DEAR SUN SPOTS: You have helped many people and you do a great job.  I don’t know if anything can be done to solve my frustration, but I hope I can get some answers.  A couple of years ago, I wrote to you asking how to get on the “Do Not Call” list and you gave me a number to call.  However, when I called it, they told me I had been on the list since 2009 and was still on it.

I still receive many telemarketer calls, but today I have just about lost it. I am almost 90 years old and I do not sleep well at night so I tend to doze often during the day. The calls wake me up from a sound sleep. One time I jumped up to answer a call and fell, only to find it was a telemarketer. It was very scary. Today, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., I have received almost 20 calls! I can’t check the caller ID before I answer as I can’t see it without my reading glasses which I can only wear when I am reading. I cannot continue with days like this. What can I do?  I feel like I’m going crazy.  Many of the calls come from someone with a foreign accent that I can’t understand. — Margaret, Wilton

ANSWER: This situation is terrible and it makes me so angry that your peace and quiet are being disturbed in this manner. Unfortunately, the Do-not-call List is designed to only stop telemarketers calling from real companies. I suspect many of the calls you are getting are robocalls from scammers and spoofers.

Have you reported this issue to your phone company? They should have call-blocking tools that can help you. There is a description of these tools, including a call-blocking device here; https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-stop-unwanted-calls-landline

Some of these services are free and some require a small monthly fee.

Here are other suggestions: Would you be comfortable unplugging your phone while you’re resting? Do you have an answering machine or voice mail so any important messages could be left and you could turn down the volume on your phone so it doesn’t disturb you? Do you have a close friend or relative who could help you navigate your phone system or fill out an online complaint form, if needed?

If you believe you are the victim of scam or spoof calls and aren’t getting help from your phone carrier, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.  Go to ftc.gov/complaint and fill out the form or use the chat box. Choose the category “Just an Annoying Call” then use the streamlined form to report an unwanted call like an illegal robocall and answer the questions that could help the FTC solve your issue. You can choose how much information you want to give.

Lastly, the best thing to do is to not answer the phone if you don’t recognize the number. I can’t say this enough. If it’s important the caller will leave a message. If you answer by mistake, hang up. Do not press a number or say, “Yes.”

I hope this information helps you all and eases your concerns.

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