Travel Technology - How Do You Reject A Cell Call?

On a side note to start, I've been getting those daily annoying "car warranty is expiring" calls on my cell phone lately (anyone else?). Now when I go overseas, receiving those calls will cost. Is there a way of completely rejecting a call, not sending it to voice mail, but just dumping it completely? I can't find anything in the iPhone manual. There's got to be way, right?

On a side note to start, I've been getting those daily annoying "car warranty is expiring" calls on my cell phone lately (anyone else?). Now when I go overseas, receiving those calls will cost. Is there a way of completely rejecting a call, not sending it to voice mail, but just dumping it completely? I can't find anything in the iPhone manual. There's got to be way, right?

You can't, unless you disable voicemail and hit end.

A better idea? Register your cell # on the do not call listing.

If they are always callng from the same number you can download firewall software such as MCleaner and add the number to the "blacklist"

You can't, unless you disable voicemail and hit end.

A better idea? Register your cell # on the do not call listing.

I am registered, but this particular scam uses multiple numbers that all come back as disconnected or not in service. It is a real problem that apparently a lot of organizations are looking into. I just thought if I got a call from an unknown area code I can just disconnect somehow.

i got a call from them as well. i don't know how they got my number--Saturn is giving me the runaround, and i'm on the DNC list too

A better idea? Register your cell # on the do not call listing.
According to snopes.com, not such a great idea. (http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp)

According to snopes.com, not such a great idea. (http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp)


Huh? The page seems to imply that there isn't a great advantage to doing it, but I don't see where it says that it has any disadvantages.

Answer the phone when you get the annoying calls - firmly tell them that they have called you before and you have asked them to take you off their calling list and that this is now harassment and you will file a formal complaint if it happens again. Usually, they quickly get the hint and hang up.

Answer the phone when you get the annoying calls - firmly tell them that they have called you before and you have asked them to take you off their calling list and that this is now harassment and you will file a formal complaint if it happens again. Usually, they quickly get the hint and hang up.

Unfortunately, not this particular group. It is an automated machine, and says press 1 for an agent, 2 to be removed from the list. Press 2 and it immediately disconnects and the calls continue to come. Press 1, finally get a person, and the second you even hint you are not going to immediately give them your credit card and other information they say "hold please" and disconnect. The fact that the numbers listed on the caller ID always come back as numbers not in service should tell you something.

I was just hoping there was a way to not answer a call at all, whether picking up or voice mail. It seems that if your phone rings while overseas, you're screwed.

Now when I go overseas, receiving those calls will cost.

Answering them will cost if you are roaming, but allowing them to go to voicemail will not cost - the call is treated as a US call since it is answered by the system, not by the phone.

Some phones and service providers enable number blocking including all unknown number blocking (for example, Samsungs on T-Mobile). Blocking all unknown numbers while roaming abroad is one way to avoid excessive roaming charges, if the phone supports this.

Dont you just press the red button to reject a call?? x

Watch out! Allowing the call to roll to VM will cost you if you are a tmobile or AT&T customer. Not only will you be charged for the system forwarding the call to the foreign destination, you will also be charged for sending it back to your VM in the US . There are way too many horror stories about folks that didi nto answer their phone and let it roll to VM while roaming, and each of those calls are being charged for 2 mins of roaming.

Answering them will cost if you are roaming, but allowing them to go to voicemail will not cost - the call is treated as a US call since it is answered by the system, not by the phone.

Answering them will cost if you are roaming, but allowing them to go to voicemail will not cost - the call is treated as a US call since it is answered by the system, not by the phone.

Incorrect. You will be charged for a minimum of two minutes even if you don't answer the call: one minute for your provider to forward the call to your phone overseas, and another for you to forward the call back to the voicemail system in the US. This is standard billing procedure pretty much everywhere.

There are two ways not to be charged. First is to turn off your phone before you leave the US, and not turn it on again until you're back. Once your phone registers on the foreign switch, your home carrier will forward the calls there until it registers on either a different foreign carrier, or comes back to your home system.

