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story category Myth Dispelled: There is no Cell Phone Directory
Telemarketers aren't going to call your unlisted cell phone
(old news - 12:03PM Sunday Sep 30 2007)
tags: wireless · Oddities · consumers
Just in case you were wondering, the FCC has released a consumer advisory announcement to let you know that telemarketers will not be able to receive your wireless phone number via a directory. This rumor has been circulating for four years, ever since talks began about creating a directory for cell phone numbers (similar to the phone book for landlines). Such a directory has been opposed by cell phone carriers, politicians, and consumers so it’s no wonder that the project has stalled indefinitely. But the FCC says that even if it eventually goes forward, it’s going to be based on voluntary involvement by consumers and so the telemarketer list fear is unfounded.

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Forums » Myth Dispelled: There is no Cell Phone Directory
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Post a:
notwrth10

join:2007-03-03
1001EB

Yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

I buy that last line....

But the FCC says that even if it eventually goes forward, it’s going to be based on voluntary involvement by consumers and so the telemarketer list fear is unfounded.

I SMELL BULLSHIT!!

swintec
Premium
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

Telemarketers...

These guys dont need a directory to get our numbers, whats going to stop them from simply dialing random numbers?
--
BlockNews.Net- Quality Usenet Block And Unlimited Accounts
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Telemarketers...

Legality for one thing.

»www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/04/dnc.shtm
"Telemarketing to cell phone numbers has always been illegal in most cases and will continue to be so."

81399672
Premium
join:2006-05-17
Los Angeles, CA

Re: Telemarketers...

an exception to the rule is if the phone is owned by corporation. Then they call you as it's considered business phone
--
i am not a lawyer but I do play one on the internet
realcableguy

join:2002-01-12
Olathe, KS

Re: Telemarketers...

said by 81399672 See Profile :

an exception to the rule is if the phone is owned by corporation. Then they call you as it's considered business phone
That explains something. When I saw this article posted, I laughed.Particularly because of this statement. "Telemarketers aren't going to call your unlisted cell phone". I have received two calls on my "work" cell phone from telemarketers but none on my personal cell.

fireflier
Coffee. . .Need Coffee
Premium
join:2001-05-25
Limbo
·Skype

You don't really think that's going to stop them do you?

I've got a list of caller IDs as long as my arm who have called me illegally based on those FTC guidelines and they keep right on calling (and yes my number is registered with the FTC, and I submit complaints to them when I get such calls).

I gave up expecting the FTC's guidelines to do any good and put my own system together to intercept these crap calls.

Check out whois.us and read some of the most common telemarketing calls. It's really discouraging to see how little the FTC regulations are doing in this area. Cell phone, home phone, VOIP, previous customer or not, the worst of these telemarketers simply don't care because their odds of getting caught and busted are slim if they spoof their ID and stay under the FTC radar by violating less than the next guy.
--
Wishes: When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor. --despair.com
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Telemarketers...

said by fireflier See Profile :

You don't really think that's going to stop them do you?
Yes I do. I can't speak to your misfortune, but neither I, my wife, nor any of my extended family have received any telemarketing calls on their mobile phones beyond a couple of cases. Those instances were corrected by stating the number was a mobile phone, to please not call again, and that the violation was being reported to the appropriate authorities. We have yet to receive any callbacks.

fireflier
Coffee. . .Need Coffee
Premium
join:2001-05-25
Limbo
·Skype

Re: Telemarketers...

You just haven't gotten on the "right" list yet. Give it time. If you ever do, you'll realize how ineffective the DNC list is when you and the FTC have no good way to determine who to prosecute.

One call going around right now is a recorded message that claims to be from "credit card services" (apparently to trick you into thinking it's your own card issuer). The only option is to press "9" to be connected to an operator who will of course try to sell you or scam you out of something. Otherwise the message just repeats and repeats and eventually hangs up. Pressing "9" is certain to confirm to them they're reaching someone who's actually answering and will likely make the situation worse.

They're in violation of multiple DNC requirements:
1) It's a recorded message and they're not a charity or political organization.
2) They're calling people they've not done business with
3) They spoof caller ID (some people get various 800 numbers from this caller that don't work when called back).

Illegal? You bet! I told one of these assbags that their call was illegal (and explained why) and the guy simply cursed me for wasting his time and hung up. They didn't stop calling. The reason you haven't had "problems" is because you've only gotten calls from entities who actually want to comply with the DNC rules.
--
Wishes: When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor. --despair.com
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA

Re: Telemarketers...

