How can I get the phone book company to stop calling me?

Okay...background information.

I got my cell phone account and phone number about 2.5 years ago. About a year after I got my cell phone account, I started getting calls from people asking for "Michael". The calls would typically go like this...

Caller: "Can I speak to Michael"?

Me: "Sorry, wrong number."

Caller: "Really? Is this XXX-XXXX?"

Me: "Okayyyy....I guess you don't have the wrong number. That's my phone number, but there's no Michael here."

Caller: "Yeah...The thing is, I'm looking at the business card right now. Michael, at Bumfluff Technologies, phone number: XXX-XXXX."

Me: "Well then, Michael lied to you. I don't know any Michael, this isn't a business number, and I can't help you. Next time you see Michael, ask him why he's handing out business cards with my phone number on them."

Anyway, I got the occasional call for Michael for about a year, then they just stopped. I guess people sort of caught on that Michael didn't have a business and was just handing out business cards with a random phone number in order to impress people.

Recently though, I started getting calls from a certain phone book company. I've long since stopped answering calls from numbers that I don't recognize, due to getting annoyed by people asking for Michael. But I checked my voicemails, and they were like, "This is James from accounts payable at Phone Book Company", and we really need to speak to you about your account. Please call us at 111-1111".

And these calls were REALLY annoying, because these guys were calling all the time. Eventually I called them up, and the conversation went like this.

Customer Service Rep: "Can I please have your password for your account?"

Me: "I don't have an account. I'm calling you to tell you to stop calling me."

CSR: "Okay, can I please have the number that you're referring to?"

Me: "Yeah. XXX-XXXX. Your accounts payable department keeps calling to speak to Michael, but there's no Michael here, and I've never had an account with you guys. Can you please stop calling me?"

CSR: "Okay, can you please give me a minute to look up the information...alright...may I ask you how long you've had this number?"

Me: "I've had this number for 2 and a half years."

CSR: "Uh, yeah..."

Me: "Look, can you please just stop calling me? There's no Michael here. There's never been a Michael here in the 2.5 years that I've had this phone number. This isn't a business number, I don't have an account with you guys, I have never had an account with you guys. Can you please just stop calling my number about Michael's account, because michael isn't here. He never was here. If you need to talk to Michael, then you aren't going to find him at this number."

CSR: "Okay, thanks for calling. I'll be sure to note this conversation into the account."

Me: "Okay, thanks. Bye."

Problem is, the phone book company is STILL CALLING ME about Michael's account.

HOW can I get them to STOP ****ING CALLING ME?

Cant you get your number changed?Ugalde-

Well yeah, but **** that.

I shouldn't freaking have to get a new number because of this ****.

I just want them to stop calling THIS NUMBER.

[QUOTE="Ugalde-"]Cant you get your number changed?MrGeezer

Well yeah, but **** that.

I shouldn't freaking have to get a new number because of this ****.

I just want them to stop calling THIS NUMBER.

Changing his phone number is a ridiculous idea.unholymight

[QUOTE="unholymight"]Changing his phone number is a ridiculous idea.Ugalde-

Put your number on the do not call list and complain to the FTC.psychobrew

Changing his phone number is a ridiculous idea.unholymight

Can cell phone companies actually block specific numbers?

Because I used to work at an unnamed cell phone company, and we couldn't block specific phone numbers. We could put customers on the "no solicitations list", but we couldn't just block a specific number from getting being called by a certain other number.

[QUOTE="unholymight"]Changing his phone number is a ridiculous idea.MrGeezer

Can cell phone companies actually block specific numbers?

Because I used to work at an unnamed cell phone company, and we couldn't block specific phone numbers. We could put customers on the "no solicitations list", but we couldn't just block a specific number from getting being called by a certain other number.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]Put your number on the do not call list and complain to the FTC.unholymight

hmm poor you.

anyways I suggest next time they call you and you have a person near you get that person to start screaming in the backround and yelling "Don't eat me"

BTW I'm not joking that has worked for me on one occasion.

