This is long overdue! Robocall Law

[Rams]

NEW YORK -- An anti-robocalls measure signed into law Monday by President Donald Trump should help reduce the torrent of unwanted calls promising lower interest rates or pretending to be the IRS, though it won't make all such calls disappear.

The new law gives authorities more enforcement powers and could speed up measures the industry is already taking to identify robocalls. And when phone companies block robocalls, they must do so without charging consumers. This should help Americans dodge many of these annoying calls.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/trump-signs-law-reduce-robocalls-end-67995805

Why this took so long, I don't understand.   Every member of Congress and Senator has a cell phone, their families have them, and just about everyone in the country is plagued by this expensive nuisance.  What took them so long?  

My thinking is, laws like this only happen in election years when they want to show their constituents they are doing something for them.  

Rams

[old2soon]

             NOW those danged things-cell phones-need to shut off cept fer 911 past 3 MPH. And before anyone here has a hissy fit you do NOT under any circumstances have a "right" to put me or mine or my friends at risk cuz you wanna text at highway speeds. I catch all kinds of hades cuz I will NOT answer my cell phone while underway. Yeah-I Have indeed mentioned this very thing a few times on this forum. Brand new driver young inexperienced still LEARNING should no how no way be texting while in motion under the wheel. Every one here knows yer entire day can go in the crapper in less than a heartbeat while DRIVING or RIDING. Remember what we did before cell phones? Pulled over some where to a pay phone and called Aunt-whoever-and let them know we iz runnin late. If ya wuz gonna be early no need to call.Had far TOO many situations cuz someone Thought they could drive and text or put on makeup or play the guitar or have sex or do any number of "things" while supposedly driving at highway speeds.  RIDE SAFE.

[Bighead]

Calls Might slow down for about 3 months then back to business as normal. They wont prosecute the offenders so this law is just another waste of paper. But with good intentions.

[Pete]

Calls Might slow down for about 3 months then back to business as normal. They wont prosecute the offenders so this law is just another waste of paper. But with good intentions.

you are probably correct, although I suspect we may not see a slow down.

[Farside]

 ??? I sure hope this works. I'm fed up with those calls now using my local area code too. 

[..]

I answer and don't speak. I turn onto speakerphone and continue with whatever I'm doing. I figure if they want to waste my time I'll waste theirs.

[f6gal]

I answer and don't speak. I turn onto speakerphone and continue with whatever I'm doing. I figure if they want to waste my time I'll waste theirs.

Previous strategies for dealing with junk calls aren't really effective.  Most of the calls today are recorded messages... very few are actual live people.  I'm soooo tired of them.

[scooperhsd]

About the best thing to do is to pickup and not answer. Even if a robocall, they can't go on to the next until you hang up. If everybody did this - it might start making a dent.Second best is to just let it ring.

[Hook#3287]

Until recently, I would receive 2 or 3 a day.  I changed my phone use to not answering any call I did not recognize.

For some unknown reason, say within the last month or so, I only get 1 or 2 a week.

[Jess from VA]

I never answer (if I don't know who it is), but it goes to machine in 4 rings.  My message is only 3 seconds long (10 words*), so humans picking up never connect in time to hear it (and often start talking like someone is on the line).  

Most robo or human calls don't leave any message, but maybe 1 in six do (both recorded and human).

I've tried connecting (before 4 rings) for one second then hanging up.  I could never determine if that stopped more callbacks than if I let it go to machine.  It's not like I'm going to take the time to track phone numbers, and besides, they probably change their number every call anyway.

*You know what to do, and when to do it. Beep.  (I've used many messages, and this is the best)

Some years ago, I had what was probably a bail-bondsman (or private investigator) from middle US started calling me 2-3 times a week.  They did not hide or switch their number.  They kept asking if a particular individual lived or stayed here.  It was not an American name, very foreign.  After months, it stopped for awhile, but started up again.  

I finally got so tired of hearing the message, that I picked up.  I politely reminded them they had been calling with the same message for months, and that he never lived here, I was the second owner of the house, and he wasn't the first owner either.  They would not reveal why they were looking for him, and I said I guessed he was a fugitive and as an ex federal prosecutor I hopped they found him, but please stop calling and leaving messages.  The person on the phone believed me and thanked me.

