Robo callers go up a notch

I agree. The govt has got to figure out a way to stop companies from using spoof phone numbers. I am sick and tired of getting calls on my cell phone all day long. The number looks like a local number so I answer it and I have maxed out on the phone numbers that I can block.

There's a great app (I use Android but it's probably available for iPhones too) called Should I Answer. Almost 100% of the time it identifies a nuisance, sales, or spam call as soon as it starts to ring. It's powered by comments that people leave identifying numbers so you are also able to identify numbers if you wish. If it pops up when my phone rings and there are no comments, then it's almost certain that it's some sort of a legitimate business calling me for a specific reason. Otherwise, it catches all of the telemarketers. I have the free version, so I can't actually block the calls from the app, but that's available if you get the paid version.

Ditto, we get service but spotty and undependable.  Too far back off the road and the road is in between nowhere-lands.

Having a small business, we need a landline and get many, many solicitation calls. Mostly from wanna-be-my-new-merchant provider people for the debit/credit machine. I just cut them off and say "No, we just switched and we're not prepared to do it again. Thanks anyway". And I hang up.
The most recent annoyance, however, is a really creepy robot-sounding recording that says "This is a test of your toll-free number. Please check that your number is operational from the area code shown on your screen." The thing is, there is no number showing. They all come up as Unavailable/Private. Unfortunately, we have to answer these calls because many cell phones show that same message, and a lot of would-be customers call from their cells. This creepy robot calls anywhere from 4 to 10 times a day! Funny, though, today is Saturday and I haven't had one of these calls! I guess even robots get the weekend off. ha ha
It's going to be interesting to see how many calls are on my next toll-free phone bill, and from which states/provinces they originate.

We have a landline and an answering machine that tells you who is calling, so I wait and listen for a name I know before I even walk over to the phone.  We actually get the landline for about $5 more per month when we bundle and all of our long distance calls are free.  It is so much easier to use the landline for a longer conversation.

We're way up a rocky "mountain" (as mountainous as CT gets) and then you drive down a hill to get to my house. We get super spotty service. 

There's one where they use the same area code and first three digits of your cell phone number that got me quite a few times.

I still have a land line too. I was here for September 11th. I will never forget the feeling of helplessness when NO ONE'S cell phone worked. Until early afternoon. But landlines worked. I'm sure technology is so much better 16 years later but I'll never be one of those people without one.

Haha!  You're not the only person in America with a land line.  I have one too!  Actually, I should cancel it as I never answer it.  I'm just to lazy to figure out how to do it!  LOL!

I still have a land line too !! we get lots of calls from "unknown name", I figured that everyone I know has a name so it must be spam. I'm getting so tired of these calls. About 5-6 a day, and a couple from the blood band asking for blood.

We have a landline... dd is 12 and doesn't have a cell yet, so if I leave her home she can use it to call me.
I have stopped answering either of my phones... If someone wants me they can leave a message... which they rarely do. Robo calls, time shares, calls from my area code and half my cell number, bill collectors for the person who owned my cell number before me, calls from states I have never been to and don't know anyone in (Kansas). It's ridiculous.

Oh and lately the unknown calls on our landline if you answer there is no one there. They used to call and then hang up when the machine hits but some now only ring three times and hang up LOL. We block them if they call more than twice and we don't know the number - one day last week I got 7 calls in one day I was getting so annoyed - usually it is just one ring because of no more robo and that is that for days but every once in a while.

thanks so much for this info! I have T Mobile and I am thrilled they have a blocking service for free! I look forward to getting rid of the many daily calls!

Thanks! We have AT&T. I'm going to use the app.

I quit blocking on my cell. When I would block then I'd get another call shortly after that. When I don't block I get a call then nothing for quite a long time, even weeks!

I don't know if the above really works. I just know that's what the pattern is with my phone.