A few years ago I thought I'd outsmart the phone company by listing my phone number under my dogs name. If anyone tried to look me up in the phone book my name wouldn't be listed. It did work to a degree.

However now that you can look for a phone number by address that trick won't work. You'd still have to pay for an unlisted number.

That is outrageous. I am afraid I will be less than courteous if I ever get one of those calls! DH keeps saying he wants to get rid of the landline but I want to hold on to it I guess.

"Maybe it's time to just loose the land line instead of spending 60 buck we'll save about 800/yr hmmmm"

We ditched our land line several years ago and never looked back. BASIC service where I live, before any kind of add-ons like call waiting, long distance service, or anything like that is around $60 a month. Insane. Since DH and I would have cells anyway (our family plan for 2 is less than $100/month for unlimited voice and text - DH gets a lot of work texts - and a data plan for DH so he can get his mail and stuff on his phone... the unlimited long distance is a must because my mum can go on for two hours straight if you let her), we thought it was silly to keep paying $700+ a year for a phone that only ever rang for telemarketers, wrong numbers, and collection agencies looking for relatives of ours or for people who had our phone number years before. I understand that some alarm services require a landline connection but that's the only reason I would ever have one again, for us it's just a big chunk of money to simply throw away.

We received the same type of collection call looking for my DH's errant brother. I told the company that they should not call back because we had no idea where he was and whatever his business was was not our business and we wouldn't be a messenger for anyone trying to contact him. They called again a month or so later and I told them to take our number off their list or I would report them to our state's Attorney General, citing harrassment. I think when you use the word "harrassment" it holds a certain amount of weight. We haven't received calls since. You can give it a try.

That's ridiculous! What were they trying to do, verify that the son (not listed on the deed) still lived there? I would think that they could check with the USPS to see if his mail was delivered to that address, send him a certified letter but there's no reason to involve neighbors. They can check with DMV, Social Security, there are a number of places they could go for public records (his credit record should list current address - I'm sure they have access to that). Do they expect you to be a spy and let them know when he's home???

About the landline - I was wondering if we could ditch ours too, but we need to keep the DSL. Will AT&T let you do that?

While you have to pay to have an unlisted number, you do not have to pay to have an unlisted address. That's what we do.

You could also list your number under a made-up name, like mcmann suggested. Between the fake name and the missing address you would be a lot harder to find - especially as time passes and the correct information that exists today becomes obsolete.

Nicole

Unlisted numbers just don't work any more whether a land line or cell. The ability to cull everything about each of us is too easy. I just found a site that has all the search engines for personal information and half is free.

About a month ago I was getting phone calls for someone authorities were looking for. On my cell. Even his mother called me. You can set up phone numbers through sites using existing numbers to call through so it looks like the number is yours.

Hopefully something will be done for all of this. But gov. wise will take forever.

Thank you for all your feedback, I really just appreciate being able to vent and it being validated to boot. The bonus is the great suggestions. Things I haven't thought of and was hoping to find.

McMann: That was really smart, never heard of doing that I wish I would have thought of it!

Cooperbaily: We've held on to ours because my DH's from Europe. But with Skype & other phone services even that doesn't seem like a valid reason anymore. We just need to find out which cell service works best indoors, we currently have Sprint and that does not. 2 states, 6 different addresses and poor reception at them all.

johnmari - that's what my DD & DSIL did and they say they don't miss it a bit. Obviously your reception must be pretty good, can I ask which service you have?

ajsmama - I think you can have DSL without the phone service, we just ditched ATT all together to try Comcasts 19.99 promotion. I guess our number was unlisted with ATT. The Comcast girl said collectors are calling to embarrass their debtor, but the guy didn't seem too bothered by it. LOL.

mrsmarv - I don't think it's right that any third party gets calls from a collector, they've called family members for years and when I've gotten those it bothered me, but not like this. I'm not even related to this guy. I don't know what bothers me more, the fact that they called or that they told me to get an unlisted number when I objected to it. ugh...

Nigel - Again, something I hadn't heard or thought of, and it wasn't suggested by Comcast either. Think I'll be giving them a call today. Thanks again!

emagineer - your name is so appropriate, you have some of the coolest ideas. I read a post you wrote the other day about the set up of your tv w/out DTV or cable and we're now looking into possibly doing the same thing! Love it, love it, love it!

