The "This Might Be A Stupid Question, But...." Thread

[mmswm]

mmswm has the best answer.  Several thousand dollars in fines will get them to take you off their list, and if that doesn't work then whoever's paying her to call can go sit in a jail cell.

Virg

If only Do Not Call worked!

I reported one company several times, keeping a log. Then I noticed that it was changing the phone number every few days to avoid the fines. I know it was the same because it was always Angela or Michelle with an important message about our credit card debt, which we haven't had for over 20 years, and then it was paid off in 2 months.

Now, I just don't answer any number I don't know, or at least flick the disconnect on my phone.

I've almost completely given up. One call, we mention we are on the Do Not Call and report, after that, we don't answer.

That actually falls under the Fair Debt Collection laws.  People have successfully sued, and won, even against collectors with legitimate debts for harassing debt collection practices.  It's rarely easy to do, because debt collectors rely on the fact that the debtors are scared, but it can be done. 

[Luci45]

mmswm has the best answer.  Several thousand dollars in fines will get them to take you off their list, and if that doesn't work then whoever's paying her to call can go sit in a jail cell.

Virg

If only Do Not Call worked!

I reported one company several times, keeping a log. Then I noticed that it was changing the phone number every few days to avoid the fines. I know it was the same because it was always Angela or Michelle with an important message about our credit card debt, which we haven't had for over 20 years, and then it was paid off in 2 months.

Now, I just don't answer any number I don't know, or at least flick the disconnect on my phone.

I've almost completely given up. One call, we mention we are on the Do Not Call and report, after that, we don't answer.

That actually falls under the Fair Debt Collection laws.  People have successfully sued, and won, even against collectors with legitimate debts for harassing debt collection practices.  It's rarely easy to do, because debt collectors rely on the fact that the debtors are scared, but it can be done.

I think you are missing my point. These are for a smarmy company that can lower our debt (which we don't have) through partly shady means. Our house is paid off and we have bought our cars with cash for the past 20 years. We owe nothing, to anyone. (And our credit score is only 799 - I know why.)

How Fair Debt Collection apply to us?

It's just a random company that has out phone #.

[mmswm]

mmswm has the best answer.  Several thousand dollars in fines will get them to take you off their list, and if that doesn't work then whoever's paying her to call can go sit in a jail cell.

Virg

If only Do Not Call worked!

I reported one company several times, keeping a log. Then I noticed that it was changing the phone number every few days to avoid the fines. I know it was the same because it was always Angela or Michelle with an important message about our credit card debt, which we haven't had for over 20 years, and then it was paid off in 2 months.

Now, I just don't answer any number I don't know, or at least flick the disconnect on my phone.

I've almost completely given up. One call, we mention we are on the Do Not Call and report, after that, we don't answer.

That actually falls under the Fair Debt Collection laws.  People have successfully sued, and won, even against collectors with legitimate debts for harassing debt collection practices.  It's rarely easy to do, because debt collectors rely on the fact that the debtors are scared, but it can be done.

I think you are missing my point. These are for a smarmy company that can lower our debt (which we don't have) through partly shady means. Our house is paid off and we have bought our cars with cash for the past 20 years. We owe nothing, to anyone. (And our credit score is only 799 - I know why.)

How Fair Debt Collection apply to us?

It's just a random company that has out phone #.

You are correct.  I misunderstood.  I thought you were saying they were calling to collect on an imaginary debt.  You'd be surprised how shady debt collectors can be.  I've seen people get caught up in sweeps where collection agencies report a debt on the credit reports of all "Tom Smiths" they find in City X.  My thought was that you'd been caught up in something like that.

[JoW]

How you block a call depends on which carrier you use and which handset you have.  One technique that works on all phones is to put the number in your contacts list and assign it the ring tone "no ring".  That won't stop the calls but it will make them easier to ignore.

For a scammer the Do Not Call List law is one more law to break.  If you want to know more about a call that is harassing you look it up at http://800notes.com.  I post there under the name "not Michael".  I found the site when googled a number that was harassing me looking for Michael.  I discovered that the caller was an automobile finance company.  Michael bought a car he didn't plan to pay for and gave the finance company a false phone number - my cell number.  I used that information to discuss the situation with the caller and order them to stop calling.  It worked. 

[Sign Of The Times]

I have a question about wedding etiquette. Does it go on this forum or the Hells Bells one? (Or do I do the thread both places?)

[jpcher]

I have a question about wedding etiquette. Does it go on this forum or the Hells Bells one? (Or do I do the thread both places?)

The Hells Bells one.

This forum use to have a Wedding topic, but it was closed and moved to Hells Bells.



(edited to delete a letter.)

[jpcher]

New Question:

I'm not sure who to call or what to google (the airlines or the airport?) Is this even allowed any more?