The second way is to set your phone to forward all calls (aka unconditional call forwarding) to a US number before you leave.

There are two ways not to be charged. First is to turn off your phone before you leave the US, and not turn it on again until you're back. Once your phone registers on the foreign switch, your home carrier will forward the calls there until it registers on either a different foreign carrier, or comes back to your home system.

The second way is to set your phone to forward all calls (aka unconditional call forwarding) to a US number before you leave.There is also a 3rd way:

Cancel all call/voicemail forwarding (using the call forwarding menu or dialling ##002#)

You will then have a choice of either rejecting the call (by pressing the END/NO button), or letting it ring until the caller hangs up. There will be no charge to either yourself or the caller for either option.

Hmm, I'm not sure I agree with you there - the GSM carriers charge to ring you in another country, because the foreign country operator charges your home carrier for the privilege of using their network to find you.

Also, when I've used that Cancel All Forwarding code, it resets itself after a day or so.

There is also a 3rd way:

Cancel all call/voicemail forwarding (using the call forwarding menu or dialling ##002#)

You will then have a choice of either rejecting the call (by pressing the END/NO button), or letting it ring until the caller hangs up. There will be no charge to either yourself or the caller for either option.

There is also a 3rd way:

Cancel all call/voicemail forwarding (using the call forwarding menu or dialling ##002#)

You will then have a choice of either rejecting the call (by pressing the END/NO button), or letting it ring until the caller hangs up. There will be no charge to either yourself or the caller for either option.
I was charged 6 or 8 dollars for rejecting a call in China (i forget the exact amount other than I was amazed and upset) using that method so I don't think it works. I'm with gfunkdave and before I leave forward all voice calls to voice mail. That way I can turn my phone on in another country and receive text messages no problem, I also am notified (sometimes, it seems to be network dependent) if there are messages waiting.

The second way is to set your phone to forward all calls (aka unconditional call forwarding) to a US number before you leave.

While GrandCentral has issues, wouldn't it work to forward the US cell calls to the GrandCentral phone number and fool around with the GrandCentral settings while pointing those calls to another number that is set to forward to a separate international roaming cell phone number?

US mobile number > GrandCentral > Skype/Vonage > International mobile number is an example of what I'm talking about.

I do what I can to avoid roaming on a SIM card from a call-receiver-pays(-too) country while in another country.

On a side note to start, I've been getting those daily annoying "car warranty is expiring" calls on my cell phone lately (anyone else?). Now when I go overseas, receiving those calls will cost. Is there a way of completely rejecting a call, not sending it to voice mail, but just dumping it completely? I can't find anything in the iPhone manual. There's got to be way, right?
If you have the number you want to reject, you can call your provider and file a complaint against them. I believe there are ways for them to block specific numbers to your account - its worth the phone call

While GrandCentral has issues, wouldn't it work to forward the US cell calls to the GrandCentral phone number and fool around with the GrandCentral settings while pointing those calls to another number that is set to forward to a separate international roaming cell phone number?

US mobile number > GrandCentral > Skype/Vonage > International mobile number?

Sure, I think that'd work fine. You just need to set the US Mobile > GrandCentral forwarding before you leave the US.

If you have the number you want to reject, you can call your provider and file a complaint against them. I believe there are ways for them to block specific numbers to your account
Your mobile service is different than mine, if you're right.
I have tried, without success to have AT&T (blue) block phone calls to my cell that are made by scam pharmacy operators and may well have been made to the number prior to my ownership of it.

Good luck if you can get your provider to put a block on the incoming calls, and IF SO: Please Post Here!! ;)

Dave

Also, when I've used that Cancel All Forwarding code, it resets itself after a day or so.Well, that's the problem -- if your home carrier does not allow you to completely cancel call forwarding then you would, indeed, be charged.

