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Anyone who has a phone (nearly everyone, these days!), will have, at some point or the other received numerous unwanted phone calls, whether from pesky telemarketers, or prank and obscene callers in general. While there is a way to combat unwanted calls from telemarketers, by registering with Do-Not-Call lists, how do you stop nuisance, obscene and harassing phone calls? Some effective methods and ways to stop such unwanted phone calls are discussed below.
Step 1:

Reporting unwanted calls. If you are receiving unwanted phone calls, immediately report the matter to your phone company. In some cases, phone companies would prefer that you also file a report with the local police authorities, especially if the calls are obscene or threatening in any manner. Often, phone companies may not want to take any action if you've received just one call; therefore, it makes sense to keep track of the several instances in which you've received such calls, record them, if possible.

Step 2:

Setting-up traps or call traces. There are two methods by which your phone company can help you identify and trace unwanted or harassing phone calls, in order to stop them. A "trap" can be set on your telephone line, for a period of not more than a fortnight, to trace the origin of your unwanted calls. You will be required to maintain a detailed log listing the dates and times of each individual call.

A "call trace", on the other hand, is an easier method than placing traps, since you don't need to keep any logs. What you will do, instead, is to dial *57 on your phone immediately after receiving an unwanted call. Those who have rotary dials can use 1157 to trace the call. The downside of call trace is that it works only within the local phone network area, so if you are receiving the call from an external jurisdiction, you will not be able to trace its origin. Also, unlike a trap, this is not a free service and must be set-up in advance.

Any information that is collected by the phone company from either a trap or call trace is not given to you, but forwarded to local law enforcement, who will then follow up and take the necessary action. These methods are also useless, if the caller uses various phone booths or many phone lines to avoid detection.

Step 3:

Dealing with unwanted calls by yourself. When you receive unwanted phone calls, you might be tempted to get angry and start shouting at the caller. Instead, simply disconnect each time you receive such a call, do not encourage the caller, by talking to him/her.

Step 4:

Using an answering machine or voicemail service. Using an answering machine to screen your calls, or allowing all calls to go to a voicemail service are a couple of good ideas to stop or avoid unwanted calls. If you are getting too many unwanted, obscene or harassing calls, do not answer the phone each time it rings. Allow the machine or voicemail to pick all calls and record the contents, for further investigation by the phone company or local police.

Step 5:

Get an unlisted number. If the number of unwanted calls is getting to be unbearable and you've been unable to trace and resolve this problem; get a new number for your use and do not list or publish it. Give the new number to only to trusted people such as family and friends.

Step 6:

Other measures. These are basic common sense solutions meant to prevent unwanted calls.

  • Do not disclose any personal information including telephone numbers to people you do not know
  • Women usually are the target of obscene or harassing phone calls, do not list your full name in the phone directory. Only use the first letter of your given name as an initial along with the surname
  • When someone calls and asks to confirm the number they've dialed, don't rattle away your number, and instead ask the caller who or what number they are looking for
  • If you have children at home instruct them not to give out any information if they happen to pick up the phone. Tell them to collect details such as name of the caller and telephone number, and note down such details along with the time and date of the calls
  • Don't include telephone numbers in any of your answering machine or voice mail messages
Unwanted phone calls can be a major nuisance and in extreme cases, cause lots of stress and create a feeling of insecurity. By opting any of the methods listed above, you can get rid of this annoying problem.
About this Author:
Garrett has recently discovered the joy of grilling chicken like a confident, pro griller, and wants to share the article with all you readers out there.
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