i can honestly say i've never been bothered by a telmarketer during dinner

No, thanks, Google, I don't feel like giving you access to more of my personal data.

We almost never get telemarketer calls. Like 1 a year. I don't know how people get on these lists they can't get off of.

I hardly ever get telemarketer calls anymore, but when they do come in, it's usually during dinner. I've started reading passages from D&D manuals to them. One guy who was trying to sell those extended vehicle warantees lasted through about a half-page of Lords of Madness: a Guide to Aberrations.

cyrus_hunter: I hardly ever get telemarketer calls anymore, but when they do come in, it's usually during dinner. I've started reading passages from D&D manuals to them. One guy who was trying to sell those extended vehicle warantees lasted through about a half-page of Lords of Madness: a Guide to Aberrations.

Ooo, I like this.

What do people use phones for anymore?

Disagrees

cyrus_hunter: I hardly ever get telemarketer calls anymore, but when they do come in, it's usually during dinner. I've started reading passages from D&D manuals to them. One guy who was trying to sell those extended vehicle warantees lasted through about a half-page of Lords of Madness: a Guide to Aberrations.


When telemarketers called, my grandfather would tell them all about his day, problems he was having with the garden or his car, and talk and talk for 20 or so minutes then thank them for listening to him and hang up. The telemarketer never got a word in other than "hello".

Still no cure for "can't, sir" (click)

Antidamascus: We almost never get telemarketer calls. Like 1 a year. I don't know how people get on these lists they can't get off of.

I'd say about 9/10ths of all calls I get are auto-dialers from someone running a scam. Completely random. They just run entire exchanges through a VOIP system till they get a number that connects. They catch unlisted / private numbers that way. You don't actually have to be on a "list" anywhere and you can still get called.

Still only get about one every two months or so, and I never actually get to speak to anyone. It's either left as a voicemail or another person picks up before I do. (It'll ask you to press "1" to talk to a rep... but then it hangs up. Because there is only one or two lines taking care of thousands of phone calls. When someone requests a connection, it rings them in to a person. If he's already on the line, you get dropped.)

I feel sorry for the poor shlub who's number got spoofed by these crooks when it happens. They broadcast a fake number on the caller ID. And that poor bastard gets about ten thousand angry phone calls at all hours of the day until they can get their number changed.

Megain: i can honestly say i've never been bothered by a telmarketer during dinner

Someone's gotta market those tels.

'Put me on your do not call list.'

If it's automated, I press every number and then set the phone down and walk away.

Omaha Steaks!!!!!

Antidamascus: We almost never get telemarketer calls. Like 1 a year. I don't know how people get on these lists they can't get off of.

If you're in Canada you can get on that list by signing up for the Do Not Call list. We do everything backwards here.

Lamune_Baba: It'll ask you to press "1" to talk to a rep... but then it hangs up. Because there is only one or two lines taking care of thousands of phone calls. When someone requests a connection, it rings them in to a person. If he's already on the line, you get dropped.

Or worse, it rings to a voicemail box, and you get no satisfaction. In that case, put call on hold for as long as you can tie up the line, but it's not nearly as much fun as screwing with someone live.

Quick question: are businesses not allowed to be on the Do Not Call registry, or are businesses valid targets for telemarketers? I nearly had an argument with a telemarketer yesterday over that. I said my company's numbers was on the registry, he said it doesn't matter because it's a business. Then he wanted our number to "remove".

/usually ask person for midget porn

You guys realize the story isn't really about telemarketers, but about having one phone number for your entire life, right?

Sounds like a logistical nightmare to me, but hey that's just me.

My parents have had the same telephone number for over 40 years, although that number drops to 12 years if you include the area code split they were part of. I have a feeling that they'll die of old age with that number.

Too bad that the DNCL is only for 5 years instead of the lifetime a person leases the number. Which reminds me, I should make sure the folks are renewed on that list...

I love auto-dialer scam calls. I always press 1 when I get the automated message saying I've won a free trip, in the hopes that I actually do get connected and I can pretend to be a sucker for as long as possible to tie up their lines.

The nice thing about Google Voice is that it has a blacklist. Put a number on it and the caller will get a not-in-service message.

So far GV seems to work pretty well, though the message transcription needs some work.

Got my name as my phone number now. Very cool.

Lost Thought 00: What do people use phones for anymore?

Mostly for Facebook.

HagarTheHorrible: The nice thing about Google Voice is that it has a blacklist. Put a number on it and the caller will get a not-in-service message.

So if you call 911 and get disconnected.... can they not call you back? Also, since you have this service and the article didn't really say, is this a VOIP-based system?

Google Voice is awesome. Best features:
1. Rings all of your phones simultaneously, whichever one you pick up gets the call.
2. Can set into do-not-disturb so everything goes right to voicemail
3. Can set into call screening mode so callers need to say who they are before the call gets presented to you
4. Can easily manage all your voicemails and call history online

And yeah, it attempts to transcribe voicemails people leave you, and yeah, it doesn't work that great.

Di Atribe: HagarTheHorrible: The nice thing about Google Voice is that it has a blacklist. Put a number on it and the caller will get a not-in-service message.

