Phone Harassment

[Spam]

I've been hit by some BS mortgage company who keeps calling my house. Since I use Homeseer, I have a nice log of the calls. 22 calls in the last 2 weeks as a matter of fact. No, I'm not behind on house payment, and this isn't my mortgage company. I'm going to look up the phone solicitions laws, and I have been on DNC list since day 1. Anyway......

I would like a simple script that would allow me to count the number of times said number called me, and have it read back to the caller. I figure I can at least have fun with these people... I'm looking for something like this.

Hello [explicit noun] you have called X times. Do not call back. Piss off.

And just to show you my level of frustration. (oh yeah, I tried to call them.. NOTHING, and reverse lookup proved negative. NPA/NXX search to be done soon)

8/16/2004 7:03:01 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/16/2004 7:57:35 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/17/2004 5:45:01 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/17/2004 7:10:33 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/17/2004 8:03:23 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0023 Name: OHIO CALL
8/18/2004 6:01:35 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0023 Name: OHIO CALL
8/18/2004 7:06:47 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/19/2004 5:50:46 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0023 Name: OHIO CALL
8/19/2004 7:22:58 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0023 Name: OHIO CALL
8/23/2004 5:31:56 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/23/2004 7:46:47 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/23/2004 7:47:17 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/24/2004 7:38:14 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/26/2004 5:43:32 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/26/2004 7:43:22 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/30/2004 5:53:41 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/30/2004 7:08:04 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/30/2004 8:25:09 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/31/2004 5:29:44 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/31/2004 6:41:21 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/31/2004 7:49:23 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL
8/31/2004 8:08:08 PM~!~Caller ID~!~Number: 513-433-0022 Name: OHIO CALL

 

[Skibum]

1. Name on Do not call list
2. Report the #$^%@@ds


Not sure I understand the reverse lookup... that IS the number that they caller from.... what happens when you call back?

 

[Spam]

Since I don't get real caller ID phone the people, only "ohio call", I have nothing to go by. It is possible to get a reverse lookup on people and match the phone number to a company name. I have called the number back just to get a ring no answer.

 

[jlehnert]

If I remember the DNC law, you can sue the buggers for damages in small claims court. Something like $50/call IIRC. So think of the good side. 22 x $50 = $1100. You're 1/3 of the way to that new HDTV set you were looking for.

 

[Guy Lavoie]

Every time I see threads on telemarketers, I remember this site:

http://www.antitelemarketer.com/nuke/html/

Go into the "Content" section and read the "Telemarketer Tormenting Techniques" section. I'm sure some of these are made up but they are still hilarious!

 

[tech-home]

Awesome Let Homeseer make money for you. I would let them keep calling and have it recorded you telling them not too. Once you have enough calls on the log, Sue thier buts and get the plasma. What I did was setup the disconnect tone based on Unkown or Telemakers caller ID. The disconnect tone is great if they use a automated dialer.

Maybe you can get Homeseer to actually pay for itself.



BrianD

 

[Skibum]

Actually, I think that you want the opposite.... Make HS sound like you are answering the phone... Hello, Hello, is anyone there? (Hoping you get transferred to a person, and wasting their resources.) Then after about 2 or 3 minutes of false conversation, tell the real person to bug off.

 

[jrfuda]

I tried a reverse lookup of that number at anywho http://www.anywho.com/rl.html but didn't get anything. Maybe there testing that false CID service mentioned in the other thread and you're the lucky Guinea pig

 

[theAberdeenKid]

I believe Verizon (if that is you local provider) can trace the call. I think you need to press *58 or *59 or something like that when you recieve the call to tag it. Then you call Verizon and they will give you the caller information.

 

[Squintz]

They will only provide the information to the police i think. If i were you i would just do some social hacking and act interested in their company for a few minutes. Ask them to fax you some information to look over at your office. This way you can get their fax number and reverse lookup that number for more information such as the address of the company. Who knows they may even include their information on their letter head. Once you have that information then report it to the right people(im not sure who that is) and let them take care of it.

There are ways arround the do not call list and it looks like that company may have found one. Have you bought anything recently or signed up for anything?

But back to the initial topic. Is anyone gonna write a script for what this guy wants?

 

[smee]

If you act interested when they call, that may count as previously doing business with them. Then they can keep contacting you - legally ignoring the DNC list. It may even make it harder to file a complaint about the previous calls.

If you want to do something about it, I think you are better off filing a complaint without trying to get in touch with them. Without 2-way communications, then they are simply harrassing you.

I also log all incoming phone calls. When a call comes in, HomeSeer sends messages to my cell phone and watch. It checks with a database first to see whether it should send this message. Many calls are filtered out (including those from "TOLL FREE"). When I walk in to my apartment in the evening, HS announces how many (total) phone calls there have been. It's not unusual at all for me to get no messages (cell phone and watch) during the day but still have received 8 phone calls (as announced when I get home). It is very rare that any of these calls leave messages. I've stopped answering the phone when I'm home and get these so I haven't linked all of the numbers to businesses.

I've also been on the DNC list since day one. It does seem to have gotten rid of a lot of calls. I know several of the ones I get are from Citibank and have these flagged as Citibank in my database. They are allowed to call me because I've previously done business with them. The messages are not sent to cell phone or watch when these come in and I don't bother answering when I'm home, but at least I know who it was.

 

[Squintz]

It send it to your watch??? What type of watch do you have?

 

[smee]

It send it to your watch??? What type of watch do you have?

Timex Internet Messenger
It's basically a Skytel pager. It accepts text messages (emailed from HS usually). When I get phone calls or other security alerts at home, my watch vibrates (could beep if I want it to) and I read the page. It's one-way only - I can't send anything back.

These have been discontinued. About a year or so ago, they had their last run of cheap watches with free service for a year. I think it ran $35 or so. I tried to pick up a spare later but they were all out.

Discussion on HomeSeer forum.

The service does include an 800 number and voice-mail box but I've never used it. The service costs $100 a year to renew.

It looks like Office Depot has them in stock for $75. I assume this includes one year of free service but it doesn't say.

By the way, I'm wearing the watch in my avatar picture so you can get an idea of what it looks like in action.

 

[Spam]

Well the script may not be necessary. I finally got ahold of someone, and the lady really worked me. I tried to call with a pissy attitude, but she quickly stopped it. I never get upset, and I played into her hands (DARN IT). I called and told her about the 22 calls in 2 weeks. She said we stop after 25. I just lost it laughing. They supposedly took me off the list. But we'll see. I've tried calling like 5 other times and never got an answer. Dunno, I guess I lucked out this round. Thanks for the help guys. Might have to cash in on that 1100, but I'm sure there is something about asking them to stop calling.

:lol: