How can you trace no-talking phone calls ?

[JDarvall]

uno, those phone calls.....you answer the phone......say 'hello'....... and all you can hear is the background noise of some other room. You keep saying hello whose there, but the bastards says nothing.

Well, I got a few of these calls within a few hours recently. And I think I got one today when I was out. And its pissing me off. I can't work out who it is.

Is there anyway of tracing the caller ? ..... Worried its a burgular trick uno. I can't think of anyone I'm in the bad books with.

Quite disappointed really....no heavy breathing or anything like that. :D

[E. maculata]

Jake we occassionally get those as well, I've been told (source reliability unknown) that it's probably telemarketers seeing which times you're in the house, so they know when to "GETCHYA".
So I've been told anyway, in my case with 3 dogs and 2 feral kids, if it is burglars good luck too 'em, should see em just inside the gate wearing a couple of canine toothed "accessories".

[JDarvall]

Ta Bruce.... We need a tougher dog I think.

How you going anyway. Alls well ?

[E. maculata]

Good I think, works been rough lately, unreliable workforce in the Lismore area letting the show down, on the upside got a couple of the old Noply people and they're great. Trying to do up a house, lay a slab to build a shed, rebuild a couple of motorcycles, work, maybe build a taj mahal fort for the Nippers and throw a couple of hours sleep a night in and that's my lot:D .
How's Kyogle going now? got anymore good timberworkers you wanna throw our way?

[JDarvall]

Kyogle still going. I'm out of work again. My 4 month reno job finished up a couple of weeks ago, and I'm scratching here and there for work. Got a few dollars hangin a laundry door today up the road. thats about it.

Moneys going to be short again I suppose, but at least I've got more time to work on the house to keep the misses happy.

Heard that Hurfords may be buying the old Norply site soon, so they'll be looking for timberworkers too I suppose.

Have a good week mate.

[bsrlee]

You could get one of those little boxes from Dick Smith or Tandy etc. that tell you the calling phone number, unless they dial the prefix to block caller I.D.

IF they don't block the caller I.D., I'd guess someone's small child or pet cockie has found its fun to play with Mum's phone, and your number happens to be programmed in. I used to have this happen when a mate's energetic child decides to use him as a climbing gym - my mobile number happens to be first on his mobile's phone list - he's got a new phone & its not so easy to kick-start the dialing.

If the person IS blocking caller I.D., then there is a complaints number, but they don't want to do anything usually, just tell you to ring the local Police, who can't do much unless its a life threatening emergency or a criminal offence such as threats being made.

If you use the phone for buisness, then give the complaints people an ear full about how it is costing you $$$ & how if they don't do something you will be seeking monetary compensation thru' the Communications Ombudsman - that might shake something loose.

[Cliff Rogers]

They are robots doing surveys for telemarketers, ignore it, you will live longer. :)

[Captain Chaos]

Go with Cliff on this one. Not worth the stress Jake.
I have heard that if you hit a random number of different buttons, including the * / # buttons it scrambles the auto computer dialling system. May not work, but always worth a try just for the fun aspect, besides it's not you paying for the call. :D
Regards,
Barry.

[knucklehead]

Jake I can't remember the exact definition, but I believe that 3 or more unwanted calls a day can be considered "nuisance" calls.
If you feel inclined you can raise a complaint with your carrier about "nuisance and persistent calls". They will need to deal with it. If you get no joy go to the Ombudsman www.tio.com.au (http://www.tio.com.au).

But the best bet is to just breath deeply and ignore it.

[China]

If it realy drives you mad ring Telstra you know that company we own that john howard is selling back to us, any way despite what you see on the tele all phone calls are instantly traced

[Iain]

Keep a diary too and note the time of the call, even if your clock is different to Telstra the pattern will show and they can trace.
A caller ID may help, I have one on my phone which ID's when the phone rings, great for when dickhead kids call and call their parents later and have a whinge, knowing there will be a sore little asre up the road somewhere who racked up dads phone bill for a bit of fun.

[scooter]

Iain, does caller ID still cost $5 ish per month? We bought a unit a while ago, but baulked at paying the extra cost each month.


Cheers................Sean

[Bleedin Thumb]

Next time you get a silent call say the words... Bomb, Assasinate, President, Al Queda ...and you should have the called traced for free by the US Government.

[Bluegum]

I reckon a blast from a referee's whistle into the phone might slow them up a bit. Friend of the family did it once and her annoying calls soon stopped.

[Lignum]

Next time you get a silent call say the words... Bomb, Assasinate, President, Al Queda ...and you should have the called traced for free by the US Government.


:D :D :D

[DavidG]

Most of these calls are from the telemarketer dialling systems.

It guesses when the next operator will be free and pre dials the next number.
What should happen is that when you answer, one operator should be free to take the call but sometimes the operators take longer than expected so no-one is available to take the predialled call.

Just another system to make the operators work harder and to annoy more customers in a given time.:mad:

[Iain]

Iain, does caller ID still cost $5 ish per month? We bought a unit a while ago, but baulked at paying the extra cost each month.


Cheers................Sean

I get mine as part of ADSL also had it as part of ISDN, but I feel I'm probably being screwed enough already without the extra $5:mad:

[JDarvall]

Most of these calls are from the telemarketer dialling systems.

It guesses when the next operator will be free and pre dials the next number.
What should happen is that when you answer, one operator should be free to take the call but sometimes the operators take longer than expected so no-one is available to take the predialled call.

Just another system to make the operators work harder and to annoy more customers in a given time.:mad:

Thanks for all the ideas.......

I'll think along with Davids idea I think,,,, to calm my paranoia.

[ian]

Jake
as David said it's the telemarketers calling from India or wherever
Their computer dial up to 10 number similtaneously and pass the "live calls" to the next operator.

Best you can do is
1) put in an answering machine and only pick up when you recognise the caller
2) whenever you get a live one let them get started and then put the phone down so their talking to the room
3) play with their heads, it can be a lot of fun. Make a counter offer (what about cable TV, Internet, mobile phone all for $10/month) insist on speaking to their supervisor, invent 13kids, be a multi millionaire (I'll take 100 and the steal knives) but you will only deal with the big boss, get to the end and tell them you're only 14 and don't have a credit card

ian