Non-recorded apartment phone shop issues

One of this week's targeted phone/in person apartment shops is throwing me for a loop!

The phone call is not recorded, so per guidelines I am blocking my number using *67. However, after I left a voice mail from my target the call was returned by another agent (who informed me my target was out sick). He also said that he could tell I had made multiple calls, but their phone system blocks any calls that have a blocked number. Those calls DO go through to the voice mail system.

I contacted the MSC early in the afternoon yesterday asking for guidance but so far I've received nothing. Suggestions, please.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

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Time to wait for explicit instructions from your scheduler. If you do not hear back by tomorrow AM send another email, with SECOND REQUEST in the subject line.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Thanks. I eventually heard back from the scheduler telling me I could phone without blocking my number. To make it look less obvious I figure I can alternate between my land line, cell phone, and Google Voice numbers.

The ironic part is that the scheduler was telling me that since this shop was past due I needed to hurry up and get it done :-)

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/2019 06:43PM by KathyG.

The fact that you used *67 but your number still showed is concerning...I was under the assumption that the only time this would happen is if you tried to block your number but called a toll free number, in which case your number would show anyway. Were you calling a toll free number? Anyone have any other scenarios where your number shows even when using *67?

Nope, xenshopper,
There is technology that has become widespread in the last few years that breaches the "shield" of 867. We have been hearing about it at shopper conferences for, maybe, 4 years or more.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I just tried calling myself using the *67 and it shows 'restricted.' Businesses may be able to get around this....

Yes, and apartment management companies and new home builders are using that extensively. Also, I recently got a call back from a new assisted living facility that I had called using *67 and had left no phone number. The MSC was stunned and the client rep was also.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/2019 07:47PM by walesmaven.

Wales - I hope you use a separate phone# like google voice/hangouts for all your msc calls ? I never use my home# or main cell#.

Back when I had a landline, I received an obscene phone call at 4:30 a.m. I did *69 to get the number of the caller, but it was blocked. However, when I received my phone bill a few weeks later, the number was listed on my phone bill, even though it had been blocked. I called and told his parents.

@xenshopper wrote:

The fact that you used *67 but your number still showed is concerning...I was under the assumption that the only time this would happen is if you tried to block your number but called a toll free number, in which case your number would show anyway. Were you calling a toll free number? Anyone have any other scenarios where your number shows even when using *67?

Wow, I usually use google for phone shops, but occasionally will use my landline or cell if google is giving me grief. Time to take my landline and cell out of that equation. Thanks for the info, walesmaven!

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Non-recorded apartment phone shop issues

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