[Doodlegirl]

Could be Comcast selling the custoer's numbers.

[uujudy]

We moved here right smack in the middle of the 2008 elections, and we delayed getting a Florida phone because I didn't want non-stop calls from the politicians.

Three years later we still don't have Florida phones.
Our cell phone numbers are in The Villages phone book, but we seldom get marketing calls -- so CappyJohn, it doesn't seem as if The Villages is giving out the phone numbers. Maybe it's the phone company?

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Virtual Geezer

This may work for you. Get a recording of the phone companies message that you get when you dial a non working number. You know the message, "The number you have dialed is not a working number. Please check the number and dial again or ask your operator for assistance". Use this as you voice machine greeting but be sure to tell your friends so that they can leave a legitimate message after the beep. Wait about 10 or 15 seconds after the message to set the beep.

Do not try to make the mesage yourself and the voice will not be the same as the one used by the phone company and that will be a dead giveway.

I had a former co-worker use this for years before the Do Not Call system went into effect. Worked like a charm.

VG

A great idea.

[Virtual Geezer]

Here is a web site to help you out if you decided to set one up. http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html You can left click on either of the icons to listen to a message and decide if it is right your use. To save any of the messages just right click on the icon and choose save as and then select what folder you want the file saved into.

Next you will have to either bring you answering machine over to your computer or the remote handset if using a cordless. You will need the device that contains the microphone to use as the input of the recording. Now play the recording off your computer and into the answering machine for your greeting message.You may have to play around with the volume settings on your computer or just move the mic further away from the speaker. After a few tries you will have a great greeting message to avoid unwanted calls.

Don't forget to tell your friends so that they will ignore the message and still leave you a message after the beep.

VG

[obxgal]

Originally Posted by Virtual Geezer

This may work for you. Get a recording of the phone companies message that you get when you dial a non working number. You know the message, "The number you have dialed is not a working number. Please check the number and dial again or ask your operator for assistance". Use this as you voice machine greeting but be sure to tell your friends so that they can leave a legitimate message after the beep. Wait about 10 or 15 seconds after the message to set the beep.

Do not try to make the mesage yourself and the voice will not be the same as the one used by the phone company and that will be a dead giveway.

I had a former co-worker use this for years before the Do Not Call system went into effect. Worked like a charm.

VG

The only thing I see where you have a problem with this message is when your doctor is verifying an appointment or one of your contractors.

[Ooper]

Originally Posted by pooh

Caller ID is my friend.... Don't recognize the number, I don't answer. If they really want me to call back, they'll leave a message.

I agree... the DO Not Call List just doesn't work. There are still all kinds of calls from political to charities that call every day. Caller ID is great and worth the extra few bucks it costs. If I don't recognize the number, I don't answer... period!

[Gerald]

When My wife and I purchased our home from the Villages last June. WE started to receive mail and calls from the same kind of people in NY. The only people that had our home phone and NY address PHONE is on the do not call list in NY. Was the Bank in the villages and the Village. WE limited the phone number to only a very few people who simple had to know. So the only way that our number and NY address could have been given out was either the bank or the Villages since our Village house does not have phone and we use our cell phones.

[tainsley]

Originally Posted by Gerald

When My wife and I purchased our home from the Villages last June. WE started to receive mail and calls from the same kind of people in NY. The only people that had our home phone and NY address PHONE is on the do not call list in NY. Was the Bank in the villages and the Village. WE limited the phone number to only a very few people who simple had to know. So the only way that our number and NY address could have been given out was either the bank or the Villages since our Village house does not have phone and we use our cell phones.

I don't think I will have a land line either...that way I control who calls me. With all the talk about unwanted solicitors, I think I will also put a "No Soliciting" sign on my door!

[Uptown Girl]

Got this online:

"Cellular providers do allow certain information providers access to their phone number data bases but they have to pay for it. The fee is usually nominal and once you pay you will have unlimited access to their information for as long as you want. They will also give you access to a whole wealth of information in addition to that persons cell number that will include details about the cell phone owner, address history, who their provider is, and even whether or not their phone is still active."

P.S. As others have posted, try googling your name on the computer and see what happens. You may be very surprised.

[Bob45]

Here is a list of phone company messages. One of these might help take care of the unwanted phone call.
Bob
http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by tainsley

I don't think I will have a land line either...that way I control who calls me. With all the talk about unwanted solicitors, I think I will also put a "No Soliciting" sign on my door!

Well, think about it first.

In our old house in Hadley, the first day we were moving in, the doorbell rang a lot. It was landscapers and bug people who were just fellas looking for a job. We chose Earl that day to take care of our lawn, and he was a great, reliable and helpful person for the three years we lived there.

I think they saw the moving truck.

When I was at my friends house a couple of weeks ago in a new neighborhood, receiving deliveries of her furniture and other things, the young men who do lawns came and rang the doorbell. What they are, are decent people looking for employment. I am sure they saw the delivery trucks out in front.

We didn't get ONE call on cell phone, which is the phone we listed with The Villages. We didn't have a landline.