When we moved, two years ago, I never got a land line. DH kept bugging me about it, but I just kept stalling him. He gave up and we just use our cells. Love it! We're not kids, either.

When I had to sell my dad's condo, I kept checking his voicemail. He was getting these rude calls from collection agencies that were directed to other people. They'd say "If this isn't the person we're looking for and you don't hang up RIGHT NOW, we'll assume your debt is valid." Huh?

These calls kept coming and coming.

WTH do these idiot collectors think they'll achieve if they actually do reach someone who can give them the contact info for the person who's behind on their bill? They can call and call and call, but the fact remains that if they aren't being paid by the time the debt reaches collection status, they aren't going to be. I suppose they're depending on that very small percentage of individuals who might be cowed enough by their harrassing tactics to actually fork over some money, but I would think it mostly an exercise in futility for them to even have call centers where they engage in this type of "business."

In my past I've been hounded by debt collectors. My first husband was "unexpectedly" discharged from military service and we lived in a depressed area where we had bought a house. We couldn't pay our debts, our marriage was on its last legs, and the added stress of having to field those phone calls just about sent me over the edge. I was in my early 20s and inexperienced, and really believed the threats and insults of those who would call me and say the most awful things. My heart goes out to people that others might call "deadbeats" - especially those who don't know anything about the legalities involved with not having to deal with these heinous collectors. There are any number of factors that can combine in someone's life that would make them have to choose between feeding and housing their family and paying back credit card debt (for instance). I know, I know ... nobody here in this thread is casting aspersions on those who get these calls. But just remembering about what a terrible period it was in my own life when I had to deal with them brought back some of those old feelings.

I know people that are getting phone calls regarding debts for deceased relatives. This is after a copy of the death certificate was sent to the creditors. What the creditors did is to turn over the accounts to something called Estate Recovery. No assets or will was left, but Estate Recovery calls and hounds the relatives.

Forgive me if it's been mentioned, but see you have Comcast, lukkirish. So does my mom. Couple weeks ago she got a call from a wacko solicitor, short version is he threatened to come by the house to collect a donation. She was panic stricken to say the least. Anywho, police visit and all later I looked up her phone features. I was able to block specific #s. Since her caller had blocked their ID, I used the service for blocking all calls that are anonymous. So now anyone calling her house who has either blocked their name and/or # hears the message "This caller does not accept anonymous calls. Please unblock your phone and call back." The cool thing is is doesn't even ring to her house phone. I tested it from my cell. In your case if the collection agency left their # visible, you can use the feature to block specific phone #s. (Hopefully you have those features, she's got a very basic phone plan with them.)

And for anyone on a cell with a data plan, I use freebie YouMail for voicemail. You get a lot more message storage than say Verzion offers. Cool feature is their custom greetings for specific contacts in your phonebook. You can record your own greeting via your cell or use one of theirs. Their ditchmail is for situations like this one. Put a phone # into your YouMail account that you don't to deal with, and pick a custom ditchmail greeting for that #. They have many, but one popular one is "This number is no longer in service." That will turn them away quickly. ;) Again, tho, only works on cells with a data/internet plan.

itsawrap (cute name btw) I have heard of that happening, and all I can say is that's about as low as a collection company can get.

Parma - Can I ask what cell phone carrier you use? As I mentioned earlier I need to find a carrier that can offer better indoor reception. Hmmm, maybe I'll start another thread. :c)

Even though we are in a metropolitan area, cell phone coverage from all of the companies is spotty in our neighborhood. If we lived just a few blocks west, we'd have stable enough coverage to ditch the land line. Drat.

We seldom answer the phone unless we recognize the inbound number. When I answer, I'm aggressive about telling unwelcome callers to remove our number from their calling list and threatening legal action if the don't. I also keep a sports whistle nearby for truly offensive calls.

We will be keeping our landline because DH is required to have one for confidential calls and because if the power is out, (can't recharge cells) the landline will still work. 911 can track you and your address easily with landline. In emergency, sometimes finding a cell phone can be a problem. (DD lost hers last night. It was on her dresser under a scarf) Some home security systems only work with a phone line. And you should never give out credit card numbers or other personal info over a cell phone. Too easily intercepted.
I don't know why your phone svc is so expensive. Here in Central Valley, you can keep your landline phone quite cheaply. I pay about $20 a month for mine, don't have any fancy svcs on it.

