The Vent and Rant Thread

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

I think my iPad Mini (1?) might prefer the N also, and since my older macbook air is G, my wifi is set to G/N mixed. A technician told me to reset the wifi frequently. He said I can log into the wifi (you perhaps cannot, since it isn't yours), go to the Wifi subpage, and click "apply" without making any changes. This resets it without requiring pulling the plug and waiting. So I've been doing that randomly, as seems necessary.

I can log into the router, and my access point, on my laptop and change settings or reboot.

Everything was working fine until I went to bed just now and wanted to put on Classic FM on my Sonos. And it didn't work. Apparently my Sonos Play doesn't work with N, so I just switched back to G/N mixed and my tablet is still working (knock on wood).

[Hitch]

I don't know about you guys, but somewhere, someplace, we got on a sh*t list, and we're getting 5-6 spam calls PER DAY. They start at 7:15 in the morning, and continue until about 9:00 at night. It is irritating as SH*T. I mean, it's appalling. They don't give two hoots about DoNotCall lists.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Hitch

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I don't know about you guys, but somewhere, someplace, we got on a sh*t list, and we're getting 5-6 spam calls PER DAY. They start at 7:15 in the morning, and continue until about 9:00 at night. It is irritating as SH*T. I mean, it's appalling. They don't give two hoots about DoNotCall lists.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Hitch

Caller ID + Panasonic Phone System == Quiet. Blissful Quiet.

Yes, I know, you're a business. So you have to answer it when it comes in. AND, once you do, and you quickly determine it's a spam call, you hang up and immediately add them to the blocked caller list. Next time they call, they get nowhere.

Doesn't interfere with legitimate callers, but will stop the spammers. Yes, after the first couple of weeks, they'll switch to different numbers. And you'll block those, etc. But over time? They'll be gone. The better Panasonic models let you block up to 250 numbers at a time. If you run out of room, just delete some of the older ones. The spammers have stopped using them by now anyway.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Caller ID + Panasonic Phone System == Quiet. Blissful Quiet.

Yes, I know, you're a business. So you have to answer it when it comes in. AND, once you do, and you quickly determine it's a spam call, you hang up and immediately add them to the blocked caller list. Next time they call, they get nowhere.

Doesn't interfere with legitimate callers, but will stop the spammers. Yes, after the first couple of weeks, they'll switch to different numbers. And you'll block those, etc. But over time? They'll be gone. The better Panasonic models let you block up to 250 numbers at a time. If you run out of room, just delete some of the older ones. The spammers have stopped using them by now anyway.

Charlie:

You're a sweetie, but it's my HOME number that's besieged. Moreover, it's a Panasonic system, and I do block them--but they are using VOIPs and faux-numbers, and getting around them. I'm telling you, it's insanity. INSANITY.

Hitch

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I don't know about you guys, but somewhere, someplace, we got on a sh*t list, and we're getting 5-6 spam calls PER DAY. They start at 7:15 in the morning, and continue until about 9:00 at night. It is irritating as SH*T. I mean, it's appalling. They don't give two hoots about DoNotCall lists.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Hitch

But you need your roof inspected. The governor/senator wants to talk to you. Oh and your Windows need fixed.
We are down to two roof calls a week. One was legitimate, but my opinion is if you have time to send out someone within 24 hours, you probably aren't very good.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Charlie:

You're a sweetie, but it's my HOME number that's besieged. Moreover, it's a Panasonic system, and I do block them--but they are using VOIPs and faux-numbers, and getting around them. I'm telling you, it's insanity. INSANITY.

Hitch

Ah, well, your phone company should be able to allow you to block any un-identified numbers. At least ours does. Callers who don't display their numbers get one of four choices:

1. Allow their real number to be transmitted
2. Say their name, allowing you to either accept or decline
3. Go straight to voicemail
4. Decline and get your very own KMA message played to them.

Personally, I always prefer option #4. but the point is, they don't get in unless you let them in. And they quickly get tired of it.

If they choose to display their number, you can then block them.

(FWIW, we almost never answer the phone here unless it's a person we know. Everyone else gets voice mail and we'll call them back if they're real. )

ETA: Doesn't that Panasonic of yours have the ability to set a 'quiet time'? Mine does. We have the ringer turned off from 9PM to 9AM. It helps.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Ah, well, your phone company should be able to allow you to block any un-identified numbers. At least ours does. Callers who don't display their numbers get one of four choices:

Here, for some amount, you can block 10 #'s; for another higher amount, up to 25, and so on.

