wb8foz@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (David Lesher) (02/21/91)
David Mason asked why it cost so much to trace an unlisted number. Mr. Moderator responded with what I regard as absolute nonsense about a database subscription. Look, the PI did what I used to do: Call a friend in Repair. Ask her the "who and where" you need. (The difference is, he likely bribed the "greenie" with cash. I used a box of chocolates, myself.) Repair/Cable or whatever Outside Plant is calling itself MUST know where an assignment terminates. How could they track down complaints on noisy pairs, or avoid reassigning an 'in-use' one if they did not have end-to-end records? The only thing an unlisted number gets you is a few obstacles to getting the name from the public end of the LEC. And please, spare me the morality speech, both on my getting numbers, and people that provide them. Last time I wanted an "unlisted" number, Ma made me sign a release that said: We guarantee NOTHING except to charge you extra. They kept their word - they soaked me EVERY MONTH to as someone put it "slide all the rest of the names in the book up one space." BTW: "greenie" came from the olive drab color of the trucks. I always wondered -- did they get that color paint DOD/GSA surplus ;-? wb8foz@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (305) 255-RTFM pob 570-335 33257-0335 [Moderator's Note: Fine ... no morality speech, however I would like to say that most ethical PI's won't use that approach since if they get caught/convicted they might well lose their license -- something far more important to them than one client looking for a phone number. I'd like to think that *most* telco employees are not so easily bribed. We did have a story in the Digest a few months ago about an employee of IBT who was given an offer such as you describe. She thought about what she would stand to lose if she got caught and chose instead to report the person trying to bribe her, even though as a result of her relationship with the person in another matter she was caused considerable personal embarassment when the attempted bribery became known. Most telco employees will turn those offers down. Some will report it. You might pay a very heavy price. PAT]
Barton.Bruce@camb.com (Barton F. Bruce) (02/21/91)
In article <telecom11.136.4@eecs.nwu.edu>, dmason@digi.lonestar.org (David Mason) writes: > At one time I had a legitimate need to trace an unlisted number. > That is, I needed the name and address of the party it was registered > to. I contacted a private investigator and he told me this was > possible with no other data than the number itself. Soon after that I Dial the number from where it WILL be long distance, keep the answered connection up long enough so you WILL be charged, and then mumble something about wrong number and hangup. When the bill comes, call the business office. Say you don't know whose number that is on your bill and generally they will get you the name BEFORE they consider giving you credit for a improperly billed call. Generally, a name jogs one's memory and that is the end of it. Certainly don't insist you didn't make it, because you DID. Just saying you are a bit confused about who it might be, and could they help is being quite honest.
floyd@ims.alaska.edu (Floyd Davidson) (02/21/91)
In article <telecom11.140.7@eecs.nwu.edu> David Lesher <wb8foz@mthvax. cs.miami.edu> writes: > David Mason asked why it cost so much to trace an unlisted number. > Mr. Moderator responded with what I regard as absolute nonsense about > a database subscription. > Look, the PI did what I used to do: Call a friend in Repair. Ask her > the "who and where" you need. (The difference is, he likely bribed the > "greenie" with cash. I used a box of chocolates, myself.) > Repair/Cable or whatever Outside Plant is calling itself MUST know > where an assignment terminates. How could they track down complaints > on noisy pairs, or avoid reassigning an 'in-use' one if they did not > have end-to-end records? > The only thing an unlisted number gets you is a few obstacles to > getting the name from the public end of the LEC. And please, spare me Yes of course the telco has those records available for internal use. > [Moderator's Note: Fine ... no morality speech, however I would like > to say that most ethical PI's won't use that approach since if they > get caught/convicted they might well lose their license -- something > far more important to them than one client looking for a phone number. > I'd like to think that *most* telco employees are not so easily > bribed. We did have a story in the Digest a few months ago about an Pat is right, except maybe in refering to an "ethical PI" ;-) The telco employee stands to lose too much. It is much easier to call your local friend in the police department, who has the same info, and isn't quite as legally restricted. Floyd L. Davidson | floyd@ims.alaska.edu | Alascom, Inc. pays me Salcha, AK 99714 | Univ. of Alaska | but not for opinions. [Moderator's Note: It isn't even ethics so much as plain common sense at times. Let's say you've worked for telco for twenty years. You have a nice easy job; a lot of benefits and seniority; and some authority in the company. Then one day you blow it all away by violating the trust you have been given. You get called up to the Personnel Department where a guy from security is waiting, along with the head of Personnel and the union steward. You are asked to relinquish your company identification and keys; handed your final paycheck -- paid up to that minute along with unused benefits you have coming -- and then walked downstairs and out the door to the sidewalk with a friendly warning not to return to the building or be on company property for any reason. There is nothing the union can do for you. It is up to you to go home and tell your wife and children what happened, of course. PAT]
scb@cs.brown.edu (Spyros C. Bartsocas) (02/22/91)
>> At one time I had a legitimate need to trace an unlisted number. > Dial the number from where it WILL be long distance, keep the answered ... > When the bill comes, call the business office. Say you don't know > whose number that is on your bill and generally they will get you the ... About a year ago, I came back from a trip to find a phone number I did not recognize in the AT&T portion of my bill. Although it was afterhours I called AT&T and asked them who that number belongs to. They said that I would have to call the next day for that, but they would be happy to take it off my bill. Spyros Bartsocas scb@cs.brown.edu