DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thanks for providing information (Oct. 8th Sun Spots) about the FTC National Do Not Call Registry, however it will not stop all unwanted calls. As indicated on the FTC website www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0108-national-do-not-call-registry, “The Do Not Call Registry prohibits sales calls only so you still may receive political charitable debt collection and informational calls, as well as telephone survey calls. In addition, companies may still call if you’ve recently done business with them or if you’ve given written permission to call you. However, if you ask a company not to call you again, it must honor your request. Record the date of your request.”
There is also a website, www.nomorobo.com, where you can register your landline phone for free that will stop most robocalls that you still get after registering with the FTC. If a robocaller dials your number, your phone will ring once and Nomorobo will intercept the call. I’ve been using this service for several years and find it to be very effective. Occasionally a call will come through where a phone number has been spoofed to look like a local caller on the caller ID. You can identify most of those calls because they don’t usually have a name associated with the number.
A mobile application for your cell phone is available for $1.99 per month, but there is no cost to register a regular landline phone.
— Ron, Lewiston
ANSWER: Thank you so much for all this information, Ron. It’s terrific! Our reader had just written about telemarketing calls but this covers everything. My 85-year-old mother has used this site to register her number and you are right, the phone only rings once and then the robocall is cut off. Readers, if you don’t have access to a computer and the internet, ask someone to help you. It will give you peace of mind. Another reader adds the following on this subject:
DEAR SUN SPOTS: An absolutely fast, easy way to block robocalls is to use Nomorobo. This intercepts robocalls and stops them. Your phone may ring once, but after that the call is intercepted and stopped. People can find information about Nomorobo on the internet at Nomorobo.com. Many people in this area have their phone service through Spectrum/Time Warner and the Spectrum website also has directions on how to start Nomorobo. The process starts right away; there is no waiting for 30 days. I, and my friends who use Nomorobo, highly recommend it.
— No name, no town
DEAR SUN SPOTS: Please provide me with some names of businesses that take in old donated clothing items and then reuse them at their shops as cleaning rags. I live in western Maine and have been looking for such a business that will meet this need.
— Rebecca, Rumford
ANSWER: I know that Goodwill Industries makes reusable wipes/cleaning cloths that are used for commercial businesses, car washing, renovation projects, window cleaning and more They are available in all Goodwill stores in 1-pound bags and also sold in 25- and 50-pound boxes.
Also, did you know that denim apparel can be recycled into home insulation? For more information, go to bluejeansgogreen.org.
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