'smart phone' is not very smart

[Guest guest]

Dear WTO,

I'm just having a little bout of insomnia, and I woke to see that nada had

called me on her cell past 11 pm. I have specifically paid (a LOT) to BLOCK

nada's cell number on AT & T 'smart phone'. I tried to look up my service just

now and AT & T's online access is unavailable--the system is temporarily down, it

says.

You guys may recall how freaked out I was over Christmas that nada had a new

cell phone number and had surreptitiously got some invasive texts through to me

before I could address the situation. How is she getting through? It is SO

invasive and not good!! There is a voicemail too and I am scared even to delete

it in case some of her voice accidentally comes through--especially in the night

when I am trying to sleep.

This is so awful!! What is going on here????

[Guest guest]

Like you need that! Sounds like AT & T has a few glitches in their blocking

system and owes you a refund. I had an idea about deleting it w/o hearing her

voice, you could try leaving yourself a test voicemail message. Then go through

the steps to delete just that one and see if it plays automatically or not, so

then you can know what you need to do for the toxic voicemail. Good luck and I

hope you are able to get some sleep.

>

> Dear WTO,

>

> I'm just having a little bout of insomnia, and I woke to see that nada had

called me on her cell past 11 pm. I have specifically paid (a LOT) to BLOCK

nada's cell number on AT & T 'smart phone'. I tried to look up my service just

now and AT & T's online access is unavailable--the system is temporarily down, it

says.

>

> You guys may recall how freaked out I was over Christmas that nada had a new

cell phone number and had surreptitiously got some invasive texts through to me

before I could address the situation. How is she getting through? It is SO

invasive and not good!! There is a voicemail too and I am scared even to delete

it in case some of her voice accidentally comes through--especially in the night

when I am trying to sleep.

>

> This is so awful!! What is going on here????

>

[Guest guest]

I have to ask DH about how to go about setting it up, but here's an idea:

You can change your number and then get Google Voice set up on your phone

(it's free), which allows you to set up a second phone number. Google Voice

lets you block people for free. Give everybody you trust your real number,

and give the people you don't trust the Google Voice number. It goes to your

same phone. So...anytime you're signing up for something that requires a

phone number, and that source is potentially spammy, write down the Google

Voice number. This " spam " could include all your flying monkey relatives and

nada.

This way you can absolutely control others' access to your phone. If Nada

spams you with FOG calls and texts, you can easily block her, and if she

tries to get around the block by getting a new number, you can block that

one as well. Google Voice is also handy because it gives you a transcript of

any voice mail messages as well, so if you don't feel like hearing nada's

voice, you can see by the transcript who it was, and whether it was

important or not. Then delete it.

Let me know if you'd like more detailed information. I'm sure there's some

instructions online, but I can ask DH for specific instructions for your

specific smartphone.

Holly

(thank God for geeky husbands!)

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 3:32 AM, climberkayak wrote:

>

>

> Like you need that! Sounds like AT & T has a few glitches in their blocking

> system and owes you a refund. I had an idea about deleting it w/o hearing

> her voice, you could try leaving yourself a test voicemail message. Then go

> through the steps to delete just that one and see if it plays automatically

> or not, so then you can know what you need to do for the toxic voicemail.

> Good luck and I hope you are able to get some sleep.

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Dear WTO,

> >

> > I'm just having a little bout of insomnia, and I woke to see that nada

> had called me on her cell past 11 pm. I have specifically paid (a LOT) to

> BLOCK nada's cell number on AT & T 'smart phone'. I tried to look up my

> service just now and AT & T's online access is unavailable--the system is

> temporarily down, it says.

> >

> > You guys may recall how freaked out I was over Christmas that nada had a

> new cell phone number and had surreptitiously got some invasive texts

> through to me before I could address the situation. How is she getting

> through? It is SO invasive and not good!! There is a voicemail too and I am

> scared even to delete it in case some of her voice accidentally comes

> through--especially in the night when I am trying to sleep.

> >

> > This is so awful!! What is going on here????

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That is extremely aggravating to pay good money, EXTRA money, no less, to your

phone company for a specific service and then that service is not provided!!?

AAAugh!! When AT & T comes back on line, I'd ream them a new one (in a polite

way) and/or request a refund or a reduction in charges or something. They have

failed to comply with their contract.

Yes, the Smart Phone doesn't sound very smart. I've got the cheapest, oldest

cel phone on the planet and it allows me to delete messages unread.

