How to Defeat *69
by Bernie S.
It's annoying!
You call someone and, for whatever reason, you'd like to protect your telephone privacy. In other words, you don't want them calling you. But with new telephone services like Last-Call Return (*69), they can call you back as often as they like until someone else calls them. If they have Caller ID it's even worse: it will tell them your telephone number and they can call you whenever and as often as they like.
Many people feel this is an invasion of their privacy. People who pay extra for unpublished numbers are just as vulnerable. The Bell Operating Companies (BOC) reap huge profits from the use of these services, but seem insensitive to the concerns of customers who want to preserve their telephone privacy. There are methods of overcoming this problem, but the phone companies refuse to publicize them because they could lose out on many millions of dollars in new revenue if services like Last-Call Return and Caller ID aren't widely accepted.
This article describes several methods you can use to defeat Last-Call Return (*69) and Caller ID so that you can use your telephone without fear of compromising your telephone privacy. Most of these techniques will work in different parts of the country, assuming the services are available in the first place. It is possible that your area uses different codes for these services. If so, please tell us what they are.
Calling Card Method
This method defeats both *69 and Caller ID. To use it, you need a valid calling card from your local company. You can get one by calling your local business office.
Dial 0 plus the area code and number you're calling. After the "bong" tone, enter your calling card number and your call will go through. If you're calling from a dial or pulse-type phone, stay on the line and tell your calling card number to the operator who answers. If the operator asks why you're not dialing direct because it's cheaper, tell them to just complete the call anyway. The surcharge for this is about 40 cents and will vary depending upon what part of the country you're in.
Operator Assisted Method
This method defeats both *69 and Caller ID and does not require a calling card. Dial 0 plus the area code and number you're calling. After the "bong" tone, dial 0 or wait and an operator will come on the line. Tell the operator that you'd like this call billed to the number you're calling from. If the operator asks why you're not dialing direct because it's cheaper, tell them to just complete the call anyway. The surcharge for this is about $1.50.
Long Distance Carrier Method
This method defeats both *69 and Caller ID and requires a long distance calling card. Follow the instructions on your calling card for making a call, but dial the local number you want to call as if it were long distance, i.e. include the area code. If you don't have a long distance calling card, just request one from the company of your choice, the vast majority of which are listed with 800 information.
When you call to request your calling card, they will try like hell to get you to make them your primary long distance carrier. If you don't want to switch, just say so and explain that you'd like one of their calling cards anyway. Since there's no fee for a calling card, you might as well collect them all! It's a good idea to have calling cards from several different long distance carriers so you can compare their rates and service quality.
You will be billed according to the rates of the long distance carrier you're using. Rates for calls within your area code are lower than interstate long distance calls. Call the long distance carrier's customer service number for exact rate information.
Most calling cards have surcharges. If at all possible, use a company that has a non-surcharge 950 access number. Metromedia Long Distance (formerly ITT) and Cable & Wireless both offer this service but give it out sparingly.
As with the above methods, if someone dials *69 after your call they will hear a recording that says "The number is not in the serving area." A Caller ID unit will display "Out of Area."
Answering Machine Hang-Up Method
This "quick and dirty" method is effective in defeating *69 call-backs in response to your leaving a message on an answering machine. After you've completed a call to an answering machine at the number you desire privacy from, hang up and immediately call again using one of the above methods.
The moment you hear a ringing signal through your handset, hang up. When the called party returns home and gets your message, any *69 attempt will generate a "Number is not in the serving area..." message. If you hang up the second time before their machine answers, you won't be charged for that call. This technique does not work well when calling people who are home, because they'll usually be able to dial *69 before you can call the second time.
Call Block Method
This method prevents others from using *69 (1169 pulse) to call you back by blocking selected telephone numbers in your area code from reaching your line. It does not prevent Caller ID from revealing your telephone number.
Before you make your call, you must block the specific telephone number(s) you're planning to call from being able to call you back. To do this, dial *60 (1160 pulse) then # (12 pulse) and enter the telephone number(s) you wish to block. After you enter each number to be blocked, enter # (12 pulse) again. You can block up to six numbers at a time and you can block calls from the number you just received a call from by entering 01 in its place.
To remove individual numbers from your blocking list, enter * (11 pulse), the number you want to unblock, and * (11 pulse) again. Hang up when you're finished.
