Best way to handle harrassing phone calls? UPDATE

[thebigkahuna]

Just an FYI, some phones allow you to turn the phone off or place it on silent and the alarm will still sound. I work nights and people love to call me when I'm sleeping during the day. I put the phone on silent and wake to the alarm without missing an ounce of sleep.

Good luck.

this.

my phone can be set to silent with the exception of the alarm for specific hours.

It feels like an air horn/ whistle would engage more action instead of stopping it. Prank phone calls (made by bullies / mean girls) are only fun because there is a "reaction" (and an air horn or whistle seems like it would be "encouragement" for future calls - now they have to "get you back" -) - if there is no reaction (no one answers) then the calls cease to be amusing to the mean girl and she turns her attention elsewhere.

If the calls continue or increase, then yes, blocking mean girls number or changing your number would probably be a good idea. And if by accident this happens again, I would have her yell (not INTO the phone, but so the mean girl can hear it) MOOOOM!! CALL THE COPS! MEAN GIRL IS CALLING ME AGAIN


That being said --- I *NEVER* answer restricted numbers. And I wouldn't let my kids answer numbers they don't know. Caller ID is your friend. LOL There is a reason phones hold over 2000 numbers.
(and yes, I know she was sleepy / sleeping, but I also know kids can be awake in a milisecond for phone calls and or texts.)

Good luck! I hope it was a one time thing & that it doesn't happen again!

 

[agnes!]

this.

my phone can be set to silent with the exception of the alarm for specific hours.

It feels like an air horn/ whistle would engage more action instead of stopping it. Prank phone calls (made by bullies / mean girls) are only fun because there is a "reaction" (and an air horn or whistle seems like it would be "encouragement" for future calls - now they have to "get you back" -) - if there is no reaction (no one answers) then the calls cease to be amusing to the mean girl and she turns her attention elsewhere.

If the calls continue or increase, then yes, blocking mean girls number or changing your number would probably be a good idea. And if by accident this happens again, I would have her yell (not INTO the phone, but so the mean girl can hear it) MOOOOM!! CALL THE COPS! MEAN GIRL IS CALLING ME AGAIN ...

I LOVE this, might not be effective, but I LOVE it.

agnes!

 

[Disney Doll]

I actually did the police whistle into the phone years ago when I was getting harassing phone calls. Dad was a cop so I had a REAL police whistle and if you have ever taken a deep breath and blown into one ashard as you can...let me tell you, you can blow someone's eardrums out of the other side of their head!

It worked. The calls stopped.

If I wanted to scare the kid a bit, I might also try picking up the phone, not talking to the caller and just saying "Yes, officer, this is the number we'd like traced so we can press charges" and then hang up.

 

[Mellie2162]

Well she called back again on Friday night at 1:30 am but this time I answered the phone. I didn't say a word, just listened so I could hear the voice good. After about 1-2 minutes of just listening to her babbling and calling out my daughter's name I recognized the voice and knew exactly who the girl was. After the silence she hung up and immediately called back. I again answered, but this time I said "thank you for calling back, I wasn't sure who you were but I now Im positive and Ill be calling your mom tomorrow to discuss this." She hung up and immediately called right back. I answered again but was silent again. She started in immediately " yo "susie's mother" "yo what do you mean" So I said I know who you are and Im calling your mom tomorrow and by the way thanks for staying on the line so long the first time and giving the police time to trace your number. She hung up immediately and hasnt called back since. I think we've heard the last of her.

 

[HonnyDipp]

buy an alarm clock and change her number!

I just read your updated post OP. KUDOS Mama, you handled that perfectly! Are you gonna call the mom?

 

[Mellie2162]

buy an alarm clock and change her number!

I just read your updated post OP. KUDOS Mama, you handled that perfectly! Are you gonna call the mom?

Yeah, Im just trying to figure out when because she works nights (which would explain why shes up so late making phone calls) and I dont know what time she gets off and when her sleep schedule is.

 

[PixieTopaz]

Well she called back again on Friday night at 1:30 am but this time I answered the phone. I didn't say a word, just listened so I could hear the voice good. After about 1-2 minutes of just listening to her babbling and calling out my daughter's name I recognized the voice and knew exactly who the girl was. After the silence she hung up and immediately called back. I again answered, but this time I said "thank you for calling back, I wasn't sure who you were but I now Im positive and Ill be calling your mom tomorrow to discuss this." She hung up and immediately called right back. I answered again but was silent again. She started in immediately " yo "susie's mother" "yo what do you mean" So I said I know who you are and Im calling your mom tomorrow and by the way thanks for staying on the line so long the first time and giving the police time to trace your number. She hung up immediately and hasnt called back since. I think we've heard the last of her.

Good work Mom

 

[Mic_n_Min]

Well she called back again on Friday night at 1:30 am but this time I answered the phone. I didn't say a word, just listened so I could hear the voice good. After about 1-2 minutes of just listening to her babbling and calling out my daughter's name I recognized the voice and knew exactly who the girl was. After the silence she hung up and immediately called back. I again answered, but this time I said "thank you for calling back, I wasn't sure who you were but I now Im positive and Ill be calling your mom tomorrow to discuss this." She hung up and immediately called right back. I answered again but was silent again. She started in immediately " yo "susie's mother" "yo what do you mean" So I said I know who you are and Im calling your mom tomorrow and by the way thanks for staying on the line so long the first time and giving the police time to trace your number. She hung up immediately and hasnt called back since. I think we've heard the last of her.

Good job Mom! Hopefully this has scared her enough to quit the phone calls. I hope you follow through and talk with her mother. She needs to know you were serious or it will continue.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Well she called back again on Friday night at 1:30 am but this time I answered the phone. I didn't say a word, just listened so I could hear the voice good. After about 1-2 minutes of just listening to her babbling and calling out my daughter's name I recognized the voice and knew exactly who the girl was. After the silence she hung up and immediately called back. I again answered, but this time I said "thank you for calling back, I wasn't sure who you were but I now Im positive and Ill be calling your mom tomorrow to discuss this." She hung up and immediately called right back. I answered again but was silent again. She started in immediately " yo "susie's mother" "yo what do you mean" So I said I know who you are and Im calling your mom tomorrow and by the way thanks for staying on the line so long the first time and giving the police time to trace your number. She hung up immediately and hasnt called back since. I think we've heard the last of her.

Good for you!! Hahaha... she got scared! All that crap talk.. now she ain't got nottin' to say..

 

[Robinrs]

1) Don't answer calls from restricted numbers
2) Get an alarm clock
3) Stay out of teenage drama

That.

Why is it necessary to answer every call? Don't answer restricted numbers and delete the voicemail that comes behind it.

The caller sounds like she's 5... no, 5 yo have more sense than teenagers! Believe me, I live with one.

It doesn't matter who it was, it matters how it's reacted to. They want a rise out of her and don't allow her to give it to them. This kind of drama is consistent, it HAPPENS. We just have to give our kids the ammunition to survive it and to NEVER lower themselves to that level

Like I tell my kid, there's always one in ever crowd, straight thru to the nursing home.