Happy reaming. I hope they get that fixed for you very soon.

-Annie

>

> Dear WTO,

>

> I'm just having a little bout of insomnia, and I woke to see that nada had

called me on her cell past 11 pm. I have specifically paid (a LOT) to BLOCK

nada's cell number on AT & T 'smart phone'. I tried to look up my service just

now and AT & T's online access is unavailable--the system is temporarily down, it

says.

>

> You guys may recall how freaked out I was over Christmas that nada had a new

cell phone number and had surreptitiously got some invasive texts through to me

before I could address the situation. How is she getting through? It is SO

invasive and not good!! There is a voicemail too and I am scared even to delete

it in case some of her voice accidentally comes through--especially in the night

when I am trying to sleep.

>

> This is so awful!! What is going on here????

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone for these replies--I was really panicked. It turns out that I

was wrong; my nada and npd Dad have very similar phone numbers that they got

together (at nada's insistence, I'm sure). The caller in the middle of the

night was my narcissist Dad, not nada. I'm not sure if I'm going to block his

number or not.

Nada's emails go straight to junk and I almost never read or save them, but a

few months ago I kept a few of them on instinct, and one of them had the new

phone numbers. I went back and read it for the first time this morning to see

whose number had called me. It said, your Dad and I have real phones now! We

can text! (Insert twilight zone terror sound-effects here.) She did this, I'm

sure, because I was responding to my sister's texts at the time, and that was

the only communication I was engaging in with the family.

If N-Dad starts texting me I might block him too, but he hasn't so far. He's

his own Cluster B, and not a flying monkey, so he doesn't let nada use his

phone. He also would consider it such an insult if I blocked him that I am

hesitant to do so unless it becomes more necessary than at this moment.

Thanks for the support everyone. Cluster Bs and Iphones--what a nightmare.

> >

> > Dear WTO,

> >

> > I'm just having a little bout of insomnia, and I woke to see that nada had

called me on her cell past 11 pm. I have specifically paid (a LOT) to BLOCK

nada's cell number on AT & T 'smart phone'. I tried to look up my service just

now and AT & T's online access is unavailable--the system is temporarily down, it

says.

> >

> > You guys may recall how freaked out I was over Christmas that nada had a new

cell phone number and had surreptitiously got some invasive texts through to me

before I could address the situation. How is she getting through? It is SO

invasive and not good!! There is a voicemail too and I am scared even to delete

it in case some of her voice accidentally comes through--especially in the night

when I am trying to sleep.

> >

> > This is so awful!! What is going on here????

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Oh no, that's so not cool that her call got through. I would be calling

AT & T ASAP to find out what the deal is with that. Especially if you've paid

money to have a number blocked. (I honestly don't know how that works having

never done it myself).

I like 's idea of sending yourself a test voice mail (or two... or 5

lol) to see how the things work, or even if there is a delete all message

option. Who knows.

But no, you do not have to put up with that =( I'm not sure how much you

paid for this blocking service... but if it's not working properly, demand a

refund. Or, have your number changed (I know, that's seriously inconvenient

though.)

Good luck, you so don't need that crap right now or ever.

Mia

[Guest guest]

Oh Holly, that sounds fabulous! I wonder if I can do that on my phone?

It's Verizon... and it's my dad's family plan so if it costs money

forget it. He & step mom are very kind to pay the $20 a month for my

line. Don't want to run up their bill.

Mia

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 8:59 AM, Holly Byers

wrote:

> I have to ask DH about how to go about setting it up, but here's an idea:

> You can change your number and then get Google Voice set up on your phone

> (it's free), which allows you to set up a second phone number. Google Voice

> lets you block people for free. Give everybody you trust your real number,

> and give the people you don't trust the Google Voice number. It goes to your

> same phone. So...anytime you're signing up for something that requires a

> phone number, and that source is potentially spammy, write down the Google

> Voice number. This " spam " could include all your flying monkey relatives and

> nada.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I bet you can--what kind of phone do you have? I'll bug DH about

instructions later and feasability and send it to you privately if indeed it

can work on your kind of phone. Google Voice is free far as I know, but I

can confirm that & let you know.

I have a Verizon Droid which I LOVE.

>

>

> Oh Holly, that sounds fabulous! I wonder if I can do that on my phone?

