What do you do about supplying your phone number when entering sweeps?

[vieprivee]

I recently had to change my phone number due to an enormous number of disturbing phone calls(caller ID did not work nor did call block). NOW that we have an unlisted number I really do not want to enter my new phone number on all the sweeps that require it.

Does anyone have a solution to this dilemma? Do I remember someone once mentioning a free service where you can pick up messages or was that just in my dreams?


ANY suggestions would greatly help!

ONCE AGAIN, THANKS!!!

[Pipanella]

This won't help you, but we have two phone lines. The second line is for internet only, so I use that number for filling in forms. If anyone calls that, they'll only get a busy signal!

[vieprivee]

We had the same set-up two years ago but then we dropped the second phone line and got a cable modem. Where we live now, a cable modem is cheaper than a second phone line and subscribing to a dial-up ISP.

Anyone else have some pearls of wisdom to impart?

[geepie1961]

I don't know if my advice would be considered pearls of wisdom but I use my cell phone number. I have caller ID on it and if I don't recognize the number, I don't answer it.

[Pipanella]

Originally posted by vieprivee
We had the same set-up two years ago but then we dropped the second phone line and got a cable modem. Where we live now, a cable modem is cheaper than a second phone line and subscribing to a dial-up ISP.

Anyone else have some pearls of wisdom to impart?

Our dial-up is $16.95 a month, and the extra phone line is $17 a month. But, even if cable cost more than that, I'd have it in a minute, if I only COULD. No cable available here. I'm so jealous!!!!!!!

[vieprivee]

As far as the cell phone is concerned, if and when you win a prize(something to which I HOPE to grow accustomed to) and nobody answers the phone, what happens? Do you win anyway? I wonder if they leave voicemail messages for you if you are a prize winner or if they just draw another name?

I have caller ID on my cell but do not keep it on very often. Each time I retrieve a voice mail message it counts as a minute of my time, but that really doesn't matter I guess, even though I have very limited daytime minutes and only use the phone for emergencies during the day.... I am just thinking out load as to whether or not I want to give out my cell phone number or not...just am not sure....Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

There has got to be some solution to this dilemma!!!





PS

Pipanella, when I lived back east I paid $16.95 for my dial-up and $10 for the second line. Here the second line is $30 plus about $250 for installation and the dial-up connection is at the least $17.95 a month. I pay $41.95 a month for the cable modem but my company has just sold out to another company and it does not seem to be an easy transition at all....LOTS of problems and it will be going on for the next 40 days or so. SO NOTHING is easy!

[geepie1961]

I haven't been that lucky yet to have that happen (a phone call win). Good question, I don't know if they would leave a message or not. I guess that issue could also arise if you are not home during the day and they call and get your answering machine, would they leave a message or try calling you again. I have 300 daytime minutes a month and 3200 night and weekend minutes for my cell phone so fortunately for me that's not an issue. As for checking your messages I do that from my home or work phone so it doesn't count against my minutes. Now you are making me rethink my strategy.

[Corganiacs]

I just recently used my mobile for daytime phone number cuz i would be online and they cannot call me if i win.
if they just want phone, no specs, then i give out my home phone number.

our number is unlisted, but i have given it out on the internet to so many sweepstakes that it might as well be listed in the phone book.

[vieprivee]

I still don't have a clue as to what I should do...BUT I THANK YOU ALL for your ideas!!

[bradedit]

I have SPRINT for my home telephone and I have something called Privacy Guard, what this does is if a number comes up Private or Unknown or anything but the name, the person either has to give their name or telephone number, my phone rings and I answer it and I hear their name and according to what I want I can either answer it, send it to my voice mail, or for a telemarketer it plays a recorded message telling them to take me off the list!

It cost me $4.95 a month but in my husbands profession it helps us to keep patients from calling our home. I usually put my number on the forms but this helps me not talk to people I don't want to

[Dangergirl]

Hi! Not sure if this is a help or not. I think there is a company called onebox or something like that that will give you a telephone/fax number for free. When people call you, it goes into a voicemail box, which is then emailed to you. Maybe if you do not feel comfortable giving your home phone number out, you could try this.

[vieprivee]

Privacy Guard sounds GREAT! Wish I could get something like THAT!!!

And, Dangergirl, I DO THINK this was the service I was talking about, but I CAN'T locate it!

Anyone know the URL?


THANKS AGAIN!!

[Dangergirl]

It is onebox.com

[Bones899]

I do recall a few sweeps where the rules said you would be called at home for notification and they would NOT leave a message. They would call back like twice or something and if they didn't get ahold of you, you were out of luck. Just thought I'd say that.

[ted_d_bear]

Well, not sure what they would do if they couldn't get hold of you, but I give out my phone number. I did get a call for a $500.00 prize from paintideas.com and am very glad I didn't miss that one