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  • #1

    Can I get a little help here?

    So i looked into the harassment sticky first, but im not sure my particular issue works there. If it does, and i'm just blind, please feel free to delete this thread. I'd hate to flood it with un-necessary postings.

    My issue is i have this particular phone number that keeps calling me. Multiple times a day. Well, it has in the past. It's actually slowed down a good bit.

    They ask for a Michael, and FYI...there is no Michael that lives here. This isn't the only phone call i've gotten for a Michael. However, the OTHER numbers, have no called back since i answered and told them they have the wrong number.

    This particular number called about a week back, i finally got fed up hanging up on them and just answered them. They asked for said individual and informed them they had the wrong number. There was a "sorry" and then i hung up. (11/30/10) Yesterday (12/08/10) they call again, asking for the same person. *sigh* I know immediately who they are because we have caller id.

    So i looked up the number, found it was a known harassment caller number and i went about goggling how to deal with them. Found the privactrights.org site and did what they suggested.

    I called Comcast (my phone provider) and they told me how to block the number. I thought i blocked it yesteray, but i got a call from them just 15 mins ago (12/09/10) I answered and hung up immediately, then i did *57 which does the call trace. Then i called the call blocking thing again and it finally took.

    My question is this.... After blocking them, and they still get through. What else should i do?

    I know i should do *57 but what if it doesn't work? Can i call the police for this kind of thing? I think i can...i dunno.

    ***** added info:

    This is what the caller id says when it comes up

    Findlay Oh
    567-525-4499

    I live in Maryland...They ask for Michael. I am Danielle, and my husband is named Gabriel. *sigh*
    I can only please one person a day, today isn't your day, and tomorrow doesn't look good either.

    When someone asks you a stupid question, give them a stupid answer.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Based on a quick Google, it appears that this number is probably not the actual number that's calling you, as there are at least a dozen different call types that come from the number in question.

    If it continues to be a problem, then you need to make a formal complaint with your phone provider, whoever that happens to be. And even a single call after you tell the caller to not call again qualifies as harassment in the US.

    ^-.-^
    Faith is about what you do. It's about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It's about making sacrifices for the good of others. - Dresden

    Comment

    • #3
      If the phone provider doesn't help you, yes you can go to the police.

      The police may refer you to someone else (eg, telecommunications ombudsman's office), but this is definitely something that qualifies for their attention if other obvious resources (eg, phone provider) fail.
      Seshat's self-help guide:
      1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
      2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
      3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
      4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

      "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

      Comment

      • #4
        http://donotcall.gov list your number, then file a complaint EVERY time they call back. If you have not yet done so, also tell Findlay Oh to put your number on their "Do not call" list. Keep a written record of when they call, and when you complain. BTW, that *57 is a good idea as it backs up your claim that they called you. Yeah, that's NOT legal.
        Everything will be ok in the end. If it's not ok, it's not the end.

        Comment

        • #5
          I'm on the do not call list. I had an issue with Discover card calling once a week to offer me a card i repeatedly told them not to give me. They finally stopped, and atually i've noticed a really nice decrease in calls. We haven't had a telemarketer call since a week after i put our name on the list.


          So far today, i have not received a call from the offending number. So i hope the block has worked. I mean, it's possible they just didn't call today. But at this point, it does not matter. So long as the number is not goign through into my phone...it matters not what happens to it.

          Thanks for the advice so far. I'll keep it posted if i DO have to go to the police. And i'll also post if i get another call.
          I can only please one person a day, today isn't your day, and tomorrow doesn't look good either.

          When someone asks you a stupid question, give them a stupid answer.

          Comment

          • #6
            The trick is to keep them on the phone for a while. Just keep yapping. "No, there is no Michael here. Why is it you are calling? No, I don't know this person, don't have any number to give you... I've had this phone number for three years, maybe it was his before then? Blah blah..."