We all have cells, but I won't be giving up my house phone.

And on the original theme, where collectors are calling....yeah, it's a royal pain, all the calls I get. But I have a patented No, thankyou ready for all telemarketing calls (and on the Do Not Call list) as well as not giving out other's info when called.

Red

luk, I have T-Mobile. Dh has a cell for business that I think is Verizon.

We've never had a problem with either.

We are just the opposite. A bit over a year ago we finally gave up our expensive cell phones for pay as you go on T-mobile. We were paying $70 per month for two phones, which is a great cheap plan - but never using it. I never know where the heck my cell phone is anyway and when I do know where it is the battery is dead. We put $100 on the thing so that the minutes would roll over and I think I have $80 left. Pretty nice savings over a year.

I use my landline lots though. We have a package with verizon to include landline, FIOS internet and tv for less than we were paying for cable tv and cable internet alone so that's nice. We have been EXTREMELY happy with FIOS and my husband is of the opinion that if Ma Bell hasn't given verizon the dialtone they would still be looking for one.

And yes, collections calls suck. I had a dispute with AT&T over a cell phone bill what must be 15 years ago at this point. I paid the bill and had proof, they said I didn't - whenever I presented proof it got punted to another collection agency. For years I was writing letters disputing it on my credit report too. So whenever I'd send my form letter out, the account would get sold to a different agency. Finally at about 12 years someone told me that it would ruin my credit and I let her know that she could no longer report a claim so old. She argued with me, I hung up on her, haven't heard since. oh and the other ridiculous thing was that it was some $10 charge that by the time collections company #852 got ahold of it was $750 or so but they would settle for $500. I... don't...think...so!

Our most annoying phone calls nowadays are for this guy named Vincent Sorrentino who USED to have our number but no longer does - but frequently gives it out to apply for credit cards (that he never pays off - we get the calls) and even a MORTGAGE!! When he applied for the mortgage and gave this phone number, DH asked for more information and the woman gave us his address. It turned out he is a absentee slumlord in our village and public records had his real address. I sent him a certified letter to his home about 100 miles away telling him I knew who he was and where he lived and to kindly stop giving out our phone number. Funny, but we never got another phone call again after that. Oh if I could have been a fly on the wall to see him open that letter, haha.

We currently have Verizon Wireless - it was the only one that had reliable, totally clear coverage inside our house, in DH's office at work, and at DH's best friend's house waaaay out in the boonies. DH had AT&T at our old house because they had the best reception there (and the Really Really Kewl Phone that he got to keep when he left his previous employer only worked on AT&T), then we moved here and he had to go outside to get one bar with a lot of static - rain or snow, NO reception! I had a Sprint phone that was all right at the new place, a little hiccuping and echoing but not bad, but they were doing hinky things with the billing so when my contract expired I was happy to bail. Cost us two hundred bucks to get out from under AT&T though, even though his phone was unusable at home OR work. Their whole attitude: "not our problem!"

But, YMMV, big time. It's a good excuse to invite your friends to come to your house, feed them dinner or a snack and try out their phone reception! LOL (As well as asking folks at work, school, whatever for what companies have the best reception there, for additional info.)

I think I've let my cell run dead maybe once since I first got one seven or eight years ago. Just habit for both of us to plug in when we get home. When we had that huuuuuuuge ice storm a year or so ago, most of our friends "topped up" their cell phones with their car chargers, just by sitting in the running car listening to the stereo for 15 minutes or so - but we could still make calls! I remember it well, because we were the only people in our social group who had power and heat (nice living 2 blocks from a hospital LOL) and it was Grand Central Freakin' Terminal at our place for a week with people coming by to warm up, leave their pets, take showers, wash clothes, you name it. The people who lost power here also lost POTS, for the most part.

Oh, and my phone (Samsung Flipshot, which I hate) and DH's LG Dare both have GPS locator whatchamacallits that tie into E-911 systems. According to the E-911 info from our city, on average the cell-phone based GPS locators can get to within 50 meters when activated by the E-911 system. (Yes, it can be turned off.)

moonshadow, The YouMail looks like a great service. I signed up for Google Voice, but you have to give out a separate phone number for that, and of course I can't even remember what mine is!