Two days later they called again.  I answered and it was not the same person.  I told them the whole story again, and the guy was very persistent.  I lost it and told him I had their address and number and if they called me one more time, I was going to drive out there and blow up their building, and slammed the phone down.

The phone rang two minutes later, and (now) the owner of the business asked if I just threatened to blow their building up.  I told him it wasn't a threat, it was a promise.  Then slowed down and told him the whole long story again calmly (including that it was entirely resolved two days ago), including my professional background.  He believed me and apologized, but reminded me he could turn me in on the bomb threat.  I told him at that point if I was charged, but the calls stopped, I would still consider it a win.  And I would plead insanity at my trial (you made me insane with months of calls) (and it was the only thing that worked to make the calls stop).  He laughed, and I guess he didn't turn me in.   The calls finally stopped.

That was worse than robo calls.



    

[The emperor has no clothes]

Until recently, I would receive 2 or 3 a day.  I changed my phone use to not answering any call I did not recognize.

For some unknown reason, say within the last month or so, I only get 1 or 2 a week.

A couple years ago Brenda decided I needed a new phone. My phone worked perfectly fine, but she thought an upgrade was in order. For some bs reason the deal only worked if I got a new # along with it. I was inundated with calls. It was at least 8 or 9 EVERY day ! I was ready to throw that iPhone in the garbage. Finally they tapered off to maybe 8 or 9 a week now. I've finally got to where I can ignore them.

[Bighead]

Until recently, I would receive 2 or 3 a day.  I changed my phone use to not answering any call I did not recognize.

For some unknown reason, say within the last month or so, I only get 1 or 2 a week.

A couple years ago Brenda decided I needed a new phone. My phone worked perfectly fine, but she thought an upgrade was in order. For some bs reason the deal only worked if I got a new # along with it. I was inundated with calls. It was at least 8 or 9 EVERY day ! I was ready to throw that iPhone in the garbage. Finally they tapered off to maybe 8 or 9 a week now. I've finally got to where I can ignore them.

someone screwed you your # is your #  no matter what phone or carrier you use. You cqn keep your #.

[Rams]

??? I sure hope this works. I'm fed up with those calls now using my local area code too.  

Using your area code?   Just wait till you get one where your own number shows up as the caller ID.   It's happened to me twice.    

My understanding (although extremely limited) is that most of these robocalls are routed somehow but the companies doing the dialing are mostly overseas entities.    My question is, do we have any extra cruise missiles available?  

Rams  

[Wizzard]

Until recently, I would receive 2 or 3 a day.  I changed my phone use to not answering any call I did not recognize.

For some unknown reason, say within the last month or so, I only get 1 or 2 a week.

A couple years ago Brenda decided I needed a new phone. My phone worked perfectly fine, but she thought an upgrade was in order. For some bs reason the deal only worked if I got a new # along with it. I was inundated with calls. It was at least 8 or 9 EVERY day ! I was ready to throw that iPhone in the garbage. Finally they tapered off to maybe 8 or 9 a week now. I've finally got to where I can ignore them.

I do not know who your carrier is but mine is T mobile and I just block unwanted numbers. Never hear from that # again.  Easy to do

[0leman]

I do not know who your carrier is but mine is T mobile and I just block unwanted numbers. Never hear from that # again.  Easy to do

That won't help much as the robocalls use a different number each time they call you.  Some use local Area code and spoof the number of an actual local phone, other use numbers in different states. 

Not sure how the Robocall law will stop these calls.

[Wizzard]

I do not know who your carrier is but mine is T mobile and I just block unwanted numbers. Never hear from that # again.  Easy to do

That won't help much as the robocalls use a different number each time they call you.  Some use local Area code and spoof the number of an actual local phone, other use numbers in different states.  

Not sure how the Robocall law will stop these calls.

This is true and my list is quite long, but it minimizes it.
I can vouch that this really works. Been using it for long time   https://www.nomorobo.com/

[scooperhsd]

The "shaken-stir" protocols are supposed to help with making sure that "AUTHORIZED" users are calling you.

[old2soon]

           I have quite a few numbers in my speed dial call list. I no recognize the number I no answer. Should they leave a voice mail depending on who they iz I might or might not consider a call back. I had lotsa calls right after the 2nd xyl left-told every one of em to track her down. I seriously doubt this law wurx fer any length of time if at all.  RIDE SAFE.