> It's Verizon... and it's my dad's family plan so if it costs money

> forget it. He & step mom are very kind to pay the $20 a month for my

> line. Don't want to run up their bill.

>

> Mia

>

> On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 8:59 AM, Holly Byers

> wrote:

> > I have to ask DH about how to go about setting it up, but here's an idea:

> > You can change your number and then get Google Voice set up on your phone

> > (it's free), which allows you to set up a second phone number. Google

> Voice

> > lets you block people for free. Give everybody you trust your real

> number,

> > and give the people you don't trust the Google Voice number. It goes to

> your

> > same phone. So...anytime you're signing up for something that requires a

> > phone number, and that source is potentially spammy, write down the

> Google

> > Voice number. This " spam " could include all your flying monkey relatives

> and

> > nada.

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I just checked it out Holly & got a number, but I have no idea how to

call using that number on my phone. There's an app, but you have to

have an iPhone or Android. I have a verizon samsung Reality (model

SCH-U820) that I don't think I can use the app on... I'm confused LOL.

I usually only use my phone for calling & texting. It didn't even

come with free games, so I did a search for free apps for my phone...

there are NONE! The only ones I can find are ones I have to buy from

Verizon. Bleh.

I'm going to keep investigating. I like the idea of a " throw away "

phone number to give to people I don't know very well (from school &

stuff). But if they call & leave a message... I'm not sure how I can

call them back without them getting my real phone number.

If you want to ask your DH about it that'd be cool. But I'm going to

keep digging. Been watching videos from Google Voice too, but it's not

answering that specific question (yet)

Mia

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 4:13 PM, Holly Byers

wrote:

> I bet you can--what kind of phone do you have? I'll bug DH about

> instructions later and feasability and send it to you privately if indeed it

> can work on your kind of phone. Google Voice is free far as I know, but I

> can confirm that & let you know.

>

> I have a Verizon Droid which I LOVE.

[Guest guest]

Wait... I think I finally found it...

" By calling your own Google number

When you call your own Google number and sign into the Google

voicemail system, you’ll have the option to place a call. Just press 2

and enter the number. "

I get it now, lol. Now time to play with it a bit.

Mia

> I just checked it out Holly & got a number, but I have no idea how to

> call using that number on my phone.  There's an app, but you have to

> have an iPhone or Android.  I have a verizon samsung Reality (model

> SCH-U820) that I don't think I can use the app on... I'm confused LOL.

>  I usually only use my phone for calling & texting.  It didn't even

> come with free games, so I did a search for free apps for my phone...

> there are NONE!  The only ones I can find are ones I have to buy from

> Verizon.  Bleh.

>

> I'm going to keep investigating.  I like the idea of a " throw away "

> phone number to give to people I don't know very well (from school &

> stuff). But if they call & leave a message... I'm not sure how I can

> call them back without them getting my real phone number.

>

> If you want to ask your DH about it that'd be cool.  But I'm going to

> keep digging. Been watching videos from Google Voice too, but it's not

> answering that specific question (yet)

>

> Mia

>

> On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 4:13 PM, Holly Byers

> wrote:

>> I bet you can--what kind of phone do you have? I'll bug DH about

>> instructions later and feasability and send it to you privately if indeed it

>> can work on your kind of phone. Google Voice is free far as I know, but I

>> can confirm that & let you know.

>>

>> I have a Verizon Droid which I LOVE.

>

[Guest guest]

What a relief...yeah nadas and technology not a fun combination. The most

devastating advance in communication for me though still is unlimited long

distance. My FOO being cheap on long distance was the one thing that limited

communication strongly in the good old days. Now other boundaries and limiters

have to come into play. Much sympathy to you about the texting - that would

make me insane.

> > >

> > > Dear WTO,

> > >

> > > I'm just having a little bout of insomnia, and I woke to see that nada had

called me on her cell past 11 pm. I have specifically paid (a LOT) to BLOCK

nada's cell number on AT & T 'smart phone'. I tried to look up my service just

now and AT & T's online access is unavailable--the system is temporarily down, it

says.

> > >

> > > You guys may recall how freaked out I was over Christmas that nada had a

new cell phone number and had surreptitiously got some invasive texts through to

me before I could address the situation. How is she getting through? It is SO

invasive and not good!! There is a voicemail too and I am scared even to delete

it in case some of her voice accidentally comes through--especially in the night

when I am trying to sleep.

> > >

> > > This is so awful!! What is going on here????

> > >

> >

>