Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!telecom-request From: kitty!larry@uunet.uu.net (Larry Lippman) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Requesting Nuisance Call Tracing from the Telephone Company Message-ID: Date: 21 May 91 04:11:42 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 29 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 384, Message 8 of 11 In article "habersch@husc9.harvard. edu"@husc3.harvard.edu writes: > Has anyone encountered resistance from the telephone company when > requesting a standby trace to identify repeated nuisance calls? Any > magic words recommended to help enlist institutional cooperation will > be appreciated! The "magic words" are: "I have already reported the matter to my local police department, I am prepared to press charges of aggravated harassment (or equivalent crime in your state) if the perpetrator is identified, and here is the name of the police officer to whom I made the report." You are virtually assured of obtaining *no* cooperation from the telephone company (BOC, at least) without going on record by *first* reporting the matter to your local law enforcement agency. Also, if a call trace effort is successful, the telephone company will generally identify the calling party only to the law enforcement agency -- and *not* to you as the complaining subscriber. In my opinion, the above "requirements" by the telephone company are not unreasonable. Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. "Have you hugged your cat today?" VOICE: 716/688-1231 {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry FAX: 716/741-9635 [note: ub=acsu.buffalo.edu] uunet!/ \aerion!larry