Blow a whistle in their ear

Well said.

That is a great question, so let me offer you some suggestions  (and yes, I do realize that the burden should be on them, not us, but the bottom line is that we want relief, however we have to get it.) For callers you can identify, there is a great way to get even.  It is called the TCPA, and it will allow you to recover $500-$1500 for every time they called you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_Consu ... PA-Rules.pdf Of course, many callers are hard to identify, and not everyone has the time or dispostion to pursue TCPA, although you should know that people are getting some pretty nice judgements, and some lawyers have become more interested in pursuing them for you if you aren't into the DIY approach. As far as simply making the phone stop ringing, I am a big fan of call blocking.  Not the wimpy kind of call blocking Ma Bell has always offered, but serious make them go away call blocking. There are several ways to achieve this: (1) Hardware call blockers - these are easy to use, and modestly priced.  While not as flexible as some approaches, they can be pretty satisfactory.  There are several manufacturers, but to get you started, look here:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=call+blocker While I have not personally used a hardware call blocker, and so can't suggest any particular make or model, I think they may be the best choice for the average consumer who simply wants a quick fix to the problem.  The only down side is that some of them allow the phone to ring once before blocking the call.  I would prefer one that suppressed the first ring, but that would require it to be placed ahead of your phones, not in parallel with them. (2) Call blocking phones - Panasonic makes them, and I believe there are others (Uniden?).  Similar to the hardware call blockers.  The down side is that they tend to have limited capacity, so not my first choice, but if you need to buy a phone anyway, and your needs are modest, they are an option.   (3) Google Voice - FREE  There are lots of ways to set this up, but the end result is the same.  you can block callers, they have crowd sourced filters that can block unwanted callers before they ever try to call you, it can be integrated with your cell phone, and if you like, it can be used as a "safe" number to hand out, and which can (if you want) reach you at any of your phones.  I have mine set up to "white list" - the trick is to use groups in the contact feature.  If you go this route and get stuck on how to configure it, just ask.  BTW - You can even port your existing number to Google Voice if you like.  Since it is FREE, go give it a try! (4) VOIP - Nothing like fighting fire with fire.  You can use the same technology your tormentors use, and save money in the process if you use it to replace an existing phone line. Many VOIP providers, especially if they are consumer oriented, offer very effective ways of filtering calls.  It does require purchasing a hardware device to make your existing phones work with VOIP, and there is a bit more to getting things set up.  But it is the most powerful tool for battling unwanted callers.  There are many providers of VOIP services, but the best way to get started is probably by purchasing an Obi device.  It will make your phones work with VOIP, and is has built in configuration software for several of the more popular VOIP providers.  You can learn more about the Obi here:http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=obi&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aobi There are other residential solutions, like Oomla, but someone else will have to tell you about them, because I haven't used them.  I do recommend against Vonage and Majic Jack, although I am sure some here may have a different view of them than mine. (5) If you are a geek, there are other options like Asterisk/PBX in a Flash, and NCID.  Also, not really geeky, but some like to run Phonetray on a computer.  Again, if you want to know more ask. BTW - I don't mean to seem like I'm hawking for Amazon.  An Internet search will find other sources for these things.  But the Amazon links have been a convenient way for me to get people started when these questions come up.  As for the Obi, there are other options, but the Obi has been one of the more user friendly choices, and I like that they have a menu driven setup for multiple VOIP providers (you can use them with anyone by the way, not just the ones on the menu).  Obi alternatives come from a number of vendors, including Cisco, Grandstream, and Aastra. For beginners with VOIP, I like Callcetric as a provider because the call treatment system is user friendly.  If you want a little more "geek", then VOIP.ms is pretty good.  Look around though, there are lots of providers besides these two.  If you go with an Obi, the built-in list is a pretty good list of providers. I hope this helps you.  I personally have been using VOIP for some years, and I really enjoy the peace and quiet.  I have also used Google Voice with my cell phones, and have been happy with it as well. Be careful with call blocking apps on cell phones - especially if they are free.  There is always a risk of them harvesting your contacts, and selling the info to the very people we are trying to thwart. regards, -LS-

your eyes must be brown from the full of crap that you are...an assault? try looking up the legal definition of assault before spewing your communist drivel

AMEN!!!

This whistle method was a suggested remedy for handling prank calls.These maggots are not different than prank callers. In fact I have played the sound of an air horn into the phone. If they don't like, they should find another job. I refuse to respect these terrorists.

I cannot sympathize with you.

YOU are a liar. cause you keep calling back. Gird your ears. I use an airhorn.

They even have air horn apps.

I have been hounded by a company called Commonwealth Financial Services looking to collect a medical debt for someone of whom I have no knowledge or relationship.  Well, I did some research. There is a legitimate company called Commonwealth Financial, however they are not in the collection business. I received an email from the legitimate company informing me that they were pursuing legal action against the perpetrators of this fraud.