When callers whose telephone numbers are on your blocking list call you, they'll hear a recording that says, "At this time, the party you have called is not taking calls." However, the called party will still be able to use *69 to call you back after you unblock their number if they haven't received any calls since yours. One way to rectify this problem is to use the "Answering Machine Hang-up Method" just before deactivating Call Block.
Call Block costs about 50 cents each day it's left on or around $5.00 per month for unlimited usage. If you're not subscribing to it on a monthly basis, don't forget to deactivate it when you don't need it or it could end up costing you over three times the monthly rate. To deactivate Call Block, dial *80 (1180 pulse), then enter 08 and hang up.
Ultra Call Forward Method
This method defeats both *69 and Caller ID, but you must have an auxiliary telephone line that you don't care about the privacy of, and Ultra Call Forward service. The additional line can be your business number at another location, but you must have billing responsibility for that line to be able to request the Ultra Call Forward service.
The idea here is to remotely program your auxiliary number to forward calls to the number you want to call, and to call that auxiliary number whenever you want to reach the number you desire privacy from. If the called party dials *69 after you call them, they'll get the auxiliary number instead of the number you called from. If the Ultra Call Forwarding is still on, it will call back their own number, give them a busy signal, and charge them for the *69 attempt! A Caller ID unit will display your auxiliary number, not the "private" number you called from.
To accomplish all this, call your business office and request Ultra Call Forward for your auxiliary line. This new service costs around $5.00 a month.
You must remember to deactivate the Ultra Call Forwarding, or else any other calls actually intended for the auxiliary number will also be forwarded to the number you desire privacy from. If you have calls forwarded to a long distance number, you will be billed for the long distance charges whenever calls are forwarded there.
Hardware Forwarding Method
This method is similar to using Ultra Call Forward, except that you connect a special device between two auxiliary lines. This accomplishes the same job without having to pay the phone company's monthly charges. Call forwarding devices are available from RadioShack and similar stores for about $100. Specific model instructions vary, so read your owner's manual for details.
Cellular Phone Method
This method stops *69 and Caller ID, but it requires a cellular telephone. Last-Call Return and Caller ID do not work through cellular telephone exchanges. Anyone dialing *69 after receiving a call from a cellular telephone will hear a recording that says "The number is not in the serving area." A Caller ID unit will display an "Out of Area" message.
Most cellular phones are installed in vehicles, but transportable and hand-held models are rapidly becoming more popular and less expensive. The cost of a call varies depending on if it's during the day, evening, or weekend and its duration. Call your local cellular carrier for information about cellular phones and rate plans.
Payphone Method
This is certainly the least convenient method, but it does stop *69 and Caller ID users from compromising your privacy. If you make calls to those parties from a payphone, your home telephone privacy will be ensured. If you don't have change, you can use a calling card, but it will cost more. The best and least-expensive payphones are generally those owned and operated by the Bell Telephone company serving your area.
Creative Techniques
If you're creative you can confuse and defeat the most determined unwanted callers. For instance, you can use Select Forward to send someone's calls back to their own number so they'll always get a busy signal whenever they call you. As mentioned above, this also works if they dial *69 after you call them, and as an added bonus they'll be billed for the attempt!
Another trick is to have calls from selected unwanted callers forwarded to the police, to a non-working number, to a payphone, or to some other person who's also insensitive to your privacy. If the second party dials *69 after your unwanted caller hangs up, it will call back that number, not yours. Caller ID units will also display their number, not yours.
Call Trace: The Real Story
Many phone companies advertise Call Trace (*57) as a convenient way to trace annoying or harassing calls so you can put a stop to them. The truth is, they make it very difficult and expensive for customers to accomplish this. When you dial *57 after receiving a call, the phone company's computers record the calling number, your number, the date, time, and duration of the call and sends all of this to their Annoyance Call Bureau. The phone companies also charge you on the order of $1.50 every time you dial *57.
Despite this, the phone company will not even consider any traced calls worthy of their attention until you have successfully traced six such calls from the same originating number! This means if your unwanted caller is calling from payphones or more than one location, you could end up paying quite a lot until the phone company determines that you've traced six "qualifying" calls.