1. Allow their real number to be transmitted
2. Say their name, allowing you to either accept or decline
3. Go straight to voicemail
4. Decline and get your very own KMA message played to them.

The KMA would be lovely. Truly.

Personally, I always prefer option #4. but the point is, they don't get in unless you let them in. And they quickly get tired of it.

If they choose to display their number, you can then block them.

(FWIW, we almost never answer the phone here unless it's a person we know. Everyone else gets voice mail and we'll call them back if they're real. )

ETA: Doesn't that Panasonic of yours have the ability to set a 'quiet time'? Mine does. We have the ringer turned off from 9PM to 9AM. It helps.

Are you guys NOT getting the spoofers? We aren't getting nasty spam calls from Blocked numbers; we are getting spoofed numbers. I honestly don't know if we can block them. (Because they just spoof another 1,000 numbers the following day).

Something must have occurred, someplace, because we are suddenly deluged with spoofy spam calls and spammy emails. All of a SUDDEN. (Looks around, giving everyone side-eye....)

Hitch

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by Hitch

... but it's my HOME number that's besieged..

Hitch

That's the price of freedom in the sense of "less regulations"
In Germany "cold calling" / phone spamming of private numbers is strictly VERBOTEN

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Here, for some amount, you can block 10 #'s; for another higher amount, up to 25, and so on.



The KMA would be lovely. Truly.



Are you guys NOT getting the spoofers? We aren't getting nasty spam calls from Blocked numbers; we are getting spoofed numbers. I honestly don't know if we can block them. (Because they just spoof another 1,000 numbers the following day).

Something must have occurred, someplace, because we are suddenly deluged with spoofy spam calls and spammy emails. All of a SUDDEN. (Looks around, giving everyone side-eye....)

Hitch

Always spoofed numbers.
I had one say they were a local company. The area code that showed was Houston. When I asked for a local number the guy said 1-888-etc. He said that was their corporate number and the only one they had. I could hear someone in the background trying to sell a fitness machine.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

That's the price of freedom in the sense of "less regulations"
In Germany "cold calling" / phone spamming of private numbers is strictly VERBOTEN

Yeah, yeah, so is working on cars in your yard/street on a holiday, etc. I wouldn't trade it off, but...I know that most of us wish we could find those a$$hats and beat the holy sh*t out of them.

Hitch

[cromag]

The Do Not Call list only stops legit callers, and there aren't very many of them. If you have FiOS or an equivalent system that allows simultaneous off-prem ringing you should check out NoMoRoBo.

https://www.nomorobo.com/


Their computer maintains a list of known SPAMing numbers and if you get a call from one they disconnect it. You still get one ring, but that's it. It does take a few calls before a number gets recognized and added to its database, but things are much nicer here in our home. We just don't jump up to answer a call until we get a second ring. The service is free.

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I know that most of us wish we could find those a$$hats and beat the holy sh*t out of them.

Hitch

How about a pressure air honk can? Or pretending they just called in a site of crime being investigated? Ask them where the abducted child is. Or pretending they just called %_your_number, but... in Sligo/Canberra/Newcastle? (feel free to be more creative here if you speak languages other than English) Have fun.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

How about a pressure air honk can? Or pretending they just called in a site of crime being investigated? Ask them where the abducted child is. Or pretending they just called %_your_number, but... in Sligo/Canberra/Newcastle? (feel free to be more creative here if you speak languages other than English) Have fun.

I have this album. It's quite a few years old, but still funny.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by cromag

The Do Not Call list only stops legit callers, and there aren't very many of them. If you have FiOS or an equivalent system that allows simultaneous off-prem ringing you should check out NoMoRoBo.

https://www.nomorobo.com/


Their computer maintains a list of known SPAMing numbers and if you get a call from one they disconnect it. You still get one ring, but that's it. It does take a few calls before a number gets recognized and added to its database, but things are much nicer here in our home. We just don't jump up to answer a call until we get a second ring. The service is free.

Thanks, Cro.

That's what my SIL has. I meant to ask her, and didn't, so I'll ask you: does it only stop the calls on the Scum, er, spam list? So, for example, if you get an automated call from a Doc's office, it still comes through?

Hitch

[cromag]

Low volume calls, like appointment reminders from our doctors, dentists, my Dad's alarm monitor, etc., all come through. Sadly, so do politician campaign calls.

I believe the system is designed to recognize numbers that are making a very, very high volume of calls. I believe they also look for calls that are spread across the country.

Anyway, we've had it for several years and never had a problem with missing a call from any legit caller.