[QUOTE="unholymight"]Changing his phone number is a ridiculous idea.MrGeezer

Can cell phone companies actually block specific numbers?

Because I used to work at an unnamed cell phone company, and we couldn't block specific phone numbers. We could put customers on the "no solicitations list", but we couldn't just block a specific number from getting being called by a certain other number.

[QUOTE="unholymight"][QUOTE="psychobrew"]Put your number on the do not call list and complain to the FTC.psychobrew

Go into their business headquarters and beat their ass. It's the only way.

[QUOTE="unholymight"][QUOTE="psychobrew"]Put your number on the do not call list and complain to the FTC.psychobrew

This is a great idea, thanks!

Of course, I'm obviously not going to just take your word on this, but I will DEFINITELY look into FTC protocol, and consider this as a serious option.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"][QUOTE="unholymight"] The only thing is that the FTC permits business-related calls, which makes this a pain.MrGeezer

This is a great idea, thanks!

Of course, I'm obviously not going to just take your word on this, but I will DEFINITELY look into FTC protocol, and consider this as a serious option.

When they call me i ask the number to contact them cause my phone can go awry.
Then i try to sell them something :)
And if they hang up on me i keep calling them a couple of times that day to sell some books and stuff.


Yes i have way too much time i guess.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"][QUOTE="unholymight"] The only thing is that the FTC permits business-related calls, which makes this a pain.unholymight

Change your home phone. Disconnect your home phone and just use a cell. Or...kill everyone at the company. Your only options.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"][QUOTE="unholymight"] The only thing is that the FTC permits business-related calls, which makes this a pain.unholymight

Well, this could EASILY be resolved if either the FTC or the Phone Book Company were to contact my cell phone provider.

My cell phone service provider could EASILY confirm that I am the only one who has used this number in the last 2.5 years, and that my phone account isn't in any way related to anyone named "Michael".

On the other hand, in order for the cell phone company to confirm this, they would have to give personal information about ME and my account. And that's a no-no.

Back when I worked with a certain cell phone company, no one gives this information out for ANY reason, absent some kind of federal subpeona. And even then, I've heard stories about people DYING because of this kind of privacy information.

I once watched The FBI Files, and they had a case in which a kid was kidnapped. The kidnappers were caught during the ransom attempt, but the kidnapped kid wasn't in the car. The cell phones were apprehended, the numbers that called those phones were found, but the officers couldn't obtain information about the locations from which those calls originated. They were like, "no legal order, we're not ****ing telling you." And yeah, the agents couldn't get the number right then. But as much as they begged and pleaded to get the home location of those accounts, the phone provider wouldn't givew that information.

And yeah, the kid died.

Anyway, when I worked at a cell phone account, that was about the one thing that lower level customer service reps absolutely could not do under any circumstances. Sure we could transfer the call to someone higher-up, but that automatically could result in instant firings. You transfer a call to an upper level employee without proper procedure, you could be out of a job. Because if the call is a prank (which, reasonably speaking, it probably is), you'll get fired for transferring a BS call up to the proper people who only have the time to deal with SERIOUS issues.

[QUOTE="unholymight"][QUOTE="psychobrew"] They permit business related calls if you're a customer, which in this case, he is not. Business related calls to customers is the only exception. If you tell a company to stop calling you, they have to stop calling you.MrGeezer

Well, this could EASILY be resolved if either the FTC or the Phone Book Company were to contact my cell phone provider.

My cell phone service provider could EASILY confirm that I am the only one who has used this number in the last 2.5 years, and that my phone account isn't in any way related to anyone named "Michael".

On the other hand, in order for the cell phone company to confirm this, they would have to give personal information about ME and my account. And that's a no-no.

Back when I worked with a certain cell phone company, no one gives this information out for ANY reason, absent some kind of federal subpeona. And even then, I've heard stories about people DYING because of this kind of privacy information.

