Children calling constantly?

[Bob NC]

I'm beginning to think the only thing to do is get another phone number and guard who its given out to. That creates major confusion with people trying to get ahold of us, we can't put a recording in with the new number, for obvious reasons.

Getting another phone number should not be a big deal to your husbands customers. Sheesh, it happens all the time. Get the new number, email ALL your husbands clients, then CALL all the clients he handles regularly. It will give him a good excuse to talk to them, and your customers WILL change your contact info as soon as they get notice.

No big deal, really. Don't overthink this one.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

ME AGAIN,

I work for a phone company and if the feature is added to your line you'll have the ability to disable it for your calls that you do not want to be interrupted on. With our company if you press *70 before your call, it will turn off call waiting until you hang up (you can also do it durning the call). If you want to PM your phone company's name, I'll see if I can help with it.

op already mentioned she can disable call waiting for outgoing calls but can't for incoming calls. her dh has even had to call clients back just so he can disable the call waiting.

 

[ardig123]

As somebody mentioned above make it very clear to the child calling that your child will not take calls on the "home" line... when a child calls your house let them know that this is your new "business" line and that personal calls will no longer be conducted on this line... I bet what is happening is that these kids are calling and getting to talk to your children through this "home" line...once they realize that they will NEVER get to talk to your child on this number they will stop calling the home/business line and start calling the cell!! Maybe you could leave some sort of message on the voicemail saying all personal calls for your kids must be made through cell phones? Be consistent and make sure your kids only use their cell phones... while you may not want to punish them for incoming calls you can control whether or not they take the calls and whether or not they make outgoing calls.

 

[disykat]

I grew up in the household of a small town doctor in a time before call waiting, beepers, cell phones, etc. and had a strict 3 minute phone rule - the egg timer was next to the phone. If we talked too long chances were that the operator would come on or the police would show up at the door. If those things happened, not only were we embarrassed, we were in trouble!

I agree - in this case, your kids have their own phone. NEVER let them receive a call on the land line. If it doesn't work, they'll stop.


In my opinion, if you have told them to stop and they keep calling you are being harassed. These kids are not the kind of friends your children need.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I don't understand your reluctance to make your children responsible for their friends behavior?

I would be very clear that this is not acceptable and if it continues, they will be grounded. You would be amazed at how quickly things can change when it becomes detrimental to your kids to allow it to continue.

In addition, I would log the number and times of calls from the little darlings and share it with their parents. If they can see the full ramification of the harrassment, the parents may feel differently.

Are your kids ever allowed to take calls on the land line? Especially from the major offenders? If so, there is no consequence to anyone to NOT make these calls.

 

[seashoreCM]

I do not think you should punish your kids (except as stated below) for what their friends do.

After you notify those kids' parents, the problem belongs to those parents too.

YOu can do the folowing:

1. Inform your kids that unless those friends cooperate, your kids will not be allowed to mingle with those friends,

2. Inform the parents of those friends that the calls will be treated as ordinary crank calls, that repeated unwanted calling is harassment and that the matter will be referred to the telephone company and law enforcement.

3. You can restrict how much time your kids spend on the phone and with whom even if it is their own cell phones.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Ok, I have to ask: has your daughter washed her hair yet?

 

[Tikicampers]

Just curious if your kids are calling their friends on the land line at times or if they always use their cellphones. If they are calling from the land line, that number will show up on caller id, and the kids may just be redialing from that. I do it all the time, and once my mom called from a different phone at work (I didn't notice), and I hit call back, and got the breakroom.
It wouldn't excuse the calling over and over, but might explain why they are trying that number in the first place.
I agree, I would tell the kids that if their friends do not respect the family's rules, they will not be allowed to come over.

 

[MichelleVW]

why would you get another phone line??? Just tell the kids not to call on that line...not sure why this is so hard???

