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I'm not sure if every telephone service provider offers this service, but Verizon offers a "Do Not Disturb" option for about $3 per month.
HOW IT WORKS: When it's activated, all callers will hear a pre-recorded message telling them that you don't want to be disturbed, or that you're not accepting calls. At any time during or after the message the caller can enter the digits to your passcode PIN and cause your phone to ring.
Without knowing the PIN, the caller is either disconnected or transferred to your voicemail. Your choice.
The service can be turned on or off at will. Or you can schedule it to come on at a certain time of the day and to turn itself off automatically.
You can pre-program the service with 15 numbers that will automatically ring-through without having to enter the PIN bypass code.
I CAN'T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH FOR THIS GREAT FEATURE!! I now have CONTROL over my telephone again!!!!
Those who need to reach me, know my PIN. Those who don't have my PIN may leave a message.
Telemarketers have NEVER bothered to leave a message. Most telemarketers are auto-dialed anyway... so I'm guessing that the auto-dial computer rarely connects a live operator to my number.
-- Allen
P.S. Verizon also has a different service where all calls that Caller ID sees as "unknown" or "private" are diverted to a pre-recorded message that requires them to speak their name so that it can be recorded and played back to the phone customer.
When the customer hears the message, they can choose to accept the call or they can press a number to play one of several messages to the caller... such as: "the person you are calling does not accept sales calls. Please put this number on your do-not-call list." or "the person you are calling does not want to be disturbed right now", etc.
It's a shame that we have to pay more for total control of our phone... but for me it's worth it.
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