Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: wb8foz@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (David Lesher) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Tracing Unlisted Numbers Message-ID: Date: 20 Feb 91 23:07:13 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu Reply-To: David Lesher Organization: NRK Clinic for habitual NetNews abusers Lines: 44 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 140, Message 7 of 8 Originator: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu David Mason asked why it cost so much to trace an unlisted number. Mr. Moderator responded with what I regard as absolute nonsense about a database subscription. Look, the PI did what I used to do: Call a friend in Repair. Ask her the "who and where" you need. (The difference is, he likely bribed the "greenie" with cash. I used a box of chocolates, myself.) Repair/Cable or whatever Outside Plant is calling itself MUST know where an assignment terminates. How could they track down complaints on noisy pairs, or avoid reassigning an 'in-use' one if they did not have end-to-end records? The only thing an unlisted number gets you is a few obstacles to getting the name from the public end of the LEC. And please, spare me the morality speech, both on my getting numbers, and people that provide them. Last time I wanted an "unlisted" number, Ma made me sign a release that said: We guarantee NOTHING except to charge you extra. They kept their word - they soaked me EVERY MONTH to as someone put it "slide all the rest of the names in the book up one space." BTW: "greenie" came from the olive drab color of the trucks. I always wondered -- did they get that color paint DOD/GSA surplus ;-? wb8foz@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (305) 255-RTFM pob 570-335 33257-0335 [Moderator's Note: Fine ... no morality speech, however I would like to say that most ethical PI's won't use that approach since if they get caught/convicted they might well lose their license -- something far more important to them than one client looking for a phone number. I'd like to think that *most* telco employees are not so easily bribed. We did have a story in the Digest a few months ago about an employee of IBT who was given an offer such as you describe. She thought about what she would stand to lose if she got caught and chose instead to report the person trying to bribe her, even though as a result of her relationship with the person in another matter she was caused considerable personal embarassment when the attempted bribery became known. Most telco employees will turn those offers down. Some will report it. You might pay a very heavy price. PAT]