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Let’s Destroy Robocalls

nytimes.com

111–120 of 286 posts

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#111

Shoutout to Google and their "Screen Call" feature in android. I screen every call from an unrecognized number. If I see it's my Doctors office I pick up. If not, mark as spam. I can do this in the middle of a meeting without interrupting anything.

It's really, really, great. I think they reserve it for Pixel, though? In any case, it's very convenient.

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Voicemails are still annoying, I have a red alert badge on the home screen and have to go in, check that it's not real, and delete it. Would love to be able to junk filter incoming voicemail based on the transcript. Anything with "card services calling about your credit card account" or "qualify for a medical grade back or knee brace" goes straight to trash. Of course that only works for a few months until scammers a…

I downloaded an app that automates the process of disabling voicemail entirely. I don't need it. Anyone whose call I miss can just send me a text or email. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.teltech.nov...

I get some useful ones like appointment confirmations that I doubt are set up to text me if I don't pick up

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#113
Regardless of one may feel about Trump is there a reason @gailcollins must invoke his name in the title of a totally unrelated OpEd? For some people identity politics is a fever.

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#114
post #14
post #3

What confuses me about this is that Apple could solve this in two seconds by allowing contact whitelists where only incoming calls in your contacts are accepted and everything else is sent to voicemail or dropped. Is there a law against this or something? Nomorobo, Robokiller, Hiya all do an okay job as blacklisting applications but that seems like the wrong way to go about it. Some suggest using do not disturb to do…

Here's how to actually "solve" this problem on an iPhone: - Pay $1.99 to buy a silent ringtone from the ringtone store. - Make that your default ringtone. - Give everyone who you want to be able to call you an audible ringtone.

iPhones still take up the whole screen when a call comes in however.

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#115
post #58
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's how to actually "solve" this problem on an iPhone: - Pay $1.99 to buy a silent ringtone from the ringtone store. - Make that your default ringtone. - Give everyone who you want to be able to call you an audible ringtone.

>- Pay $1.99 to buy a silent ringtone from the ringtone store. I would refuse to do that on principle.

Well then make your own. If your time it takes to do so is worth less than $1.99, then your principles will have saved you money.

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#117
This being HN, everyone has a technological solution or workaround to the calls themselves. Why can't we simply go after the companies that are being advertised during the robocall? They all have a link or number back to the actual company being advertised.

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#118
The legislation mentioned in the article probably would help, but the real untold sorry here is that the blame for the recent increase in robocalls lies with Paj's FCC (and thus Trump). Previous FCC rulings kept robocalls from getting out of hand, but the ruling was overturned on a small technicality. The FCC could easily replace it with a similar ruling but they haven't done anything. (My source here is the recent Reply All episode on robocalls)

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#119
post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a blacklist, "Don't accept calls from X". A white list would be "only accept calls from Y". That's what GP seems to be asking for.

Block unknown callers is a whitelist though. It's literally "block everyone not in my contact list".

...until and unless the phone number is spoofed. Then the blacklist is getting onto the whitelist.

Re: Let’s Destroy Robocalls

#120
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hustle https://www.hustle.com/

(This turned into a bit of a rant...) So, AFAICT, Hustle provides a service that's nearly as bad as robocalls. From their front page: "Hustle works because people read and respond to texts—and to communication that feels more human." So it's a bait and switch, just like a robocall: you contact me in a way that makes you feel personal, approachable and reasonable to me so that you can gain my attention. Look, try to s…

I am currently being hammered by robocalls, in relative terms at least.

I can't remember the last time I got an unsolicited text.

An anecdote to be sure, but I don't hear anyone complaining right now about unsolicited texts, so it doesn't seem like Hustle is the problem.

"I still want to have access whenever I want it. Maybe I can't have it both ways?"

You can, actually, and it isn't that hard. I have a strict "one strike and you're out" policy with my apps; if I see a notification I don't want, I either fix the notification preferences in the app right away, or if the app doesn't permit what I need, nuke the app's ability to notify. My phone is pretty quiet.

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