Saturday, February 1, 2014

When You Need A Reverse Phone Number Lookup For Free

By Jayne Rutledge


Before caller ID and cell phones (and, for a little while in the 90s, the short lived *69, of REM song fame), if you missed a call there was no way to figure out who called you. Now, you can see the number, but often not the name. This is a case where you might want to use a reverse phone number lookup for free, to figure out who the unidentified caller might be.

You may not be able to get all of the details about the caller. Many of these services will tell you the region from which they were calling, and whether it is a business or a residence. However, you may have to pay extra for further information, such as the name of the person or business that is calling.

Sometimes, the site will include a message board where other users post info such as the name associated with a number. If that is not the case, and you do not want to sign up and pay for further information, you can simply google the number. Often, this will bring up entries on Yelp or Yahoo or other sites that might give you the info you need.

This kind of info is helpful in several different situations. For example:

1. Debt collectors. These people can be relentless about calling you. They try to trick you, because as soon as you answer the phone and admit that you owe the debt, it resets the clock on the statute of limitations, meaning that the debt stays on your record for a longer period. Usually the caller is not even the company with which you originally incurred the debt, but a scavenger company that has purchased it.

2. The shady locksmith. This is a weird thing, but more common than you might think. Some "locksmiths" (who often do not have a physical location established for their business, so they are almost untraceable) will advertise emergency services. They take advantage of the blurry thinking that results from stress in these situations. They pick your locks, or just break them, and then claim that you own them five times the going rate for this service. If you refuse to pay the exorbitant amount, they may call and hound you for days.

3. A former girlfriend or boyfriend. This person is not longer saved in your contacts. When they call, you have a hunch it might be them, but you don't know for sure. You don't want to answer without knowing, because you don't want an awkward, flustered conversation. If you can figure out for sure it your ex calling, you can either prepare in advance or avoid the call altogether.

All of these are situations in which you might make use of a reverse phone number lookup for free. As soon as you know who is calling you, you can decide whether to answer, to ignore the calls, or to block the person from calling altogether. Remember, harassment is illegal, even over the phone.




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