Very well said Mary...I completely agree with you about these companies and their dispicable tactics with trying to collect. I'm so sick of these different companies calling my home when I know it's not a debt that pertains to me that they are calling about.
I have received calls from this number 570-397-2001 within the past week. My number is an unlisted one and since I do not appreciate anyone calling me unless I have given the number to them, I NEVER pick up the phone and do not have an answering machine. (Not have an answering machine helps – because after a few weeks these unwanted calls STOP. No fun when no one picks up.) There isn't any reason for a collection agency etc to call - as no one in my household has any credit card debt etc. I'm sure that if celebrities or people in high government were receiving these calls on a daily basis real action would be taken. Instead we are told to provide our number to the Do Not Call List. People guess what? The Do Not Call List sells your number and address to list companies! (As does your gas and heating company. Heck even the post office is offering to deliver junk mail from businesses to you.) We are told here in NY that our government is trying to put a stop to it. BS! Even our government uses our private numbers to contact us asking for votes!! It sure doesn't help matters if people pick up the phone when these companies call. It just takes a few people being duped into taking out whatever these companies are scamming or answering their stupid survey for them to continue. Unfortunately most of the problem is there are too many lonely people out there eager to speak to anyone that calls them. That is what these companies are counting on – so STOP PICKING UP THE PHONE!
Reply to Thomas above, your answer is 100% correct & dead-on! I only do one thing different. I have all area codes, except the one I live in, disconnect. So for the scammer's it's a hangup call.I find that just having the phone ring w/no answer just makes them call back at other times. Plus, with a hangup call the call was connected/completed. So if the caller pays for calls....well, they pay!