'm ordering anything or filling out anything I use that number because we never answer it. It goes right to voice mail.

Because of the increase of these calls over the past year or so, we registered (again) our home phone and both cell phone numbers on the do not call list. I think it was a big mistake. We are getting more calls than ever on all three lines. It is almost like it's a guide to who shall we call next. We are seeing a dramatic increase in spoofed numbers, indicating that they are regular numbers from 603 or even the same cell or local exchange, rather than the former 8xx exchanges or "(insert your favorite state)" showing in the caller id.
We have also seen an increase in voicemails, usually more than one a day on at least 2 of the 3 lines. Only benefit is that we no longer have to think about our password(s) to get into voicemail. 😕
Like others, don't recognize the number, don't answer. Just thank goodness for unlimited calling.
Dave

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[garysanfran]

"If you want to lower your interest rate, press#1"...So, I press #1 and then put my phone down. I assume the rep that gets the call is monitored as to what % of their calls turn into sales. This lowers the success rate. I know it penalizes the innocent rep trying to do their job, but it is an incredible disruption when I get these calls.

As I am writing this, Kim Komando just came on the radio complaining about robo calls.

Now, for junk mail, I take it all and stuff it in the postage-paid return envelope after removing my name and any other identifiers, and I mail it back to them. Cost them postage both ways with nothing in return.

I wonder if there are robo calls in Iran? North Korea?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

"If you want to lower your interest rate, press#1"...So, I press #1 and then put my phone down. I assume the rep that gets the call is monitored as to what % of their calls turn into sales. This lowers the success rate. I know it penalizes the innocent rep trying to do their job, but it is an incredible disruption when I get these calls.

As I am writing this, Kim Komando just came on the radio complaining about robo calls.

Now, for junk mail, I take it all and stuff it in the postage-paid return envelope after removing my name and any other identifiers, and I mail it back to them. Cost them postage both ways with nothing in return.

I wonder if there are robo calls in Iran? North Korea?

I understand what you're trying to do but the purpose of not answering these calls and reading junk mail is that it's a waste of time. You just waste more time by doing these things but if it makes you feel better then go for it. You aren't deterring anyone by doing this.
I just don't answer calls that I don't recognize and I just throw junk mail away before I even get in the house with it.
I do have this problem at work though because being in business I need to answer all calls. If it's a sales call I just hang up. I have no time to waste playing games with them. That's just more of a waste of my time and time is money.

[WelcomeToBearadise]

It isn't always easy for vulnerable seniors to just ignore these incoming calls. Our 96 year old Dad had both hearing and vision issues that prevented him from seeing or hearing a caller ID announcement or display. We signed him up for NOMOROBO and it worked perfectly on his land line and was free of charge! We just had to teach him to always wait for the phone to ring a second time before answering because all junk calls are intercepted after only one ring! I'm pretty sure it's also available for cell phone numbers, but it may not be free.

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

"If you want to lower your interest rate, press#1"...So, I press #1 and then put my phone down. I assume the rep that gets the call is monitored as to what % of their calls turn into sales. This lowers the success rate. I know it penalizes the innocent rep trying to do their job, but it is an incredible disruption when I get these calls.

As I am writing this, Kim Komando just came on the radio complaining about robo calls.

Now, for junk mail, I take it all and stuff it in the postage-paid return envelope after removing my name and any other identifiers, and I mail it back to them. Cost them postage both ways with nothing in return.

I wonder if there are robo calls in Iran? North Korea?

I stopped getting term life insurance junk mail by wrapping up several pounds of drapery weights and mailing them to the sender using their postage paid cards attached to the heavy package.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

I stopped getting term life insurance junk mail by wrapping up several pounds of drapery weights and mailing them to the sender using their postage paid cards attached to the heavy package.

I like that.