 

[rigs32]

You should not have to bear the cost or inconvienience of any phone line changes. You've asked the kids to stop calling, they won't. You asked their parents for help, they refuse to see a problem. It's time to take serious action. What the child is doing is HARASSMENT. You can call the police and ask them to pay a nice visit to the child's house and inform the parents of what can happen if the kid won't stop. Me thinks mom won't take it so lightly then. I'm not saying you absolutely have to press charges, but you do have an option.

 

[my3disneygirls]

The next time the child calls I would speak to the child a little more harshly. If you have spoken to the child already and to the parents than I think that would be the next step. Be very to the point.

Do not call this number more than 1 time. You are interrupting my business. If we do not answer, leave a message.

ITA! I have a 14 year old and when I have spoken plainly to those who have become pests I have gotten results. They have either listened to me and called during regular hours, or were too scared to call back again. Either way I find out, who likes my daughter and respects my rules.

 

[my3disneygirls]

I really think the most effective way out of this mess is to get a second line for dh to use for business, both personal and job-related, then guard that number carefully. A cell phone would not be as practical, because we have unlimited long distance with our carrier (time-warner cable). I think I'll just get another whole new line and number, notify people we want to maintain contact with of the new number, and gradually phase out the old line.

Oh, I agree the kids are partly responsible for this mess (they were told not to give out that number), but regardless of how much we get on their case to stop their friends annoying phone habits it will still continue, perhaps slow down, but continue. Right now I'm more interested in a solution to this problem rather than consequences for the kids, etc. We just need a phone we can use!

I agree that getting a second phone line would be an effective way, but it is also an easy way out. If you can't stand up to your children or their friends than why even bother. The easy way is not always the best way and I think that as parents we should build a sense of character not entitlement.

 

[Mickeyorbust]

OMG, I had this sort of problem with this boy that "liked" my daughter. She was 12 at the time and wasn't, still isn't, allowed to have a boyfriend. I don't know how he got our home phone number, but it got so bad that one day he called 72 times. I finally had to ground her. That worked. She got mad at him and after a couple days he quit calling. My advice is ground them, but warn them ahead of time, if they're friends call more than once they will be grounded. Sounds harsh but if my friends were to call me like that at work, I'd be fired.

 

[jetprincess]

Either that or get a second line, then phase our new number over to the contacts we want to keep, then shut down the first line, maybe a month or two of transition, use the second line for business calls, be very careful who we give that number out to!

I think this sounds like your best bet!!

 

[MichelleVW]

I agree that getting a second phone line would be an effective way, but it is also an easy way out. If you can't stand up to your children or their friends than why even bother. The easy way is not always the best way and I think that as parents we should build a sense of character not entitlement.

Agreed....it's crazy to get a second phone line because of kids calling!! Just be an adult and tell them not to call!!!

 

[my3disneygirls]

Agreed....it's crazy to get a second phone line because of kids calling!! Just be an adult and tell them not to call!!!

My oldest has a cell. My middle one will be getting one next month. This for my benefit. I feel better knowing I can contact them and vice versa. If my child wants a second phone line, she better get a job, because the only way she will get one is if she pays for it.

 

[rigs32]

I don't know how he got our home phone number, but it got so bad that one day he called 72 times. I finally had to ground her. That worked. She got mad at him and after a couple days he quit calling. My advice is ground them, but warn them ahead of time, if they're friends call more than once they will be grounded. Sounds harsh but if my friends were to call me like that at work, I'd be fired.

Was she glad he was calling? It sounds like he was just bothering her. It doesn't seem fair to punish her for something completely out of her control. If she wanted him to call, and wouldn't tell him to stop, then I can see the reasoning.

 

[ninjaspandasbananas]

Talk to the friends AND your kids.

 

[CastleCreations]

Can you get another cell phone for you husband to use for business? You would still have the regular landline as a backup until his customers all got the new number.

I have a teenager and we do not have a landline. I have my cell and he has his. I LOVE not having a landline.

I was going to say the same thing. If you got another land line, it would only be a matter of time, before you had the same problem. I would get your DH his own cell, phase the business calls to his cell number, and disconnect the house phone when you feel it's a good time.

 

[happy_redhead]

hey me again....you vhoffman by chance?