Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway From: mhw@wittsend.lbp.harris.com (Michael H. Warfield (Mike)) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Caller ID Linked to Decline in Harrassing Calls Message-ID: Date: 20 Aug 89 21:21:34 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Reply-To: "Michael H. Warfield (Mike" Organization: Harris/Lanier Network Knitting Circle Lines: 66 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 312, message 4 of 6 In article davef@brspyr1.brs.com (Dave Fiske) writes: >I have no doubt that this is true, but this is not the only way the >phone company can deal with problem calls. They've had those "black >boxes" for years, enabling them to keep a line open in order to trace >a call. Yeah well I've been this route and it generally requires complaints stretched out over weeks, if not months; multiple call to the telco security people (you don't get it if you don't become a nuisance to them); and getting past the clerks who insist nothing of that sort exists. Then, if you have your dispensation from God in order, you might just get it, along with the remark that it doesn't always work. >..... However, of course it turned out to be an ex-lover, so my >guess is that in most cases, an educated guess would lead you to the >culprit. Trouble is, educated guesses don't prove a thing and can't be taken to court or the telco to get relief if the bum doesn't quit or admit to it. In fact it might just convince him that he's getting under your skin and to turn up the heat! After all, you're just guessing. >Also, someone once told me that the phone company had given them the >following strategy for nuisance calls. Tap the receiver so it sounds >like a couple of clicks, then say "Operator, this is the call I want >you to trace." I think this would probably be enough to scare off the >"casual" prankster. Oh boy, I though this had died a quiet death ages ago. I tried this once. Pranksters turned out to be a bunch of kids having fun when their parents were out. They though that was funny as all get out. Had to call me back several more times to listen to the routine!!!!!!! My wife and I had to put up with their nonsense for weeks afterwards. Note that this is where I got my first experience with the telco security people and the illusive black box. Never did get the box that time, the kids gave up before the telco security people did. Biggest problem with this is that anyone with the inteligence of a rock is going to recognize it for the bullsh*t that it is. It just feeds their fun. After all they're getting to you! That's exactly what they wanted to do. The best thing I found for dealing with late night crank calls is a modem. After the first crank call in the middle of the night, I turn the modem on with auto answer. <<>> It rarely takes more than a call or two for the callers to realize that they can't frustrate a machine and their ears aren't worth it. I recommended this to a college student friend a few years back and she also dealt with a serious crank call problem very effectively! Problem with it is that you can only use it when you don't want or expect any calls. I've never gotten any innocent victims yet but there is that catch. Calling Party ID is definitly an idea whose time has come. Southern Bell here in the Atlanta area has already announced all of the other related features (Call Block, Call Trace, etc.) but I can wait for the furor to settle and I can get the real thing. I haven't had crank calls for years so Call Block and Call Trace aren't really very useful to me. I would love to turn the tables on some of these *sshole phone solicitors, though. I would also love to see the day when it can be hooked-up up to my answering system (already computer controled) and I can customize my greetings based on who called me (read that last remark anyway you like). --- Michael H. Warfield (The Mad Wizard) | gatech.edu!galbp!wittsend!mhw (404) 270-2123 / 270-2098 | mhw@wittsend.LBP.HARRIS.COM An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist is sure of it!