Augie Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Do you still have a landline? I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and my wife brought up ditching the home phone just last night after yet another robocall. I average 4-6 robocalls/day and they seem to be getting worse. I don’t need a car warranty, I don’t have any federal student loans and I don’t need a lower interest rate on my credit cards. Half the time there isn’t even anything on the other end, just silence. I block the numbers, but I don’t think that even slows them down. For us it’s not the cost (but that IS is a real thing), just the annoyance of robocalls. We still have the home phone for two reasons. We can call our cell phone if we can’t find it (very rare) and it will tell emergency services where we are if we ever need to call 911 (has NEVER happened, and hope it never will, but....) It’s gotten to the point that legit calls come in (very rarely) and I start out with a nasty, disgusted tone until I realize it’s real and someone I need. How about you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Went from Verizon landline(~$65 a month for basic service) to Time-Warner Triple Play, to no landline. Been without for 4-5 years now. Don't miss it. Anyone who needs to reach us, has our cell numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 we do but it's not even hooked up. i think it was one of those deals with spectrum where it would cost more if we didn't get it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 2 minutes ago, teef said: we do but it's not even hooked up. i think it was one of those deals with spectrum where it would cost more if we didn't get it. You could be missing an important fax while you sit around listening to your 8 track tapes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 3 minutes ago, Augie said: You could be missing an important fax while you sit around listening to your 8 track tapes! nothing infuriates me more than watching tv, to see the called id come up as complete spam. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I have a landline and I use it daily. 99% of the spam calls I get are when I'm not home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 23 minutes ago, Augie said: Do you still have a landline? I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and my wife brought up ditching the home phone just last night after yet another robocall. I average 4-6 robocalls/day and they seem to be getting worse. I don’t need a car warranty, I don’t have any federal student loans and I don’t need a lower interest rate on my credit cards. Half the time there isn’t even anything on the other end, just silence. I block the numbers, but I don’t think that even slows them down. For us it’s not the cost (but that IS is a real thing), just the annoyance of robocalls. We still have the home phone for two reasons. We can call our cell phone if we can’t find it (very rare) and it will tell emergency services where we are if we ever need to call 911 (has NEVER happened, and hope it never will, but....) It’s gotten to the point that legit calls come in (very rarely) and I start out with a nasty, disgusted tone until I realize it’s real and someone I need. How about you? ....yup...packaged up with my Spectrum cable and internet......only use it where where phone number is required......machine grabs nuisance messages when I do not want to give out my cell.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 3 minutes ago, teef said: nothing infuriates me more than watching tv, to see the called id come up as complete spam. “Call from....then read out the entire ten digit number”. It seems like it lasts forever! I want to throw a shoe at the TV......but I’m pretty sure that’s a bad idea. So far I have refrained. 2 minutes ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said: ....yup...packaged up with my Spectrum cable and internet......only use it where where phone number is required......machine grabs nuisance messages when I do not want to give out my cell.... Our is part of a package too. I find 90%+ do not leave a message. Heck, about 50% there is absolutely NOTHING on the other end if I decide to pick it up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 4 minutes ago, Augie said: “Call from....then read out the entire ten digit number”. It seems like it lasts forever! I want to throw a shoe at the TV......but I’m pretty sure that’s a bad idea. So far I have refrained. Our is part of a package too. I find 90%+ do not leave a message. Heck, about 50% there is absolutely NOTHING on the other end if I decide to pick it up. ....their software weeds out the expected spam....and I can block phone numbers......despite efforts to stop their calls, the effin' Red Cross calls constantly for my kids who no longer live with me as well as for my late wife and mother.....beyond obnoxious..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I've often thought about buying a "magic jack", and then using that for anything I do where I have to provide a number, then get a new cell number and only hand out to family and friends. $50, and then a few $$$ a month after 1st year... https://www.magicjack.