So if you call 911 and get disconnected.... can they not call you back? Also, since you have this service and the article didn't really say, is this a VOIP-based system?

Not exactly, no, in the sense that to talk to someone you have to have another phone; there is no soft phone or anything if that's what you mean. In their infrastructure it must be VOIP but you don't have any visibility into it. I'm sure at some point it will get merged with those capabilities in Google Talk.

freddie freeloader: Not exactly, no, in the sense that to talk to someone you have to have another phone; there is no soft phone or anything if that's what you mean. In their infrastructure it must be VOIP but you don't have any visibility into it. I'm sure at some point it will get merged with those capabilities in Google Talk.

So it's more of an incoming call service. What happens with your outgoing calls?

WRONG.

with my Callcentric Internet phone (VOIP) i can block individual numbers or even entire area codes.

all the caller will get is a busy signal.


no, i don't miss my cell phone at all.

and i DO enjoy spending only ~10 dollars/month on local and long distance phone service.


step aside, AT&T.

and no, my computer does not have to be powered on to use my phone.

Duck_of_Doom: Quick question: are businesses not allowed to be on the Do Not Call registry, or are businesses valid targets for telemarketers? I nearly had an argument with a telemarketer yesterday over that. I said my company's numbers was on the registry, he said it doesn't matter because it's a business. Then he wanted our number to "remove".

Not sure. The FTC says business-to-business calls aren't covered under the registry. That's probably why.


Dinjiin:
Too bad that the DNCL is only for 5 years instead of the lifetime a person leases the number. Which reminds me, I should make sure the folks are renewed on that list...

I found this on their web page when I was looking to confirm that "no business numbers" thing above. I didn't notice this one before:

Your registration will not expire. Telephone numbers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008. Read more about it at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/04/dncfyi.shtm.

So.. woot. Eat it, telemarketers!

Di Atribe: HagarTheHorrible: The nice thing about Google Voice is that it has a blacklist. Put a number on it and the caller will get a not-in-service message.

So if you call 911 and get disconnected.... can they not call you back? Also, since you have this service and the article didn't really say, is this a VOIP-based system?

When you call out direct from your landline or cellphone, GV doesn't enter into the picture. No worries with 911 calls.

AFAIK it is a VOIP based service.

HagarTheHorrible: When you call out direct from your landline or cellphone, GV doesn't enter into the picture. No worries with 911 calls.

AFAIK it is a VOIP based service.

I see. Thank you!

I think this is a poor headline. Just noting that for posterity.

Grand Central has been around for years. What's the big deal?

Oh, Google.

I can block incoming calls with my voip. Look up the number in the log and put it in my blacklist. Sure they might spoof the number, but chances are I don't know anyone in that area code anyway.

I don't think I would want one number for the rest of my life, I like to change it up every once in awhile. Helps to keep up my mysterious facade.

8-6-7-5-3-0-9

/for a good time call....

I already have a phone number for life. The last time I got new cel service, my number was pretty cool and easy to remember.

Barring some bizarre eventuality, this will be my primary phone number until either I die, or the 10-digit US phone number system changes or becomes obsolete.

Don't keep us in suspense.

What's the number?

DigitalCoffee: 8-6-7-5-3-0-9

/for a good time call....

606-0842

/and I'm waiting for you

When I get an automated bullshiat warrantee or mortgage call, I press one, and while I'm waiting find something I can use to deafen the operator when he/she comes to the line. Sometimes I bang a pot with a wooden spoon. Sometimes I blow a whistle. I used to just scream, but that hurt my throat. Before that, I would just play tricks on them. But I decided that letting them off too easy.

Bad economy or not, I have zero sympathy or tolerance for anyone who would take a telemarketing job. Lowest form of (non-violent) human life, with no concern for others.

If I had to choose between telemarketing and scrubbing toilets, I'd take the toilets, even if the pay was lower. I'd rather clean up a piece of shiat than be one for a living.

100 Watt Walrus: When I get an automated bullshiat warrantee or mortgage call, I press one, and while I'm waiting find something I can use to deafen the operator when he/she comes to the line.

I've been trying to play along just to get a damn mailing address out of one of them. I'm suuuuper worried about my car's warranty, but I don't have a credit card. Check or money order. Just need to know where to mail it.

To date, it's never worked. Of course, I've also not had many attempts to try. Out of maybe the last dozen of those calls hitting the number to connect got me a person once. The rest dropped immediately. And then they disconnected / hung up before I even got to start talking. =/

HagarTheHorrible: The nice thing about Google Voice is that it has a blacklist. Put a number on it and the caller will get a not-in-service message.

So far GV seems to work pretty well, though the message transcription needs some work.

Got my name as my phone number now. Very cool.

Me too, I got my name in my own area code yesterday. farking awesome stuff. Works with Gizmo as one of my extensions, and it knows to SMS my cell when I get a voicemail. All kinds of privacy features.

I shut down all unnecessary landline services, pretty much everything except E911, saving $25/month, which goes directly into BEER! Thanks Google!