Do you have an unpublished home telephone number?

[Yogi]

This topic came up whilst having a few beers with friends last night.

Some of us (me included) have an unpublished home telephone number. In fact, I've always had an unpublished number. To me, the few bucks it costs is worth it for added privacy. It's not just your phone number that's published, but your home address as well, not to mention that it would be all over the internet as well (via canada.411 etc.)

The others thought it's a waste of money.

What are your thoughts?

[dbusguy]

always had 1

[woodpusher]

waste of money

[Yogi]

Personally, I think it should be a free service, just like *67. There shouldn't be a price to pay for privacy. jmo

[Dr.Dan]

What I hate is that you have to pay Bell to not publish your phone number... :mad:
"Either you give us $2 a month or we're going to tell everyone what your address and phone number is!!" Sounds like extortion to me :ngf:

You can have your number listed any way you want it in the book though... including without the address ;)

[lovey]

I do,had a bad experience a few years ago with a crank caller and changed to unlisted

[Yogi]

You can have your number listed any way you want it in the book though... including without the address ;)
Would Bell not charge for that??

[Dr.Dan]

Would Bell not charge for that??
Nope... you just ask that they don't include the address... no charge.

And if your name is 'Alan B Smith', you can have it listed as 'B Smith' if you want... you're not "unpublished" but you're not telling everyone who you are either ;)

[Yogi]

Nope... you just ask that they don't include the address... no charge.

And if your name is 'Alan B Smith', you can have it listed as 'B Smith' if you want... you're not "unpublished" but you're not telling everyone who you are either ;)
I suppose if I had the last name 'Smith', I wouldn't be concerned. I'd be buried in there with the other thousands of 'Smiths in the GTA phone book lol

[Tess]

Always has been unpublished.

[debbie]

If you have been paying Sprint for an unpublished number take the time to do an online lookup for yourself.

They've experienced some kind of computer malfunction over the past year or so.

[Taz]

No need for it, if someone wants to find me I'm right here waiting..... :tte:

[Mischief007]

I've considered it and should have after receiving a telemarketer two days after hooking up my phone.

[YABA]

No need for it, if someone wants to find me I'm right here waiting..... :tte:

yup i agree......if someone needs to contact me i want them to find me.....

[Swordfish]

Unlisted. I don't mind paying the extra money for it either.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

do people still use phone books:)

One thing I have noticed about being listed if you asked to be called
and tell them your in the book most of the time they don't call.
I have had problems from time to time but never had the need to
change or de-list.

[tweakthis]

I'm published under first initial and last name, no address. It's generic enough for my liking. And I've checked periodically using Canada 411 to ensure that the format is followed.

As for telemarketers, I usually say that I'm the babysitter. :)

[Frogy]

Nope... you just ask that they don't include the address... no charge.

And if your name is 'Alan B Smith', you can have it listed as 'B Smith' if you want... you're not "unpublished" but you're not telling everyone who you are either ;)


I've always wondered how many of those Smith listings are actualy Smiths. ;)

I'm not aware of any requirement to use your real name in your listing. Therefore, when you get a call from telemarketers and they ask if this is Mr. xyz, you know it's a random call from the listing. ;)

[Exmortis]

I was always under my initials in the phonebook. Never the whole name. And it was easy to spot telemarketers who dialed at random from the phone book too. But now that I'm with Vonage, I'm out of the phonebook at no extra charge. :)

[Bogie]

Our "home" phone number has been unlisted for as many years as I can remember. Through many moves also. Only can remember 2 or 3 telemarketer calls during that time, and they must have used random dialers (illegal now, if I recall).

We wanted one line that was reserved for family and friends only.

My home office numbers have always been listed, for obvious reasons, but as a second way for people to find us/me. They go unanswered in "off-hours" and ringer turned off - unless I'm at my desk.

After I got my VoIP line, and some virtual numbers, I dumped my 800 line. Now that was a pain to have! Each incoming call cost me money, and I was constantly getting calls from the US. Calls must have been similar to a few major companies. And also must have been after TV advertising, because I would always get calls in "clusters" that were the wrong number.