This harassment began when I relocated to a new area code and was reassigned a new number for my cell phone. The calls were coming everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. I informed them that they had the wrong number. They claim that this is the contact number they were given. I request to be removed from their call list. So the calls stop for about a month and then begin all over again.

They have even accused me of knowing the person in question, being related to this person and hiding this person! So, after 2 years of this nonsense I finally requested a name and address and threatened to file a harassment lawsuit. Well, the calls stopped for about 6 months, and then began again.

This is now year 5, since I was assigned this cell phone...yes it has been 5 years and they continue to call. Today I finally lost it - I screamed at the idiot to stop calling me and blew my rape whistle into the phone! He immediately replied that I could be fined for blowing a whistle into the phone - I told him to go ahead a try it. They won't due a damn thing since even filing in court requires a fee and it is doubtful that they are willing to do that. It is a meaningless threat...so go ahead a blow that whistle!

} Commonwealth Financial, however they are not in the collection business.

Really, now. Try this for size:
Commonwealth Financial Systems / NCC  (fka Northeast Credit & Collections) ... a *debt collection agency* based in Pennsylvania. It has a website with a clearly displayed postal address. Neither are a state secret.

If you mistakenly plug in "Services" you get hits for what look like a couple unrelated investment firms. Your account of persistent skip tracing in the face of repeated denials that the correct person was called is completely consistent with complaints against the collector. I suggest that "some research" was misguided or too brief.

} I finally requested a name and address and threatened to file a harassment lawsuit.

The calls did not stop because your threat was empty and they knew it. The calls did not stop because rogue debt collectors are trained to dismiss "wrong number" claims as lies. If you obtain a valid address, you *USE IT* immediately to send a "cease-communication" notice. My longer advice for "not me" cases is found here:
https://800notes.com/forum/ta-34af6a034ba34b6/unending-collection-calls

You could have done this any time in that five years of repeating a failed strategy. If the notice is ignored, you don't keep whining and threatening. You send a real summons and complaint. These are debt collectors, not customer service reps and not librarians. They understand money and forcing people to give it up through the courts. Put down the stupid whistle and talk their language.

} replied that I could be fined for blowing a whistle ... It is a meaningless threat

Don't be so sure. You could find the one bitter drunk collections rep who decides to make you his special little project. Your noisemaking creates liability for *you*, not your bullies.

I have worked in the past for charitable organizations in the past, mostly dealing with fulfilling dreams for terminally ill children. When people asked to not be called again or said they were not interested we immediately marked them as do not call again numbers if we were working from a phone directory or from past donor records, and removed their number when we used auto dialers.

I have no patience with those who refuse to do this and continually call.

I ask to have my name removed and no further contact on the first call, second call I remind them that I already requested to not be called again and ask them once more to remove my name from their calling list, third time they get the whistle in their ear.

If you show respect for those who respond to you politely when you phone their homes, you get respect back. If you have no respect for the people you are phoning then you shouldn't expect any back.

That's my policy, having worked in this unsatisfying, unpleasant industry in the past which is why I am polite the first couple of times but three strikes and you're out.

The professional fund-raising industry has destroyed what little faith many of us have had in the idea of the money we donate to "charity" ever gets to the people who are supposed to benefit from our donations.    The "industry" is awash with fake sound-alike charities, advocacy groups posing as charities and supposedly legitimate charities that have sold their souls to the devil and allowed these professional fund-raisers to use their names in return for cents on the dollar of donations raised.     Charity has become big business and where there's money there will be crooks, and where there is easy money there will be many more crooks.   At least for now, I wouldn't dream of donating to any charity that uses professional fund raisers, be it by junk mail or unwelcome telemarketing.    I donate to a handful of charities I know I can trust and I donate DIRECTLY, not through some pack of crooks who are going to keep half my donation for themselves.   I want to help the needy, but have no intention of financing some fund raising executive's next BMW.

Really?  So the telemarketing company invests in all this call-recording equipment "for your safety," and yet can't figure out a way to filter out loud volume?

<steps out to purchase air horn...>

I'm on the same ground as Lone Stranger's remarks in August 2012 and that of Ted a day past yours. I've never once received a charity call that was not part of a campaign of autodialed nuisance and/or did not strongly suggest fraud. Just as in my response to Smith up there, my plan of attack is not to get angry or obnoxious but to get smart.

Since virtually all charity calls are placed by commercial fundraiser entities, I throw a TCPA lasso around their feet and stay ready to yank the rope hard around their ankles if they annoy me again. I discussed this method in a comment from Nov 2012 linked below. You will note that I never rely on verbal cease-communication demands, much less stupid noisemaking antics which only make *me* look like the unreasonable party in a dispute.

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-914-294-2543/7#p480457181536419195

you could be arrested for intentionally trying to bring harm to someone because blowing a whisle in someone's ear can cause severe damage.