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 We have one but have never made a call on it nor picked up a call in 10 years or so, it rings once in awhile. Only reason we have it is that she works out of the house for Hilton so it is necessary for hooking up to the computer... why and how I don't know and don't care but we have to have it for that. Its just a thing here really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not at the table Karlos Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) Cable and internet are cheaper with it. It rings 25 times a day because of robo calls or scams. Edited November 19, 2019 by Not at the table Karlos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 6 minutes ago, T&C said: We have one but have never made a call on it nor picked up a call in 10 years or so, it rings once in awhile. Only reason we have it is that she works out of the house for Hilton so it is necessary for hooking up to the computer... why and how I don't know and don't care but we have to have it for that. Its just a thing here really. Once in a while??? I want that! How can that be? I swear we get 4-6 robocalls daily! They start right after 9:00am, then get heavy around dinner time. I should have included how many robocalls do you get! It’s maddening. I’m surprised the phone carriers have not lobbied HARD to shut this down. It’s the ONLY reason I’m considering dropping a home phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Beard Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 We have the Spectrum cable/Internet/telephone combo. The telephone gets mostly spam calls, and calls from some older family members. All other calls are on the cell phones. I’m not sure why we have it, except that it’s been our home phone number for 35 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Egg Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I also have one of those golf club like sickles. I occasionally use it for fun to look retro and cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 just to the bullpen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulDuke79 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Yes.....because its bundled into our cable plan. Rarely answer it because it's 99% telemarketers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) ObiTalk 200: $70 on Amazon Google Voice: Free No monthly phone bill Free long distance Free voicemail Free texting Unknown callers are greeted by "Please state your name for the Google Voice subscriber" before connecting. This trips up most robo-dialers and telemarketing call centers Sure the NSA and Google are listening, but so are your land line providers Edited November 19, 2019 by /dev/null 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 30 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said: Yes.....because its bundled into our cable plan. Rarely answer it because it's 99% telemarketers. Does it not drive you crazy??? Maybe that’s just me, but I’m fed up with it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 1 hour ago, Augie said: Once in a while??? I want that! How can that be? I swear we get 4-6 robocalls daily! They start right after 9:00am, then get heavy around dinner time. I should have included how many robocalls do you get! It’s maddening. I’m surprised the phone carriers have not lobbied HARD to shut this down. It’s the ONLY reason I’m considering dropping a home phone. My only guess is that no one has picked up a call ever on it so maybe the robo folks decided it was a piece of ***** number to call and put it on their own don't call list lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 16 minutes ago, /dev/null said: ObiTalk 200: $70 on Amazon Google Voice: Free No monthly phone bill Free long distance Free voicemail Free texting Unknown callers are greeted by "Please state your name for the Google Voice subscriber" before connecting. This trips up most robo-dialers and telemarketing call centers Sure the NSA and Google are listening, but so are your land line providers I love the voice screening on my pixel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Info Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 We have one but no traditional phone connected to it. Have for two reasons: 1.) security system uses it 2.) Wife uses it (very infrequently) for faxes for her biz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 We have landline. I used to work in cell phone industry and know with a good landline phone provider the sound quality is better than a cell phone. The problem is finding such a provider. We currently have Verizon package and having Verizon makes me feel like if I was required to hang a P*ts flag at my house but the alternate is Cox which is equivalent to hang a Phish flag at my home. We have bought an add-on spam identifier/blocking device which works except for some of the spammers who regularly change their numbers and I think they are using caller id spoofing considering how many different numbers they use. Oh and there are two sounds which auto dialers recognize as number out of service. Occasionally I will play on computer with phone on speaker and some do not call back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulDuke79 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 36 minutes ago, Augie said: Does it not drive you crazy??? Maybe that’s just me, but I’m fed up with it! Absolutely....and my phone setup only allows me to block 25 numbers which I seem to have exhausted in the first month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 20, 2019 Author Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 minute ago, RaoulDuke79 said: Absolutely....and my phone setup only allows me to block 25 numbers which I seem to have exhausted in the first month. I think you could get elected to public office if you promise to fix this single issue! You could break the promise, as is standard procedure, but you WOULD get elected! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 30 minutes ago, Limeaid said: Oh and there are two sounds which auto dialers recognize as number out of service. Occasionally I will play on computer with phone on speaker and some do not call back. I used to have that sound as the beginning of my answering machine message. Might just go back to it one of these days and see how it works on my cell phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Because... Safety. Everybody is cutting cord, that means "all cell circuits will be jammed in the event of emergency or disaster." Landlines will be less stressed. 