Junk Calls, Verizon, the FTC, The local PD ..... and me

[Stinky The Clown]

I had an interesting day on the junk calls front.

Since last Thursday, I have gotten literally dozens of calls from the same number. Each time it is the same thing. The phone rings. I pick up, usually after 3 to 5 rings. No one is there, but the line is clearly open. If I wait, the line clicks a few times and a recoding comes on saying "If you wish to make a call, please hang up and dial again."

I dial *69 and an 866 number is reported. I call that number and get a recording that says "I'm sorry. Your call can not be completed as dialed. Please check the number and call again."

So I call my phone company, Verizon. After going through some absolute stupidity talking to a recorded voice that has these cutsey 'interactive' phrases in response to my responses, I finally get through to a sentient person (at least it seemed so).

The phone company can do nothing. Try calling the FTC. (Yes ... the Federal Trade Commission, *not* the Federal Communications Commission.)

I call. I speak to a very nice woman who is also very helpful. She takes my information. Gives me a case number. Then tells me they don't handle individual cases, just document them in case of future prosecution of some 'evil doer'.

Interesting point ... by law, telemarketers are required to have someone on the phone if they call you. Open lines as I have been getting are against the law!

So .... since she can't help me any further, she says call my local police department. Depending on the attitude of my local state's attorney, they may do something.

So I call the local PD. A uniformed officer comes out. Takes my report. Gives me a case number. Says he'll look into it. Says he'll call me back.

I get a call back tonight. Case is filed. If I get any more calls between now and Friday I am to call them back. he will then take it to the state's attorney. The state's attorney has said he may well be interested in it.

I really hate telemarketers. I mean, I **really** hate them. I've been on the Do Not Call List since the day it first went on the internet. I have so far reported two telemarketers who I was able to identify for calling me in violation of the DNC list. This type of thing is new to me, but I'm not stopping here, either.

Does anyone have any understanding of any of this? What we can do? Who we can call?

Side note: I find it appaling that the phone company sells the ability to make these sorts of calls and agress to hide the caller from an easy search for their identity. They then turn around and sell folks like us various services to block these same calls. But at the end of the day, they're very comfortable saying "Sorry, we can't help you."

Wutta buncha dickwads .........