OK, this is getting weird!

[LongTomH]

Not to mention annoying! I get calls on my cell phone, the caller ID says: UNAVAILABLE. If I answer, they hang up. I've been getting these once a day; now it's up to 2 a day.

Now, I just hit the refuse option; but, that's not stopping them.

Anyone else getting calls like this?

[bluesbassman]

1. No, but it sounds like a telemarketing robo dialer.

Are you getting any actual sales calls too?

Personally I don't answer any blocked or ID unavailable calls. If they're legit they'll leave a message and I can call them back.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Telemarketers. They shouldn't be calling your cell but they do.

Your wireless service might let you block unidentified calls.

[seabeyond]

3. when i did get those on land line, i put the number in google and pretty well let

me know it was an auto dial thing. check it out

[DebJ]

4. I found out that by not answering these calls, they seemed to diminish, and when

I started picking up all calls (while distracted with other things on the computer)
the number of calls increased.

Could be coincidence, but it's happened twice now.

[RebelOne]

5. Just got one tonight.

It showed up as out of area and unavailable. I never answer calls like that. If it is anything important they should leave a message, but they never do.

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. Absolutely.

I never answer calls from numbers I don't recognize nor from area codes I have no association with. My biggest problem is my cell number is one digit off from a Lowes store in my phones area code!

So I get calls at 7:30 on a Saturday morning from some lady or guy wanting to speak to someone in the tile department!

If I answer, I am polite. I always answer a strange call with my name. It's funny that if I say "Fred Diffenbacher" when I answer they often will just start rattling on about what they need....


"Sir, sir, sir...you are trying to reach Lowes, right?"


"This isn't Lowes?"

No, you're one digit off. Dial XX6-XXXX You dialed XX5-XXXX

"Oh, I'm so sorry!"

"No problem. It happens ALL the time."

BTW< My name is not Fred Diffenbacher. It's Snooffhausen Klabasherumph.

[A Simple Game]

16. Cousin Snoof? Is that really you? n/t

[Goalie49009]

6. Sorry about that I'll quit calling

[politicat]

7. Smartphone? There's a free app that works.

Mr. Number. It lets you build a personal database of calls you don't want to take, and you can start with all Unavailables and Blocked Numbers and build from there. You can also set it so the call just rings on silent, picks up and hangs up, or sends directly to voicemail. (All three are viable strategies for dealing with robodialers.) And you can hook your personal database into the mass database so that you can know when an unfamiliar number is likely spam.

About seven years ago, someone went to an area ER with a heart attack. Whoever zie was, zie gave the hospital a false name, address and phone number, the last of which happened to be mine. For weeks, I was getting followup calls for this poor person (whom I must assume had reasons to hide -- undocumented, or without insurance, or just not in a place where zie felt safe being known) and I hated having to tell the very nice, very concerned nurses, doctors and PAs that I really didn't know who or where their patient was.

Then the collections calls started. Them, I didn't feel so bad about hanging up on or ignoring. I still get dead debt calls for this person, but most get caught by Mr. Number.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. If only there were apps like that for dumb phones

I have answering machine on my landline, but not coller ID. The machien picks up all calls, I pick up when I hear anyone I want to talk to.
Annoys the hell out of my neighbors, but I refuse to run and answer the damn phone since most of the calls are telemarketers.
Anyhow, it would be great to have an app like that can "think" for me and handle the calls.

[politicat]

11. There is a standalone device (link below)

I haven't had a land line in 13 years, so I can't vouch for this personally. The reviews sound like the instructions may be written in Stereoese, but the device seems to work after training.

http://www.amazon.com/Incoming-Call-Blocker-Display-Blacklist/dp/B0089IHBE8/ref=pd_cp_e_0

Most of the reason I went cell only was because even then, the tech for screening calls was better developed. I hate phones.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. I hate phones too.

But..out here in teh boonies...our dsl choices were very limited, and a landline is a necessary backup during storms.

thanks for the link.

[RebelOne]

15. I have a landline and I also have caller ID through Comcast.

The caller's name and number will come up on my TV screen. I have a cell phone with no bells and whistles, as it is not a Smartphone, but the price is right. It has caller ID though.

[pinboy3niner]

9. About those calls...

THEY'RE COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!!!

[LongTomH]

10. Thanks a bunch, Igor!

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. EEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!