I was charged 6 or 8 dollars for rejecting a call in China (i forget the exact amount other than I was amazed and upset) using that method so I don't think it works.Again, are you 100% certain about the status of the call forwarding on your account at the time you rejected the call?

To check, you need to use the following commands:
*#61#
*#62#
*#67#

Press one to speak with an agent

Inform the agent that you want to be removed from the call list. They will tell you it takes 30 days to do so.

Hang up.

Call them back from a regular phone, unless you have unlimited minutes.

Hit the option to speak with an agent.

Inform the agent that you want to be removed from the call list and give them the number to remove.

Repeat from the hang up step as many times as you can.

The agents are all a-holes (if it's auto warantee out of atlanta) but after a week they will get the idea (at least that's how long it took for me to get off their list)


You need to tie the agent up for a while, even if it's pretending to want their service. Time is money to them, so get an agent, ask what's covered, ask how much, spend 20 minutes with them, then tell them you don't want to be called again and if they do you will repeat the call and they could have sold a half dozen shoddy warantees.

Again, are you 100% certain about the status of the call forwarding on your account at the time you rejected the call?

To check, you need to use the following commands:
*#61#
*#62#
*#67# No - can't say I recall doing this. If this cancels forward, how does that help though? The system still finds you to ring but now you've lost (i assume) the chance to capture an email on the other end

No - can't say I recall doing this. If this cancels forward, how does that help though? The system still finds you to ringFor this to be a chargeable call, the call needs to be either answered, or forwarded to another number (and answered at that number) ...

Press one to speak with an agent

Inform the agent that you want to be removed from the call list. They will tell you it takes 30 days to do so.

Hang up.

Call them back from a regular phone, unless you have unlimited minutes.

Hit the option to speak with an agent.

Inform the agent that you want to be removed from the call list and give them the number to remove.

Repeat from the hang up step as many times as you can.

The agents are all a-holes (if it's auto warantee out of atlanta) but after a week they will get the idea (at least that's how long it took for me to get off their list)


You need to tie the agent up for a while, even if it's pretending to want their service. Time is money to them, so get an agent, ask what's covered, ask how much, spend 20 minutes with them, then tell them you don't want to be called again and if they do you will repeat the call and they could have sold a half dozen shoddy warantees.

This works with regular annoying calls. But these guys are in a class of their own. First, as soon as you start to say "please remove me..." they say "hold please" and disconnect you. If you try to call back the number that shows on the caller ID, it returns as a disconnected number. Basically, they will never remove you and pretty much dare you to try to stop them.

This works with regular annoying calls. But these guys are in a class of their own. First, as soon as you start to say "please remove me..." they say "hold please" and disconnect you. If you try to call back the number that shows on the caller ID, it returns as a disconnected number. Basically, they will never remove you and pretty much dare you to try to stop them.
Even though I am not a victim of this expiring auto warranty phone scam (yet), I try my best to report those companies or file complaints with FTC.

If you google it, you will find quite a few results regarding the auto warranty expiring scam. One guy even has a class action law suit against these bad guys (more details here (http://enforcetcpa.tripod.com/)). If you like, check out the sample links I just found and see how others handled this problem:

http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/scam-identity-theft-calls-to-cell-phones-tout-expiring-auto-warranty-coming-from-408-587-2116-and-623-238-6228

http://800notes.com/articles/News.aspx/_zMGNDqMiwA5RQjKe4T3Ww

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23147777/

Like you said, the company would "disguised" their number and made it challenging to finger point them. But if you google the 800 number you obtained from your caller id, chances are that number is on the radar of complaint map. Sometimes you will find more info from the victims's "detective" work.

The funny thing is I happened to get a postcard about expiring auto warranty this afternoon. Not sure if this is the same one who's been calling you. The one I got is from "Dealers Warranty" (address: 745 Friedens RD STE 201, St. Charles, MO 63303) with the contact number: (888)963-6723. It seems the auto warranty scam companies tend to base in MO or FL.

