Canadian Broadband → Why don't telemarketers call me?

When I moved back to Canada a few years ago I decided to get a landline only, and not use mobile phone service in this country.

So I signed on with freephoneline.ca. Freephoneline didn't have any 416 numbers available so I got a rogers sim card with that area code for cheap and ported it over.

The system has worked great for a long list of reasons. But one benefit that I didn't expect is that I have received fewer than five autodialers and zero telemarketing calls in the entire 4+ years of using this phone service. To compare, my relatives who still pay ~$25/month for POTS from Rogers or Bell complain that they receive up to 3-5 spam calls per day despite all being registered for the CRTC do-not-call list. I have never registered for the do-not-call list, yet receive almost no spam calls.

So is this because my phone still is registered in the "system" as a mobile phone since the number was ported from a sim card? And if so, why does this work?

Could it be that the previous owner of the sim card put the number on the do-not-call list under his name, to my benefit?

If I had taken one of the stock phone numbers that freephoneline.ca offered for free, would my experience with telemarketers be any different?

Or maybe I am just lucky.

just lucky

Give us your number, we can make sure you do

when u sign up for "LANDLINE" phone services like rodgers, bell canada, they put your number in the fone book, but if you have cell phone like rodgers, or bell or voip companies like free phone line or com wave, they dont, thus you get less calls.

I've had phone calls from probably Pakistan for the last week once or twice a day from Windows Support (the install a virus outfit) ... same guy on the phone. After a continued tirade of verbal abuse from me, I hoped he'd stopped. But no ... today was a new tactic ... same guy ... this time proclaiming he was from Bell Canada.

Somehow, these Windows support folks got my cell phone number and have been pestering that too ... Since only a very few have my cell number, I can tell they're not legitimate calls and ignore them. But the landline has a number I've had for 14 years as my primary contact, so can't always identify the scammers.

Nobody needs to "get" your phone number, they just start dialing the first valid number in an area code and keep adding 1 - eventually they can call everyone.

Don't worry... it's happening soon.

+1

Not really understanding what the problem would be with not getting telemarketers is.

Nothing on my voip.ms DID in the 5 years I've had the service.

Probably because the number has never been in any phonebook.

Hopefully it stays that way going forward.

Any telemarketers who get to me on my voip.ms line (which is a number ported from Bell originally) get through a grand total of once per number they use. The number promptly goes on my blocked call list and the next time they try they are told my number is out of service.

I don't get many calls anymore, it's now actually worse on my cell (one a week maybe).

Very lucky.

My Bell Cell gets 3-6 crap calls a day and it is registered on the do not call list.
Its gotten so bad I set up a loud ring for anyone on my contact list, and a quiet one for everything else.

A free call blocking option for dumb phones would be nice though, its the same numbers all the time.

I get the windows tech support call from Pakistan once a day. Instead of going apeshit on them I now play stupid and pretend I'm going to sign up. I keep them on the phone for as long as I can just to see how far they will go. I think the longer you can keep them on the phone the more they lose out cause its another potential customer they lose while your tieing them up.

It's funny playing along too cause you know your far more technical than they will ever be and you can really confuse them.

I got as far as 3rd level the other day where a guy picked up and wanted me to go into safe mode by typing www.safeme.us in the start win run box. I said no I'm not comfortable typing sites I'm not familiar with and said I'd get into safe mode by rebooting and using f8 key. He immediatley got quiet for a sec then was very suspicious and hung up on me a few secs later. That call I kept them on the phone for about 15 mins

For those who haven't yet figured it out, the "Please do call me list" is probably a bad thing to sign up for.

The only way it can work, is if the list is shared with Telemarketers, which unfortunately provides them with a nice, verified list of good numbers for them to call !!

Change numbers, and don't sign up the new number on the "Please do call me list."

DNC list only works if the call center is afraid of getting fined (i.e. based in Canada). If you're getting calls from around the world, tough luck.

I'm pretty sure they just call random numbers and if someone picks up or goes to voice mail, they save the number, sell it or call it 15 times a day because it costs them nothing.

Used to get that windows service call. I told them I'm a mac user and they stopped.

When they call, ask them where the hookers and cocaine they promised to you on their last call are....tell them you're getting impatient, and if they don't arrive soon you'll be going to the police.

Is it always the same number? If so you should be able to block the number.

 
Yes, I have read that it can be abused in that way.

So anyway, exactly what does a person have to do in order to be issued a copy of that list ?