30 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said: Absolutely....and my phone setup only allows me to block 25 numbers which I seem to have exhausted in the first month. My new landline cordless phones block 2,000. And had Bluetooth... So cellphones (up to two) will ring thru on my landline cordless... Or dial out. Put the cell pn charge and use cordless landline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Why do so many of you have robo calls? The Do Not Call registry still works. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulDuke79 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Augie said: I think you could get elected to public office if you promise to fix this single issue! You could break the promise, as is standard procedure, but you WOULD get elected! ? I think I would have a good shot until someone digs up my past indiscretions and finds out I dressed up up in black face every Halloween since 1983. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Just Jack said: I used to have that sound as the beginning of my answering machine message. Might just go back to it one of these days and see how it works on my cell phone. Cellphone you can block the # and at times your carrier will recognize it as high volume spammer, spoofer. But... A blocked call will still appear as blocked in your notifications tray. Or, in the log. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 20, 2019 Author Share Posted November 20, 2019 19 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said: I think I would have a good shot until someone digs up my past indiscretions and finds out I dressed up up in black face every Halloween since 1983. If you just keep it on until the next year, it’s just you. Right? 1 minute ago, ExiledInIllinois said: Cellphone you can block the # and at times your carrier will recognize it as high volume spammer, spoofer. But... A blocked call will still appear as blocked in your notifications tray. Or, in the log. I can block them from my landline too, but they have so many trunk line numbers, it’s virtually hopeless. I get them on my cell, but it’s a tiny fraction of what I get on the landline for some reason. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulDuke79 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 hour ago, ExiledInIllinois said: Because... Safety. Everybody is cutting cord, that means "all cell circuits will be jammed in the event of emergency or disaster." Landlines will be less stressed. My new landline cordless phones block 2,000. And had Bluetooth... So cellphones (up to two) will ring thru on my landline cordless... Or dial out. Put the cell pn charge and use cordless landline. My landline has bluetooth and I connected it to my cell and kept getting robocalls on my cell, so I unpaired it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan4 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 We do, mainly because it was actually cheaper to get the bundle package w/cable and internet. Weve talked about bout getting rid of it because it’s all robo-calls and scams. But it’s nice to have that home number to give out on forms and anything else online that requires a phone #. I fear that if I only have my cell # to give out, I will eventually get just all those robo calls on my cell instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 44 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said: Cellphone you can block the # and at times your carrier will recognize it as high volume spammer, spoofer. But... A blocked call will still appear as blocked in your notifications tray. Or, in the log. I know all that. I've currently have blocked 174 numbers on my phone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 No land line here. But "they" know the warranty on the car I owned 5 years ago has expired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 20, 2019 Author Share Posted November 20, 2019 2 minutes ago, Just Jack said: I know all that. I've currently have blocked 174 numbers on my phone. I’m sure I have at least that many blocked at home.....and still keep getting calls from the same places! Sometimes I play along and hit a number from the menu just to have someone to yell at. They just hang up. What a great job....they must hate their lives. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Gal Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 (edited) No longer. We had a landline until last year. I had no idea what the number was as we only had it for the alarm. I never used the landline to make a call in all the years we had it. Hubby finally had us switch over to an alarm system that used our cell phones for notifications, and then we ditched the landline. (Our fax number is through the internet.) Edited November 20, 2019 by Buffalo_Gal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted November 20, 2019 Author Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 minute ago, Buffalo_Gal said: No longer. We had a landline until last year. I had no idea what the number was as we only had it for the alarm. I never used the landline to make a call in all the years we had it. Hubby finally had us switch over to an alarm system that used our cell phones for notifications. and then we ditched the landline. (Our fax number is through the internet.) That’s a good point. We almost never use the fax, but I need to look into the alarm system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 (edited) How do cells work with 911 systems? Are VOIPs handling them properly now? Once again... Safety. A landline is 24 volts. How do you charge your cellphone in case of an emergency. Landline can provide emergency power: Edited November 20, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Want E-Lighting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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