I believe you will need as much info as possible when you file the complaint. Next time try to dig more info (company name, call back number, or address) from the CSR over the phone BEFORE you ask them to remove you. :)

Good luck!

If you have the number you want to reject, you can call your provider and file a complaint against them. I believe there are ways for them to block specific numbers to your account - its worth the phone call
It sounds like they’re deliberately munging the CID from behind a PBX, so this won’t work unless they’re using the same fake number.

Technically this should work. However, Grand Central's (GC) VM kicks in after 4 rings or so, and it cannot be changed. So, most of the calls may roll to GC's VM (Calls forwarded via GC will always fallback to their VM). At least this was my experience on a recent trip to the Caribbean when I forwarded my mobile to GC, then GC to my international sim card with a US number (Yackie mobile)

US Mobile->GC->yackie mobile

This will create more lags and just about all calls will be routed to the GC VM.
US mobile number > GrandCentral > Skype/Vonage > International mobile

While GrandCentral has issues, wouldn't it work to forward the US cell calls to the GrandCentral phone number and fool around with the GrandCentral settings while pointing those calls to another number that is set to forward to a separate international roaming cell phone number?

US mobile number > GrandCentral > Skype/Vonage > International mobile number is an example of what I'm talking about.

I do what I can to avoid roaming on a SIM card from a call-receiver-pays(-too) country while in another country.

Incorrect. You will be charged for a minimum of two minutes even if you don't answer the call: one minute for your provider to forward the call to your phone overseas, and another for you to forward the call back to the voicemail system in the US. This is standard billing procedure pretty much everywhere.


Hmm, I'm not sure I agree with you there - the GSM carriers charge to ring you in another country, because the foreign country operator charges your home carrier for the privilege of using their network to find you.


Boy, Orange in France is pretty rapacious, and even they don't charge if you don't answer. Maybe the inter-company agreements/laws are different in Europe, but I've never been charged for unanswered calls while abroad. Small compensation for lots of other high charges, I guess.

Boy, Orange in France is pretty rapacious, and even they don't charge if you don't answer. Maybe the inter-company agreements/laws are different in Europe, but I've never been charged for unanswered calls while abroad. Small compensation for lots of other high charges, I guess.

I've never been charged for incoming calls on my French cell phone (also an Orange customer).

OTOH, I don't think I've received any overseas calls on my Orange phone.

I've never been charged for incoming calls on my French cell phone (also an Orange customer).

OTOH, I don't think I've received any overseas calls on my Orange phone.

In most European countries that I frequent, incoming calls are free to the receiver as long as the receiver is not roaming because the caller pays a premium over what it costs to call most landlines. If the call receiver is roaming internationally, then costs are there for the receiver too quite often.

[There is a push amongst some in the EU (including the minister and some bureaucrats in charge of matters in this area) to have the system become more flexible and/or even change to a more-US-style system since the studies they are relying upon indicate that the total call cost to caller+receiver would be lower. However, this won't be happening anytime soon.]

Unfortunately, not this particular group. It is an automated machine, and says press 1 for an agent, 2 to be removed from the list. Press 2 and it immediately disconnects and the calls continue to come. Press 1, finally get a person, and the second you even hint you are not going to immediately give them your credit card and other information they say "hold please" and disconnect.

What they are doing is illegal in the US in two ways: wardialing to cell phones, and prerecorded telemarketing calls. And it appears that they are doing their best to avoid revealing who they are in order to avoid the obvious lawsuits and penalties specified in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html

In most European countries that I frequent, incoming calls are free to the receiver as long as the receiver is not roaming because the caller pays a premium over what it costs to call most landlines. If the call receiver is roaming internationally, then costs are there for the receiver too quite often.


That's right. If I'm roaming, the person calling me gets charged as if I'm in France and I get billed for the remainder of the cost (France to wherever). But only if I answer it and not when it goes to voice-mail.