DCR and annoying calls

I have the same problem, and deal with it with an answering machine for monitoring purposes. These unwanted callers invariably hang up as soon as they realise they have contacted an answering machine.

In aus.electronics Epsilon wrote: [...]

It's relaively easy to hack a cellphone (e.g. I have one based on an embedded linux arm-based platform) to provide a screening service. Based on date/time-of-day, whether the caller has ID blocked (if not, their area code and number), and how many rings they're prepared to wait, you can make a reasonable guess who's trying to sell you a power contract or get you to sell your property.

Me too. I always let the machine answer the phone. It works also with tedious relatives who ring at dinnertime or after 9pm.

Works great!

The size of those pestiferous mobile telephony gadgets remind one of suppositories, and so immediately suggests a solution to put them out of sight and sound.

In aus.electronics Peter Jason wrote: [...]

With the case removed and some as-near-as-I-could-get headers installed my hacked thing is around 5cm x 7cm.

You first... ;)

:Two questions, :why can they call when I am on the do not call register? :And what are they on about? :The call in a foreign accent, are you mr ..... , yes I am,then something :like, we are home energy assessors and we are assigned by the dept of :energy, and then I hung up.I probably should have stayed and found what :further stuff they came up with.

Have you checked to see that you are still on the DNCR? I seem to remember that a month or so ago everyone had to renew there listing on the DNCr because the original application had expired. I renewed mine and haven't had any unwarranted calls - yet.

I've said the DNC register was a farce from the beginning:

The DNC register applies only to callers within Australia, so, if they're calling from a call centre overseas, the DNC register does not apply.

There are also convenient exemptions thusly: * charities or charitable institutions * educational institutions * religious organisations * government bodies * registered political parties * independent members of parliament * political candidates.

So that pretty much means you're not going to see ANY end to these calls.

They want something. Usually money, either directly, or indirectly.

That sounds like it would be within the grasp of the DNC register, so if you're still getting that class of call, remember that your DNC registration only lasts three years, so if you subscribed when it first started, it would have expired about a year ago or so, and you'll have to subscribe again.

Yep, I *did* say it was a farce.

I don't think that is true. "Any business that either calls or faxes a listed number, or arranges for calls or faxes to be made or sent on its behalf, may be in breach of the legislation and could face penalties" .

You have omitted the worst offenders. "Opinion polling" is exempt so a telemarketer can ask you about your present telephone service provider and if you know about the fabulous bargains offered by their competitors.

I did renew it recently.

Ah, "could" face penalties. The catch all for when they don't really want to do anything about it. Let's face it, callers from other countries are outside the jurisdiction of the DNC register. These callers may not be breaking the law in THEIR OWN COUNTRIES (or may be, either way who cares), which is the important thing, because outside this country the DNC register can't charge anyone OUTSIDE the country. Not for marking callers anyway.

Yes, of course. There are more "exemptions" further down the page I left out. (saw them right after posting).

Ah, perhaps you should have stayed on for longer. In your your original message, you said they were from the "dept of energy". Who doesn't actually exist here, but I'm guessing it's lost a bit when you paraphrased.

Next time take notes, and name names. Usenet is great for that.

I normally abuse them. Sometimes they call back and say I can't do that. So I give them more.

I had an old boss who was a master at dealing with them. He could get THEM to abuse US (via speakerphone) without uttering any swear or insult. Great for laughs. :-)

That's great; but a really pissed off caller can ring Telstra and cancel your phone line.

Be sure yours is protected by passwords. Check it now.

And then there are the calls that come in every night at about the same time with 'Private Caller' on the screen. No one answers and it just rings out..................

the dnc does not prevent anyone calling.