AT&T Has Too Much of My Info?

[Xairbusdriver]

I've been going the rest of the way to crazy the past few weeks. I have only been getting (hearing) phone calls (rings) on my iPhone 13 from my wife, everyone else goes directly to VoiceMail.

Today I finally bit the interweb bullet and found 431 hits on "Phone rings directly to VoiceMail". I made sure the settings on the following were 'correct'.

• Silence Unknown Callers — OFF
• Do Not Disturb (Focus) — OFF
• Allow Calls From — Everyone
• Allowed People — 6, now 1 (Wife)
• Wifi Calling — OFF
• Announce Calls — Always
• Sound (Mute button) — ON
• Airplane Mode — OFF
• Reboot Phone — Done
• Reset — Erase All Content and Settings
• Software Update — Done
• Clear Blocked Numbers — Not at this time!
• Call AT & T — after taking meds!

I did not want to delete all the Blocked Numbers, even though most are computer generated and will never likely call again. I am already upset that several hundred numbers were not carried over to this newer iPhone.

My conversation with "Joey" was quite friendly and I am now on her "Satisfied Customer" list! I think that counteracts at least 10 of the "Very Unhappy Customer" lists I'm on. The call was also very interesting. I was given a choice of how many rings I wanted before calls would br sent to VoiceMail. I remember setting this value for our land line many decades ago. However, I don't remember ever setting a value for either my or my wife's iPhone. I know she has a setting, I (joke) that I can never get her to answer because she can see it's (only) me calling! I have no idea how or were that setting might be on the phone. Frankly, I don't think there is actually a way to set that value on your iPhone other brands, maybe.

The number of rings settings can easily be set by the carrier! All you have to do is ask! Apparently, the default, for who can imagine why, is zero! I asked "Joey" to change it to three. It is actually now four, but close for disturbing noises and nuclear bombs, as long as I can actually hear them!

Before hanging up, "Joey" went over the settings AT & T "has". She said that they originally had "Allow Unknown Callers" set to zero and that this would automatically send callers to VoiceMail. That was a bit confusing as I could (do) not understand how AT & T would know whether or not I "knew" a caller. Then she quickly added that they would now change that to three (four?!) and that I could set my "Silence Unknown Callers" to ON/OFF as desired.

So, does my carrier really know who I "know" or who are "unknown"? I agree the "known" list is minuscule compared to all possible numbers, but how long would they actually keep everyone's list? Seems they would need storage capacity bordering on infinity or at least more memory than Mr. Gates thought! I know I see CSI/Law & Order/etc. using phone records but you can't believe much on most commercial networks...

I guess I can live with this "unknown unknown" as long as I'm on at least one the "Satisfied Customer" list!

[kimmer]

Wow. That is a bit on the creepy side. I've also been having probs with phone calls (and texts) not coming through from "allowed" people. I've yet to figure it out. For me, it all started when I bought my new iMac and suddenly found that settings on my iMac were controlling my iPhone and iPad. Still trying to work it all out, but I make it a point to pick up my iPhone several times at night (while I'm awake, obviously) to check for texts/calls from family. It's really frustrating.

Hope you now have AT&T up to date on who you do, and don't, know.

[Larry]

I use whatsapp and mainly message people, and they me, and calls are normally booked. All whatsapp chats are muted. When I do get a call I hear the phone and its announced. I do not get any cold calls, because of privacy settings. I suggest you listen to how to deal with Cold Calls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=empegWyElYY&ab_channel=CojonesTV  Keith is a friend of mine and made a series and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHCkdv-d7yY&ab_channel=CojonesTV

[Xairbusdriver]

Uhmmm... You allow Google to monitor your conversations? "Muted", of course, means Google would never record, scan, use, add to their database, right? Of course not, they are in business just to serve us for free, no strings attached. After all, their motto is to "Do No Harm".

If they don't use Caller ID, I simply don't answer. Sorry, I'll simply let them ring and let them talk to my voice mail, assuming they get past my Blocked Callers list or the one AT & T maintains.

Nor do I have time to "play" with them. Putting them on hold doesn't free either them or me from wasting time, and mine is more important.

Simply by answering them, you mark your number not only as valid but as someone who will actually answer a non-caller ID call. Makes your number extra lucrative.

[Larry]

Are you suggesting that you are not being monitored?

[Xairbusdriver]

Of course not. Only that I limit it as best I can. One way is to avoid Google as much as possible. No FaceMag nor TwitFace. Email works fine, VPN helps a bit. I am not in the “we can’t control who takes our personal info for profit” camp.