DD#2 is going to France in a couple of months and she wants me to come inside the airport and wait with her until she boards the plane. I'd really like to do that, and I'd like to meet her at the arrival gate when she gets off the plane coming back home.

I am under the impression that you need to have a ticket in order to get past the security check-in. Is this true?

How do I find out what I need to do so that I can wait with her before departure and meet her once she arrives?

[BabylonSister]

Unfortunately, yes, you need a ticket to get past security. 

[guihong]

New Question:

I'm not sure who to call or what to google (the airlines or the airport?) Is this even allowed any more?

DD#2 is going to France in a couple of months and she wants me to come inside the airport and wait with her until she boards the plane. I'd really like to do that, and I'd like to meet her at the arrival gate when she gets off the plane coming back home.

I am under the impression that you need to have a ticket in order to get past the security check-in. Is this true?

How do I find out what I need to do so that I can wait with her before departure and meet her once she arrives?

I think I would first check the TSA website, or if there's a specific page of TSA requirements on the airport website.  You (and DD2) should get familiar with this information so she knows what she can pack, what can be carried on, plus how and when to check in for an international flight (even if she has a leg within the U.S.).  DD2 will also have to know what to do at customs in France.

In my experience, you need a boarding pass to get past security, and there is a passenger meeting area after landing.   However, there's nothing to lose by calling the airport and asking. 

The best you probably can do is to have a nice meal with her before she goes through the security.

[Xandraea]

New Question:

I'm not sure who to call or what to google (the airlines or the airport?) Is this even allowed any more?

DD#2 is going to France in a couple of months and she wants me to come inside the airport and wait with her until she boards the plane. I'd really like to do that, and I'd like to meet her at the arrival gate when she gets off the plane coming back home.

I am under the impression that you need to have a ticket in order to get past the security check-in. Is this true?

How do I find out what I need to do so that I can wait with her before departure and meet her once she arrives?

I think I would first check the TSA website, or if there's a specific page of TSA requirements on the airport website.  You (and DD2) should get familiar with this information so she knows what she can pack, what can be carried on, plus how and when to check in for an international flight (even if she has a leg within the U.S.).  DD2 will also have to know what to do at customs in France.

In my experience, you need a boarding pass to get past security, and there is a passenger meeting area after landing.   However, there's nothing to lose by calling the airport and asking. 

The best you probably can do is to have a nice meal with her before she goes through the security.

I would have agreed with guihong, that with the exception of people who need extra help (young children, elderly, disabled), those without boarding passes are no longer allowed past security, BUT .. when I arrived home just after midnight last week after a 3 hour flight, the father and (10 yr?) daughter who sat beside me on the flight were greeted at the gate by the mother and another young child.  I don't know how they pulled that off, but it doesn't hurt to ask, especially as international flights generally require one to arrive earlier which can mean sitting around at the gate alone for longer.

[Mental Magpie]

You can get a specific pass to allow you through security, though I don't know if you have to ask TSA, the airport, or the airline (but that is the order in which I would try them).  Look under FAQ on TSA (at least, that's where I'd start).

[Bluenomi]

Is she getting straight onto an international flight or has she got a domestic leg first?

Domestic you should be able to go to the gate but international you won't since she'll have to pass through immigration and you won't be allowed through.

[ladyknight1]

It goes through the airline. They give one parent a companion pass that gets you all the way to the gate. It was trickier getting it for the return flight.

TSA was completely used to the process. You do need to carry as little as possible, since you go through security just like everyone else.

[Elfmama]

It goes through the airline. They give one parent a companion pass that gets you all the way to the gate. It was trickier getting it for the return flight.

TSA was completely used to the process. You do need to carry as little as possible, since you go through security just like everyone else.

Yes, DH got a security pass like that when his elderly parents came down the last time, so that he could meet them at the gate.  No problem at all, as long as you arrange for it several days ahead of the flight date.

[jolyan]

This is definitely a stupid question, and one I could probably answer with a few hours of sorting through Google links to random advice forum posts, but I'm hoping you all will save me the headache :-)  I've had a persistent telemarketer calling my cell phone.  (New phone, but I've had the number for years.)  Google tells me it's someone giving away travel "prizes", most likely contingent on buying a timeshare.  I have no idea how my number ended up on their list, since I never use my phone and actually lost it for the last six months or so before buying this new one, but the comments I saw indicated they won't take you off their list so there's no point in asking.

is there a way to block specific incoming calls on a cell phone?  Does it vary by phone type?  I now have a samsung something or other, if that makes a difference.  I don't even know where to start looking - I dug through all the likely phone menus but didn't see anything.  This phone is capable if interrnet and taking videos and making cannolis and who knows what else, so there are a lot of menus :-)  I just use it for phone calls and the occasional text .

You can usually add a block by your providers website or by calling customer care.