Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: gordonl@microsoft.UUCP (Gordon LETWIN)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Home-Grown Anti-Caller-ID Scheme
Message-ID: <10208@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 29 Jul 90 21:58:00 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 526, Message 6 of 9


In article <61552@bu.edu.bu.edu>, mailrus!uflorida!rm1!bapat@
uunet.uu.net (Subodh Bapat) writes:

> - Get two lines coming into your home. Designate one your "public" line
>   and the other your "private" line. The private line is unlisted, the
>   public line may be listed. 

> - When you need to give out a number to any commercial organization
>   (e.g. while writing a check) give out your public number.

> - All outgoing calls are made ONLY on the public line. 

I have two lines and use this approach.  A lot of folks want to call
me up and pitch me stuff - I'm on a lot of public lists as someone who
donates to charities and uses brokers, etc.  The unlisted private line
and the listed public line works quite well.

The listed answering machine outgoing message is "This answering
machine is ALWAYS connected, so if you want to reach us you must leave
a message".  It rings a dozen times a day with no one leaving a
message, so you know for a fact that these are junk calls editing
themselves.

This is the number you give out to businesses so they can call you when
your widgit is ready, and this is the line that out of town or
forgetful friends can find in the phone book to get in touch with you.
We turn the ringer on during the day and our secretary takes the
business calls; the ringer goes off otherwise.

We very rarely get block dialed junk calls on our private line; the
only garbage calls on the private line are from wrong numbers.  And
yes, we know about ANI so all 800 calls are made on the public line.

True, you pay for two lines, but you get the above benefits, as well
as a kind of "call waiting" - make your outgoing calls on the public
line and you can still be called by friends on the private line, if
you wish.  Ditto modem calls on the public line, etc.


gordon letwin


[Moderator's Note: I've got a friend who has his answering machine on
all the time, but in his case I think it is to avoid debt collectors
rather than telephone sales people. His outgoing message says, "For
your convenience, this phone is answered 24 hours per day by an
answering machine ... " etc.  For the caller's convenience, mind you!
(smirk).  PT]