Do callers remain anonymous when requested?
825898
I don't know what state you live in, but when you file a complaint that is later investigated in most states the complainant can not be identified by the police, your friends are yanking your chain.  All the police do is send over an officer to measure the decible level, then they knock on the door and say they just measured the decible level and it exceeds the city's ordinance.  If they don't turn down the noise the by-law officer or the police officer then can file charges based on their measurement of the decible level alone.
937932
Actually KC is VERY wrong as to the application of FCC guidelines on this issue and the abuse of the robo calls by repugnatcuns read on:\nFCC regulations: automated callers must hang up when the called party hangs up.\n\nThis became an issue after robo-caller systems were preventing people calling 911 in emergencies.  In some cases people died because they could not hang up and get a dialtone because the robocaller would not let go of them.\n\n(Tech background: telco central office switches have traditionally been configured in such a manner that the calling party controls the connection.  The called party has to hang up for between 7 - 10 seconds in order to force the line to disengage.  More recently there have been design changes that minimize this issue, but it is not completely gone.  The goal is that you should always be able to get a new dialtone by hanging up your phone for 1.5 seconds, whether you are the caller or the called party.)\n\nAs a result of the 911 emergency call cases, FCC required that these automated calling systems hang up when the called party hangs up, so the called party can get dial tone back and make an outgoing call.\n\nIt would appear that the dirty tricksters have found a way to circumvent the law by having the system release the line on each call but then keep calling back.  HOWEVER:\n\nIn many states the definition of "obscene, indecent, or harassing phone calls" includes placing repeated calls to a subscriber who does not wish to be called.  This activity obviously qualifies under those statutes; typically the violation is a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 1 year in prison or a $1,000 fine.  It can be argued that the penalty should apply per call or per called subscriber, in any case this adds up to a potentially very large number of counts of that misdemeanor, which could bankrupt the GOP.   Think of hundreds of thousands of calls, at a $1,000 fine each.  \n\nIt can be argued that the repeat calling also violates the intent of the "release the line" regulations because if a called subscriber has the Call Waiting feature, the additional incoming calls will trigger call waiting signals, which interrupt conversation briefly each time the little "beep" sounds on the line, thereby interfering with the life-or-death conversations of emergency calls.  For example, "He's having a (beep!) attack!"  Was that a heart attack, an epileptic attack, angina, a stroke ("brain attack") or something else?  This angle is at least worth pursuing, and if nothing else, the R's attorneys will have to respond to it if it's raised as part of a civil action.
614850
because they dont want anyone to know where they are calling from. Or, they dont want their name to come up on your caller id.  Or the cant afford a phone, thats why they are criminals
151404
Get privacy manager. That usually stops the unwanted call. And if it doesn't they have to tell you who is calling. An operator comes on the phone and asks you if you want to accept the call or no. That has stopped a ton of unwanted calls at my house.
318175
If someone calls you, you can record the conversation legally.  If you call someone else, you have to get their permission first.
406310
I dont think that you can. You would have to go through the service provider and I think that it is a violation of one's privacy for a provider to just give out the number when they have a contract and everything.  But I dont know, that just makes sense to me.
114744
No... when someone calls in reference to their employment you can't "slander" them. But if they ask, would you rehire them you can say NO! Or if they ask if they were on time... if they weren't you can say no to that also.
1114253
The only people, as far as I am aware, that can have your number if you withold it is, as you say, when you ring 999.  The Police can also apply to find out who you are and where you live from your telephone number, even if you've not dialled 999, in life or death emergencies, and for instances of serious crime.  Be aware, if you're texting from a phone in the UK, even if you withold your number on telephone calls, it won't withold your number on the texts.  Otherwise, the chat line shouldn't have your number.  It's worth contacting their customer service department and asking them how they got it.
739598
Good point. I can't even make a private call without someone hearing the beeping and asking who I'm calling.
173727
They are NOT allowed to do this. This is a part of the Privacy Act. I used to work at a bank and any time that we had to call a customer, we could only say the individuals name and to return our call. We couldn't talk to the spouse unless they are on the account - even at that, if they are on the account, we can't talk to the spouse because there is no way to verify they are indeed the individual they claim to be.
90849
No, it's not illegal for them to block their phone #'s.  You can however block their calls by getting on the national no call list &/or getting a privacy manager for your home phone.  Call your phone company about it, it makes whoever is calling you ID themselves if their # is blocked.
885268
Yeah, only if they have caller ID. Some I would rather not hear from.
210579
They only think that they're anonymous.\n\nBut beware!! Not all forums give anonymity to the users.
818117
Yes, they absolutely can. They have access to things the general public doesn't. It is usually as easy as getting logs from the phone company that are not available to the general public. Plus, it can be done quickly. Also, in most areas, if you hit *57 or *56  (check in the front of your phone book) after they call, even if it is private or anonymous, it can be traced. The cops usually don't get involved in it unless you notify them. If you hit those numbers more than 3 times and it shows up as the same caller in the phone company logs, the police also get involved. Some cities police departments do it automatically after being notified by the phone company and some cities need you to contact the police yourself even if you hit the trace numbers. I would advise you to call the police and they will tell you what to do. Be aware that the phone company WILL NOT tell you who it is or what number it is coming from. The police must determine this.
948508
depends where its coming from and most of the time land linesa come as private or unknow but cell phones most of the time show up on your caller id
161683
turn them in anonymously
773603
You can remain anonymous but it's out of your hands after that.  Tell the cops you are scared of him and you refuse to give your name.  If they demand it, then leave/hang up.  \n\nI found this:\nIn another case, we concluded that a stop comported with the Fourth Amendment when the police department received an anonymous tip identifying the location of a suspended driver who was operating a motor vehicle and verified the suspension, after which an officer observed the suspended driver's vehicle on a public way and stopped the vehicle.  State v. Lawton, 581 A.2d 793, 793-95 (Me. 1990).