Hang-ups

[laundryhater]

If I call the telephone company, can they tell me where the last incoming call came from?



I've been getting a lot of hang-ups today. Too many to be coincidence. 5 in a row and then at least 3 more after that between calls. It's really annoying. It may be a prank caller.

[goldenearring]

It'll cost you, and I think it's quite a bit because it is difficult for them to do.  Hang-ups are frustrating, but I'd try to ignore them.

[goldenearring]

Depending on the type of phone you have, and your phone company, maybe you can dial something to find that information out yourself.  If you go through a PBX, it's a lost cause.  I should have mentioned that I think it takes the phone company a week or two to figure that stuff out, too.  That's why I suggested ignoring it, and perhaps the pranksters will find someone new to bug by next week.

[laundryhater]

It's really starting to freak me out. Every other call is a hang-up now. They stay on the line long enough to hear me say the company name and "How may I direct your call?" Then silence for a couple seconds, then hangs up.



Our voice mail system (picks up when all phone lines are busy) picked up two heavy breathing calls.

[whitesatin]

Scary!  Keep a log of the times that the calls come in.  Report it to the telephone company.  There should be a number to call near the front of your White Pages.  They can tell you what you can do about these harrassing calls.



WS

[twhfan]

From my phone at home, I dial *69 and it tells me the number of the last incoming call.  I think it only costs 25 or 50 cents each time you do this.  Some telemarketers have this feature blocked and if so, you get a message saying the number is unavailable.  If it's a prank call, maybe the person doesn't know how to block their number and you can find out who is making these calls.  Good luck.  Nothing more frustrating and unnerving as hang-ups.

 

[workerbee]

I have heard of people (usually women) who kept a loud whistle near the phone and blew it when the hangers-up call.  I would get permission from my supervisor before I did this, but I'll bet it would effective!



Elaine  

[fireproof]

I used to work with a bunch of guys so heavy breathers and their ilk were easy - I'd just give the boys the high sign and transfer the call.  They'd answer "Hell's Angels Clubhouse," or something equally outragious.  



Another time another lady in the office got a heavy breather - which she announced with apparent delight!  Everyone in the office immediately and loudly (so he could hear) started saying things like "really, put him on loudspeaker so I can hear," "We haven't had one of those in such a long time,"  "transfer him to me!"  The purpose was to let him know that that the lady he was calling was not alone and was not frightened (in fact, he had become a source of amusement).



The only call I remember receiving at home was some immature, squeeky voiced adolescent.  I was so incensed I snarled "Oh GROW UP!."  That was that.



Another thought - there are some tele-marketers who have computers dial 1000s of numbers to see if they get a live hit.  If they do, the computer gives that number to a salesperson, who calls back 15-20 minutes later.  Nasty business, but it's possibly not even a real live person pestering you.



As for your problem; can you recruit a male coworker to answer the phones for about 15 minutes when the strange calls are coming in?  This might be enough to discourage the twisted little twerp.  

[laundryhater]

Whoever it was must have gotten tired of not being answered over the weekend because I haven't had any so far this week.



If it does start up again I think I'll try the speaker phone suggestion and the transferring to a male suggestion. I don't think my boss would let me use a whistle - too disruptive to the other employees.



Thanks for all the suggestions and for being my cyber support. I was really starting to get the creeps.

[laundryhater]

Yes, that'd be great! It'd also come in handy for the neighbor's barking dog.