Sorry to hear about your situation. Since the DNC list became available of few years ago, I have yet to receive any telemarketing calls to my home or mobile phones beyond the occasional fire/police charity call. Hopefully I'll remain as lucky.

Dezbend
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-20

I thought that although the law was still on the books the FCC admitted it became unenforceable when they mandated wireless number portability. I put my number on the national do not call list just to be sure, but I still get the occasional call. I report the calls on the do not call website, but who knows what happens with that.
--
DSLr Mafia Member.

robs440
Premium
join:2003-06-26
Orlando, FL
·Bright House

got my number?

so many folks were changing numbers and cancelling accounts when i worked for the big blue cell co., that lots of times a persons number was only good for 6 months or less and it was given out to someone else.

besides, they dial random. hell i'm getting junk calls now and spam in my text inbox. they dont need a directory.

BOGBS
Premium
join:2004-05-11
Saco, ME
·RoadRunner Cable


2 edits

What if you have a standard telco exchange?

I've had several friends and coworkers who have gotten a cell phone number in a standard phone exchange. These would be exchanges that have been in use by ILEC/RBOC/etc for many years. I've had several reports they've had credit card companies, satellite dish, and other salespeople/telemarketers calling these numbers. Although these numbers are probably recycled land line blocks, who knows...

I'm not sure if this is an occurrence in other areas around the country, but people that have been given regular land line exchanges might find telemarketers and other unwanted callers making calls to their number.

This may be partially the fault of cell phone companies. I thought it was odd that my wife's new cell phone number a couple years back got an exchange that has been in my area for more than 15 years.

I've been lucky, personally. I've had a standard cell phone exchange, and very minimal problems with text spam, or telemarketing calls. Actually, I don't think I've gotten any telemarketing calls (crosses fingers)
moonpuppy

join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
·Verizon Online DSL

Re: What if you have a standard telco exchange?

said by BOGBS See Profile :

This may be partially the fault of cell phone companies. I thought it was odd that my wife's new cell phone number a couple years back got an exchange that has been in my area for more than 15 years.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the people who wanted number porting.

I am a firm believer that cell phones and pagers should have their own exchanges. Even pay phones used to their last 4 numbers start with a 9 to make it easier to identify.

BOGBS
Premium
join:2004-05-11
Saco, ME
·RoadRunner Cable


4 edits

Re: What if you have a standard telco exchange?

said by moonpuppy See Profile :

said by BOGBS See Profile :

This may be partially the fault of cell phone companies. I thought it was odd that my wife's new cell phone number a couple years back got an exchange that has been in my area for more than 15 years.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the people who wanted number porting.

I am a firm believer that cell phones and pagers should have their own exchanges. Even pay phones used to their last 4 numbers start with a 9 to make it easier to identify.
That's a great point actually. Number porting is a half decent idea, by my thoughts, but there's definitely many downsides to it... And I'm sure if I asked for another exchange, I probably could have gotten it, if a number was available.

I'm just glad that even though she has this local exchange, we've not had any issues with telemarketing, for the most part. She also only uses it about 10-20 minutes a month, anyway.

I also completely agree that cellphones should have their own exchange as well. Some may want to port their home phone number to a cell, but I'm not one of those people.
moonpuppy

join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
·Verizon Online DSL

Re: What if you have a standard telco exchange?

The problem is people wanted to keep their old cell phone numbers when they changed providers. Verizon actually wanted this because they thought they could get more people. They didn't realize that churn happens both ways.

I still think landline porting is a bad idea when people move. However, this was a problem relating to the phone companies and the relatively small long distance lengths.

BF69

join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

said by moonpuppy See Profile :

If you want to blame anyone, blame the people who wanted number porting.

I am a firm believer that cell phones and pagers should have their own exchanges. Even pay phones used to their last 4 numbers start with a 9 to make it easier to identify.
Actually where I live it's that way.

At&t POTS 584
At&t cell 220
Verizon cell 441
VoiP( Vonage, Packet 8, Charter etc )213 Unless they ported their POTS number

So I can tell if a local call is calling me from a phone on a POTS line or VoiP, or using cell and which carrier it is just by the first 3 numbers.
JasonWISP

join:2004-06-29

Great point. Actually, the exchanged is based off of "NPA-NXX-X" (including the last X I have there). So, the cell phone company may be using 630-226-3XXX while the 630-226 block is assigned to the larger company. It's not subleased, it's just the way they can be assigned. With smaller areas that have one "exchange", they are used to a prefix per town. So, it is handy to use the same exchange with the 7th number (812-847-X) being the cellular company.

