It is illegal to make telemarketing calls with anonymous caller ID. However, dishonest sellers do it anyway and you end up upset by those calls. Usually it is at the worst time of the day when you have dinner or relax in the evening.
Is there a way to see the caller ID of anonymous callers. However, it will take a bit to do. You must temporarily use a toll-free number and divert your local line. These numbers can be had for just $2 a month with no contract.
How does this work
The trick relies on the way billing information is transmitted over the telephone network. When you use a toll-free number to receive calls, the phone company must show you the caller ID, even if the caller is blocking you.
This is required by law because you are paying for the call. So you deserve to know the details of what you’re paying for, and that includes seeing who’s calling.
So how does this help if unknown callers are bothering you by calling your local landline or cell phone? Here’s the trick. You need to forward your local number or cell phone to a toll free number that you own. Toll-free numbers are only $2 a month from service providers like call8.
Now, it’s important to get this part right. You cannot allow your toll free number to be forwarded to your local number if your local number is also forwarded to your toll free number. You can see why. This creates an infinite loop that goes nowhere. Therefore, you should set your toll free number to always go to voicemail.
You’ll have to call back everyone who left you a message, but at least you’ll be able to see the caller ID of everyone who calls, including the one who’s harassing you with anonymous calls.
How to see caller ID
All service providers allow you to access a record of all calls, usually by logging into your account. These logs also show the duration of the calls.
Once you manage to catch the anonymous telemarketer and have their number, you can report it to the authorities and suspend the free service. Assuming you no longer need it for anything else.
If you used a toll free number call8, you can cancel the service at any time. They do not require a long-term contract. You pay only for the months that you have the service active.
Alternate method of responding live
Instead of using voicemail for the reason I mentioned above, if you have another local number that you have access to, forward your toll-free number to that number. By doing this, you will be able to answer incoming calls. and see caller id on the spot!
There is no need to check the registry in this case. Caller ID is transmitted to the phone to which it is being transferred.
Sometimes it pays to spend a little to catch someone who is bothering you. Your peace of mind is what counts.