It is terriks. ;) I rely on it heavily on my cell. It's nice because you just click the icon on your home screen and the message starts to autoplay, no dialing in to voice mail and all that (tho you can if you want to).

Well thank you for all the feedback. I really appreciate it. We've been thinking of switching to Verizon, as my SIL has it for work and says the reception is the best as well. Johnmari, aren't those ice storms fun? NOT! We had one a couple of years ago was just thankful the electricty didn't go out. We did loose power for 4 days in the summer though, and did exactly what you did with the car charges. Works like a charm. Our phones have that GPS thinging too, so I get what you're saying, thanks! Red, I understand not wanting to loose the land line, we only have ATT and they just keep going up up up. Even a plain no frills line is 30.00 after taxes are added on. We've switched to Comcast but am not thrilled with call quality and if power is out, so is phone, so I'm ready to just dump it and be done with it.

Kgwlisa, I always love reading your posts, you are so funny! I would have loved to have been a fly on that wall too! I love that!

Thank you for the response Auntjen, used to be a faux paux not to pay your bills, but not anymore, I feel for anyone who can't find work and is in that situation. I find it hard to blame them. I agree, that the whole collection thing makes no sense. I'd share what I really think about it, but that's probably something more for hot topics! LOL

Moonshadow, I bet that must have been a really scary thing for your mom, I'm glad she didn't ignore it and called the police. Hope they find out who is did that. Thanks for the great information, I will definately look into that.

Yogacat, I couldn't help but laugh when I read your comment about the sports whistle, but it's a very clever idea.

Thanks for the info Parma - I was surprised to read you have t-mobile and it's working well indoors. Maybe it's something worth considering. OT - but have you heard back from the appraiser yet?

Thank you again for all the stories and great ideas. I'll be ready next time I get a call like that! Ha!

"OT - but have you heard back from the appraiser yet?"

Thanks for asking. :)

The loan officer from BOA called DH at work yesterday. They had sent documents they wanted us to fill out and send in. There were quite a few things, in them, that didn't jibe with what was verbally promised.

DH tried to get those addressed and told him that he was not authorized to put anything more on our credit card until we knew what the appraisal came back at. The guy looked it up and said it had come back but for some reason, he couldn't open it (yeah right, eyes rolling). Said he would email it to us. Never got a thing.

Between that and a fight with my dad's doctors over prescribing a drug that costs over $1,000 a month, is ineffective, and has been the subject of many newspaper articles involving bribes, payola and corruption (Seroquel), I'm not a happy camper, lately.

If you have a land line, make sure it is not one that is used with remote phones. Power outage will deem them out also. Make sure you have a standard phone connected directly to outlet.

Thanks for the compliment Irish. I'm a girl, but worked in IT for years and still mess around with all. Not as smart as once was or a need to be such. Would rather spend my time as an artist...hence the name since I'm a creative analytical.

I "lost" may landline years ago. Best thing I ever did. No more annoying sales calls, never a power outtage, never have to change my number if/when I move.... the list goes on.

Parma - Ugh, I know that's got to be frustrating. I've never been a fan of BofA - Know them well from when I was in lending and refused to work for them. And loan agents are the worst! Don't want to speak out of turn, but make sure your DH sends them something in writing about the autho on the CC - :c(

Sorry to hear about your dad, incredible and scary, sending positive vibes your way with sincere hopes that it gets worked out and QUICKLY --Lukki

Emagineer - All I can say is girls rock! DH is in IT and so is my SIL, you got it going on more than they do with the techie stuff! Ha! I'm super analytical too, but love to get crazy creative. They use the term "Imagineers" for designers at Disneyland in Anaheim, did you that?

I was listening to KGO radio today when a caller asked the same question to Len Tillem ("ask a laywer"). He told her she can't file a suit against the creditor because they've done no harm to her other than interrupt her day with an nuissance phone call. What he advised her to do is tell the neighbor that one of his/her creditors has called a neighbor. Now that person CAN sue the creditor who is calling her friends and neighbors because the creditor has violated her privacy by making it known to them she is in financial trouble (even w/o mentioning specifics).
If you google the lawyer's name you might find a podcase or a repeat of the show/question on his website in case you want to listen to it.

Thanks flyingflower, I will check it out!