Irish Shark
Play Like A Champion Today
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-29
Las Vegas, NV

Yea, right

Then why do I get those calls on my cell?

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net

Re: Yea, right

said by Irish Shark See Profile :

Then why do I get those calls on my cell?
Easy they have computer dialer's that rapidly dial numbers like this XXX.0001, 0002, 0003........9999 when the computer dialer gets a good connection, depending on how it is set up, if a fax machine is detected a fax will be dumped in, answering machine a message will be dumped, if it is a live line it is routed to an operator in a telephone bank, any active number then goes into an active number "D" base. Somewhere in this the do not call data base comes into play, har-de-har-har. In other words if you don't know who is calling don't pick up the telephone.
--
Eat a BLT for Iran

Irish Shark
Play Like A Champion Today
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-29
Las Vegas, NV

Re: Yea, right

If the name/number is blocked, I don't answer any phone. Or screwball prefixes as well.
--
"You can observe a lot by watching". Yogi Berra
whocares
Premium
join:2003-07-26
..

Re: Yea, right

IF thats true,that solictors don't have my cell phone 3, (NO ONE KNOWS IT9 other then cingular/AT&T & me) then why is it i get 1-2 UN ASKED for voice mails a day from soilitors,when i forward my calls from home to my cell,?

i don't get any on my home phone.
jazzy
--
I've learned That when you plan to get even with someone, you are ONLY letting that person continue to hurt you.I REFUSE to allow YOU to hurt me anymore
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Yea, right

said by whocares See Profile :

when i forward my calls from home to my cell,?

i don't get any on my home phone.
Maybe because you have your home phone forwarded to your mobile phone?
whocares
Premium
join:2003-07-26
..

Re: Yea, right

plz read post & my reply correcting for unstanding,

then why is it i get 1-2 UN ASKED for voice mails a day from soilitors (on my cell phone)
openbox9

join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast

Re: Yea, right

I attempted to interpret your reply. You said you forwarded your home phone to your cell phone and you wonder why you are receiving voice mails from "soilitors" on your cell phone. If you are receiving unsolicited calls to your home phone and you forward to your cell, that's where the unsolicited calls will go, regardless of legality.

cellguy123

@algx.net

Own prefix

North America must be one of the only places to have the cell owner pay for the calls.

Usualy calls made to a 'mobile' area code, have a higher long distance rate attached to them.

Looking at other country area codes, you see (for example) Country1 - 123
Country1 - 444 (mobile)
Country2 - 555
Country2 - 556 (Special Services)

ftthz
If love can kill hate can also save

join:2005-10-17

>_>

better pay to call me if they do call and waste my minutes
fldiver
Premium
join:1999-12-27
Jacksonville, FL

Re: >_>

I just use a program to block ANYTHING not on my contacts list Works like a charm; I don't need to depend on the government to create laws they obviously cannot enforce anyway.

-Dan

greendragon
Premium
join:2003-09-20
Stewartville, MN

Volontary??

I'm willing to bet that sooner or later cell companies will right it into your TOS that you have to be added to a directory, just so they can have more to sell....
--
Folding for our future!!

Aslie

@bellsouth.net

RE

I think calling to cell # should be legal .. If u guys dont agree then maybe you guys should resort to having tin cans with a string .. These also applies to people with only cell phones and no landline...
HA HA HA
from the telemarketer who calls with a program that creates fake caller id's to not get caught...
ALso this dialer program also bypasses call block...
iowaboy
Premium
join:2004-02-28
Kalona, IA

Re: RE

but the question still is how do the telemarketers get the cell number and name on the account? I have received 4 calls a week from someone selling dish network. Finally got them to stop by putting law suit in the conversation.
tbone2006

join:2006-07-22
Abilene, TX

If people would check out the truth

If people would check out websites that dispel e-mail rumors, like www.snopes.com instead of just forwarding an e-mail, my e-mail box would be empty. I can't believe people get an email and instantly believe it.
By the way today is internet clean up day, so unhook your computer.
Forums » Myth Dispelled: There is no Cell Phone Directory


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