Once they are satisfied that you've traced at least six calls from the same calling number, they'll mail you a legal release to sign and return to them. This release prevents you from suing them, and grants them permission to tell the unwanted caller your name and telephone number (ostensibly so that the phone company can justify a request to ask them to stop). It also states that the phone company will not tell you who is harassing you, which seems rather sleazy in light of the fact that they're willing to sell Caller ID-type services to anyone willing to pay $6.50 a month for it.
If you don't want them giving your name to this person, you should cross out the section of the legal release that gives them permission to, and also cross out the section that releases them from liability (thus protecting your rights). Initial and date the changes and attach a signed letter demanding that they not violate your privacy by releasing your name to the unwanted caller. Also demand that they promptly turn over all evidence of your telephone harassment to your local police department.
For maximum impact, you can further mention that if they fail to comply with your request, you will file a complaint against them with the State Public Utilities Commission. All local phone companies are extremely sensitive about this and it's almost guaranteed to get fast results.
Send your letter and the amended release back to their Annoyance Call Bureau via certified mail (return receipt requested) and your local police should call you in a few days. If not, call them and ask if the phone company sent the information. If so, diplomatically ask them who is harassing you (promising not to take the law into your own hands) and they'll usually tell you.
If the calls persist, press charges against the caller for "harassment by communication." Police departments are being inundated with Call Trace requests and they generally want to resolve these cases as quickly and as easily as possible. The phone companies only seem to be interested in protecting themselves - at your expense.
More Telephone Privacy Tips
Most toll-free 800 numbers receive ANI.
Automatic Number Identification, which gives them the phone numbers of most of the people who call them. It's not the same as Caller ID but it can have the same effect. Apart from seeing these phone numbers when they get their 800 bill, these companies can use equipment that allows them to see the numbers immediately. Whether you call a TV shopping channel, a mail order company, a drug or health-related hotline, or a TV ad selling Elvis music, almost any company with a toll-free 800 number you call can learn your telephone number the moment they answer your call. This makes you vulnerable to having your telephone number listed and sold to other telemarketing companies. Ready buyers include companies that may employ sleazy salespeople or those annoying automatic selling machines that are programmed to call everyone who's ever responded to a particular type of sales pitch before.
Moreover, telephone companies sell computerized directories to mail order firms, telemarketing companies, and credit bureaus, which cross-reference the telephone numbers to get names and addresses. Purchasing records are cross-referenced to determine people's buying patterns for certain types of products, services, and financial transactions. Many companies buy and sell this information for a living. Ever wonder how you got on all those mailing lists?
You can safeguard yourself against this type of telephone privacy invasion by making your toll-free 800 calls from a cellular or pay telephone or by using the Ultra Call Forward or hardware call forwarding methods. (Having the operator place your toll-free call will also keep your number from being displayed.) You should always decline to give your telephone number out to any person, company, or organization you don't want to have it.
Unlisted Numbers are not really all that private.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications, phone companies provide special directories to police departments and certain government agencies that contain complete alphabetical listings, regardless of their "unlisted" status.
Even worse, the phone companies have repeatedly been accused of giving out confidential customer information to select individuals, private investigators, and to police without warrants. So if you really want to keep your name, address, telephone number, and calling records out of the hands of others, you should consider getting a new telephone number put in a different name.
911
Emergency services in many areas now employ a special system that instantly displays the caller's telephone number, name, and address. Anonymous calls to 911 can only be ensured by calling from a payphone.
Reverse Directories
Directories of telephone numbers and street addresses with names and approximate household incomes (with phone numbers and street addresses listed numerically) are published by several companies, including Cole Publishing, Inc. These directories are very popular with real estate companies, telemarketing firms, police departments, or anyone else wanting to know more about people. You can write to Cole Publishing and request to be omitted from their directory. They have offices throughout the country.
Unsolicited Telephone Sales Calls
Unsolicited calls to your number can supposedly be reduced by writing to the Direct Marketing Association. They will put your name, address, and telephone number on a list distributed to telemarketing firms, which are then legally required to stop calling you.
Their address is:
Direct Marketing Association Telephone Preference Service 11 West 42nd Street P.O. Box 3861 New York, NY 10163-3861Provide your full name, address, and telephone number(s) and request to be put on their "No Contact" list. Of course, just doing that does put you on another list...