Having an unlisted number sure keeps the home line quiet!

[Exmortis]

and they must have used random dialers (illegal now, if I recall).


The law is only for Canadian telemarketers, but even then we have many shady ones. Lately, I've been getting A LOT of calls from local duct cleaning companies who just happened to be in my area. What luck!! And I know they used the phonebook to call me just for the name they ask for. They may not be using automatic dialers, but they do use the book.

And I also get calls from automatic dialers. You know, the call where you answer and there's nothing on the line. Then a few seconds later, a few clicks and someone answers.

My rule is simple. If you don't have the FULL name of the person you need to talk to, you have no business calling me. And I tell them before hanging up. :)

[Frogy]

The law is only for Canadian telemarketers, but even then we have many shady ones. Lately, I've been getting A LOT of calls from local duct cleaning companies who just happened to be in my area. What luck!! And I know they used the phonebook to call me just for the name they ask for. They may not be using automatic dialers, but they do use the book.

And I also get calls from automatic dialers. You know, the call where you answer and there's nothing on the line. Then a few seconds later, a few clicks and someone answers.

My rule is simple. If you don't have the FULL name of the person you need to talk to, you have no business calling me. And I tell them before hanging up. :)



They could be using Vernon's reverse directory too. That way they have listings by street.

[Exmortis]

They could be using Vernon's reverse directory too. That way they have listings by street.

Which goes back to the source of being the Telco publishing the book and making that same info available other ways. I know this because of the NAME those companies use when calling me. That tells me where it all came from. Since I moved to Brampton 3 years ago and have this new number, I registered it in under name (combination of initials and last name) in a way I never used before.

[Bogie]

Two quick ways of handling telemarketers:

1. Hang up immediately - but you may get a call later
or
2. Simply state, immediately, that you are a business. They apologize and most likely remove you from their list. They are not allowed to telemarket to businesses.

[Mischief007]

That business idea is great.

When they can't say my name properly then I tell them this person doesn't exist at this address. Works like a charm.

[Andromeda]

For telemarketers I speak my native language.....nobody so far has understood it:eri:

[Yogi]

For telemarketers I speak my native language.....nobody so far has understood it:eri:
lol...

....and your mother tongue would be???

[Dr.Dan]

For telemarketers I speak my native language.....nobody so far has understood it:eri:
Wouldn't you be shocked if they understood you and replied :eek:

BTW, what do you say in your language (translated to english) ?

[Andromeda]

posted by Yogi
....and your mother tongue would be???





posted by Dr.Dan
Wouldn't you be shocked if they understood you and replied

BTW, what do you say in your language (translated to english)

My mother tongue is swedish, and yes I suppose I would be shocked if somebody talked back to me. So far it hasn't happened in over 30 years, and if they did I would switch to swiss dialect....:d
I would say in swedish: Jag förstår inte ett ord du säger (I don't understand a word you are saying). I keep it clean just in case.......:hst:

[Mischief007]

That is great Andromeda. I should use my German and Polish language to its advantage.

[Dr.Dan]

I would say in swedish: Jag förstår inte ett ord du säger (I don't understand a word you are saying). I keep it clean just in case.......:hst:
That's what I was hopeing... if was something... less clean :hsh:
:hst:

[Andromeda]

posted by Mischief007
That is great Andromeda. I should use my German and Polish language to its advantage.



Another couple of languages come in handy sometimes so why not use them.:d



posted by Dr.Dan
That's what I was hopeing... if was something... less clean :hsh:
:hst:


Sorry to disappoint you Dr.Dan, I do know all the words though....... :tooths: :hst:

[Pedar]

Two quick ways of handling telemarketers:

1. Hang up immediately - but you may get a call later
or
2. Simply state, immediately, that you are a business. They apologize and most likely remove you from their list. They are not allowed to telemarket to businesses.

In regards to #2, our office gets telemarketers all the time, you name it they've probably called and tried to sell me something especially if it's business/office related.