I once watched The FBI Files, and they had a case in which a kid was kidnapped. The kidnappers were caught during the ransom attempt, but the kidnapped kid wasn't in the car. The cell phones were apprehended, the numbers that called those phones were found, but the officers couldn't obtain information about the locations from which those calls originated. They were like, "no legal order, we're not ****ing telling you." And yeah, the agents couldn't get the number right then. But as much as they begged and pleaded to get the home location of those accounts, the phone provider wouldn't givew that information.

And yeah, the kid died.

Anyway, when I worked at a cell phone account, that was about the one thing that lower level customer service reps absolutely could not do under any circumstances. Sure we could transfer the call to someone higher-up, but that automatically could result in instant firings. You transfer a call to an upper level employee without proper procedure, you could be out of a job. Because if the call is a prank (which, reasonably speaking, it probably is), you'll get fired for transferring a BS call up to the proper people who only have the time to deal with SERIOUS issues.

try this...

Next time they ask for micheal tell them that micheal died in a car wreck two weeks ago. Ask what it's about? If they're trying to collect on something say you've got the lawyer's address for the estate, and for them to hold. Find a real address, but make sure nothing is there, or if you're feeling evil you can use a real lawyer. Tell them they have to submit their request in writing, and the lawyer will make sure they get paid.

This should end the phone calls, but if it doesn't threaten them w/ the estate lawyer, or change your voice mail msg to "this number has been disconnected".

or this...

pretend to be micheal and give them your new phone number (ie a fake number).

better yet track down michael and give them his real number.

They're also trying to steal your information. No company asks for passwords over the phone.3DayFinisher

Not necessarily.

When I worked at the cell phone company, the machinery would auto-detect if the call came from one of their accounts. We'd ask which number the CSR was calling in reference to, then we'd ask for the password attached to the account. I don't have a problem with THAT. Lots of business is done over the phone. If ANY company that I do business with over the phone is actually going to do ANYTHING, then I actually WANT them to verify that I am the caller who owns the account. This is often done on some kind of "password" basis. Because really, how ELSE are you going to determine that the caller is the only person authorized to deal with the account or have access to information in the account?

Hey, they didn't call ME, I called THEM. Most likely, I called them. The machines auto-detected that my phone number was Michael's account. The computer software brought up Michael's account information. Then the CSR's asked for the password in order to determine that I was Michael.

The whole problem is that I am NOT Michael. So I don't have access to Michael's account. Which means that I can't get them to take MY number off of Michael's account.

Chances are, this is the ONLY number that "Michael" gave them as a contact. And they didn't bother to verify that number. So now they're trying to contact "Michael", and I can't stop it because I don't know any of Michael's account information.

But yeah, asking for a password is like asking for a driver's license when you make a major credit card purchase.

Yeah, if someone calls ME up, then I'm not going to to give out any personal information. But if I call about a certain account, then they ought to make sure that I am the person who is authorized to have access to that account information. If I call up a company that I did business with, then they had BETTER ask for a password or something. Not asking for any kind of password or equally verifying information is equivalent to them telling me that they'll give my personal information out to ANYONE.

Just tell them you refuse to pay and any contact from here on out needs to be done by registered mail.

Hey, they didn't call ME, I called THEM. Most likely, I called them. The machines auto-detected that my phone number was Michael's account. The computer software brought up Michael's account information. Then the CSR's asked for the password in order to determine that I was Michael.MrGeezer

Caller: "Yeah...The thing is, I'm looking at the business card right now. Michael, at Bumfluff Technologies, phone number: XXX-XXXX."MrGeezer

You have two options:

1) Tell them to take your number off their calling list.

2) Tell them to go **** themselves.

You have two options:

1) Tell them to take your number off their calling list.

2) Tell them to go **** themselves.

Shad0ki11

This. By asking them to do #1, they're legally bound to. If they don't then you can file a lawsuit. Or it could be a prank. (Bumfluff Technologies? Really?)