FNB of Omaha knew my # and it's blocked!!!

[mimbee]

I am so irritated by this. I've been doing really well ignoring telephone calls and such since I am saving to make settlement. However, I got a call left on my answering machine by Leanne from Partnerships and she left an 800 # to call back. So I called it back, since I didn't recognize the company name, and that's when I found out it was really First National Bank of Omaha.

So I hung up of course. My mil then receives a message left on her answering machine for me. Our # is not listed, so I'm assuming the creditor is just doing their collecting job now.

So I called them back to tell them not to call anyone else, and when I called back, I changed my mind and hung up when they answered the phone. Then I changed it back and called them back again. This time, the lady answered the phone, "Hi, Melissa". Well, that made me mad! So first I told them please don't call my mil again and she said that she wouldn't. Then I asked how she knew my name, and she said they have caller id. So, I told her my number is blocked, and she said it must not be. Then I told her I wanted to speak to someone else about this and she said I couldn't, and then told me she was terminating the phone call. And she did! I've never had a collection person hang up on me, what a thrill that was.

I check my blocked line status, and it is indeed, blocked. An hour later, someone else who claimed to be a manager called me about the situation and I told them I don't appreciate my number being unblocked and the unpleasantness of the first person. She told me she didn't know why or how it could be unblocked but she could check it for me if I called back. I told her I didn't have time for that now. I check my line again and it remained blocked.

Sorry this is so long, but I am just livid that this can happen. I know that agencies like 911 can unblock your # but I didn't think anyone else could. Any thoughts on this.

[DocDon]

There is software that will uncloak your phone number. Same if you try *67.

Somebody would probably have to read the phone company's TOS to see what it says about defeating or circumventing certain software. Especially software YOU pay for.

[kjosephmorris]

This may mean nothing in your case but the information may be useful anyway.

Anytime someone calls into an 800# the number they are calling from is logged. Any precautions to prevent the number from which you are calling from ending up in their hands is useless.

The rules are such that since an 800# provider is picking up the tab they are allowed to log who is using their service.

Sneaky, eh?

[DocDon]

So, if the phone company is the carrier for both residential and business, and they charge you a fee for these technologies that are useless for another group of their own customers....... who's sleeping with who to allow that to happen????

[kjosephmorris]

Just for fun:

Call your phone company and let them know you are interested in running an 800# from your home or office.

Tell them you interesting in using the call-in data for marketing purposes and want to know more about call logging features.

Sales people being sales people they won't hold anything back while trying to sell you a service. They'll gladly provide you with full disclousure of what an 800# provider can get away with.

[DocDon]

Then take that information and tell your legislators to pull their heads out of their asses.

[mmmmaybe]

I think it just comes down to the phone companies needing to be seen as "honest" to their clients who use the 800 service. I have several 800 numbers and I regularly check the logs to be sure they are not all from the same area code which might indicate fraud from the provider or unethical conduct by a competitor. It is the same scenario with pay per click internet ads except that it is much harder to track online.

[DocDon]

So it's not unethical to charge consumers a fee for services that are defeated by other services they offer?

[mmmmaybe]

I see where you're coming from, but I haven't read the service agreement that comes with call blocking service. I would imagine that they have placed something in there regarding it not working on toll free numbers. I know that I've never read the entire service agreement and I doubt many others have.

On the other side, speaking as a business and not a consumer, I wouldn't pay for toll free service if the caller had the ability to block their number.

Rather than hiding the fact that call blocking doesn't work with toll free numbers I think you should get the same automated response as when you try to call someone who has the blocked number reject service. That way you choose on a call by call basis whether or not to remove the blocking for that particular call.

[ViktorVaughn]

So it's not unethical to charge consumers a fee for services that are defeated by other services they offer?

maybe in the terms of service (for users who block their number) it says the service doesn't work when calling 800 #s?

[DocDon]

maybe in the terms of service (for users who block there number) it says the service doesn't work when calling 800 #s?

That would be like PETA selling rat poison as a fundraiser.