            This works because usually the person calling isn't allowed to hang up (unless the person being called uses foul or harassing language) but also has a quota to fill. The end result is, during the conversation, the collector will be doing his best to make sure he never has to call your number again!

            Comment

            • #7
              It's probably a collection agency. I have one that keeps calling me at work asking for the previous employee that had my phone number. Okay, that's kind of legit; I don't update my bank with my new work number...

              The catch: I've had the same work phone number for twelve years. They just don't believe me when I tell them he hasn't worked here for over a decade. (He actually managed to get fired, which is real tough to do at the company I work for.)

              Comment

              • #8
                Quoth sirwired View Post
                The catch: I've had the same work phone number for twelve years. They just don't believe me when I tell them he hasn't worked here for over a decade. (He actually managed to get fired, which is real tough to do at the company I work for.)
                In the US, you can just tell them to never call back, and unless they're some shady off-shore company, or a really scummy domestic one, they'll stop because no matter what they say, they still have to respect 'do not call' orders.

                ^-.-^
                Faith is about what you do. It's about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It's about making sacrifices for the good of others. - Dresden

                Comment

                • #9
                  The determined ones'll call you anyway.My usual line to them is "You've just committed a federal offense.It is a $10,000 a day fine.Hope you enjoy it!"
                  "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you.This is the principal difference between a man and a dog"

                  Mark Twain

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I have a problem like this as well. people (different people) keep calling me for Linda. I am Moyra. Apparently this woman keeps accidentally giving out my number instead of hers. the only time it really tapered off (I haven't gotten called in months) is because I actually brought it up to the person who called.

                    "Auuugh, this isn't Linda. She keeps giving out the wrong damn number. When you get in contact with her, can you tell her I was a right bitch to you so she doesn't do it again?"

                    "Um.... okay?"

                    " Thank you!"
                    "Did you at least ascertain the nature of his curse so that I may know the monstrosity that I face? ... A GIRL? He was... Turned into a girl? WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT?" -EGS http://egscomics.com

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                    • #11
                      As of today, i don't get any more of those calls. I have received one or two "accident" calls, but it's really not as bad as it used to be. I would say one wrong number within a 14-20 day cycle. So i would say average for most homes now.
                      I can only please one person a day, today isn't your day, and tomorrow doesn't look good either.

                      When someone asks you a stupid question, give them a stupid answer.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Quoth noone View Post
                        I have a problem like this as well. people (different people) keep calling me for Linda. I am Moyra. Apparently this woman keeps accidentally giving out my number instead of hers. the only time it really tapered off (I haven't gotten called in months) is because I actually brought it up to the person who called.

                        "Auuugh, this isn't Linda. She keeps giving out the wrong damn number. When you get in contact with her, can you tell her I was a right bitch to you so she doesn't do it again?"

                        "Um.... okay?"

                        " Thank you!"
                        If she's doing it on purpose, you've just encouraged her to keep doing it.
                        They say that God only gives us what we can handle. Apparently, God thinks I'm a bad ass.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Quoth noone View Post
                          "Auuugh, this isn't Linda. She keeps giving out the wrong damn number. When you get in contact with her, can you tell her I was a right bitch to you so she doesn't do it again?"
                          We had a family that was doing that as well. We'd just say 'Sorry - the Ahrimans keep giving out our number as theirs. When you see them next, please ask them to stop!'

                          Cross fingers, it finally has.
                          Seshat's self-help guide:
                          1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
                          2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
                          3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
                          4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

                          "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Quoth Seshat View Post
                            We had a family that was doing that as well. We'd just say 'Sorry - the Ahrimans keep giving out our number as theirs. When you see them next, please ask them to stop!'

                            Cross fingers, it finally has.
                            I had a family that was doing that for nearly three years. I think they had the number before I did. However, they continued to give out my number to everyone they got credit with, so I got all the collection calls, plus all the calls from the school their kid was truant from (every day, some weeks).
                            They say that God only gives us what we can handle. Apparently, God thinks I'm a bad ass.

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