Henry Mensch <henry@garp.mit.edu> (01/13/90)
I agree with Patrick; how is the ordinary Joe supposed to identify someone who (when calling) only identifies themselves with tones or a carrier? It is unreasonable for me (Joe random pots user) to have to borrow a FAX machine or modem just to cause this disturbance to stop. There are procedures in place to handle exactly this situation; why not use them? (And yes, I've gotten calls from the phone company because direct marketing companies have dialed and gotten my modem ... "did you know that your number 437-xxxx ... ?" The phone company is in a position to identify callers; make them work for you ... ) # Henry Mensch / <henry@garp.mit.edu> / E40-379 MIT, Cambridge, MA # <hmensch@uk.ac.nsfnet-relay> / <henry@tts.lth.se> / <mensch@munnari.oz.au> [Moderator's Note: It is particularly annoying when someone else takes it upon themselves to decide your number is out of order and reports it to repair. A lady once called from a payphone and got my modem. Not content to lose 25 cents, she dialed *four times* and each time got the modem; then had the brass bedsprings to call up IBT Repair and report me out of order -- and ask for a refund of the $1 she 'lost' in the payphone!! I got a call from the repair supervisor, "Say Pat, you have a modem on the line, don't you?" I told him yes....he told me the lady reported it out of order. I asked him if she was calling from the lobby of the Hotel Screwball; the place where the management asks that you do not disturb the guests, because they already are. PT]