OT: How to find a $#%&* phone number?!?

[BumbleBeeDave]

Now more than ever, I realize there's one thing in the world of which there will NEVER EVER be a shortage, and that's people trying to find ways to make you pay for something that used to be free.

I needed to find a home phone number this morning for somebody locally. But the phone companies no longer provide phone books with home phones in them. So I go online--and every single $%#^&* search just leads to sites that want to SELL me all of this guy's contact info for $1 or a whole year of "unlimited searches" for $39.95.

Is this a customer service that is now extinct--to just look up a $#%&* phone number without paying?!? . . .

Rant over, but suggestions appreciated (besides heavy drinking) . . .

BBD

[Peter P.]

You sure it's a published number?

I had a similar problem; my mother wanted me to send a Christmas card on her behalf to a relative.

I used whitepages.com and came to the same grief you did. Somehow, by navigating the related results, I was able to produce the info I needed, including phone number.

Try the link I've provided below. Scroll down to Phone and E-Mail Information. Perhaps one or more of the links will lead you to the number you need.

http://home.comcast.net/~irasterb/

I do agree however, that the old phone book seemed to be more comprehensive and reliable than on-line resources. My area in CT still delivers both white and yellow pages.

[rePhil]

They want money to keep our name & number out of our phone book, even though we quit the phone company and went with comcast.

[jamesau]

I have the free white and yellow pages app on my iPhone and it works as you'd hope it would.
Feel free to pm me the name/zip and I'll reply with result.

[echelon_john]

infospace.com

people search

free

easy

carry on

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by BumbleBeeDave

Now more than ever, I realize there's one thing in the world of which there will NEVER EVER be a shortage, and that's people trying to find ways to make you pay for something that used to be free.

I needed to find a home phone number this morning for somebody locally. But the phone companies no longer provide phone books with home phones in them. So I go online--and every single $%#^&* search just leads to sites that want to SELL me all of this guy's contact info for $1 or a whole year of "unlimited searches" for $39.95.

Is this a customer service that is now extinct--to just look up a $#%&* phone number without paying?!? . . .

Rant over, but suggestions appreciated (besides heavy drinking) . . .

BBD

can't ya dial 1-411 still?

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . and that seems to do it reliably for free-but it looks like only for land lines. It reliably finds the guy I was looking for and my own address and land line, but for my girlfriend fins her address and land line she hasn't have for the past 3 years.

But it's certainly better than nothing! I'm on Verizon and their site has a lookup page--which doesn't work.

The Internet makes everything easier . . . what BS . . .

BBD

[jlwdm]

Don't see the problem. Seems like lots of ways to find on the internet.

I just tried someone as a test by using whitepages.com. Worked.

Not that I would ever have a home phone again.

Jeff

[BumbleBeeDave]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

Don't see the problem. Seems like lots of ways to find on the internet.

I just tried someone as a test by using whitepages.com. Worked.

Not that I would ever have a home phone again.

Jeff

If you did this with whitepages.com I'd certainly like to know how.

I just tried it and after going through 3 screens, several ads, and a Netflix pop-up it took me to peoplefinder.com which wanted to chard me to get his phonenumber or $14.95 for a "monthly membership" . . .

http://www.peoplefinders.com/checkou...pe=people-name

Every place I found required me to enter a name AND street address. Same with Google.

I don't know his exact address. I just know what town he is in. Anywho got me the number with just that info and no pop-ups or ads.

BBD

[akelman]

Originally Posted by BumbleBeeDave

The Internet makes everything easier . . . what BS . . .

With a lawn so vast, Dave, it's going to get harder and harder to keep people off it.

[Dekonick]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

Don't see the problem. Seems like lots of ways to find on the internet.

I just tried someone as a test by using whitepages.com. Worked.

Not that I would ever have a home phone again.

Jeff

Why not? You really should have an alarm system that is tied into a phone line. Not necessarily for theft (but it is a deterrent) but for fire protection. You can also still keep just ONE phone number... don't give out the home line, keep it unpublished - use your cell as your only phone. Get a Google phone number and use that as your only number - it allows you to have that line ring on any other lines you tell it to. I like having the ability to leave my cell on charge, and be able to pick up the phone calls on my land line.

Anyway, it might seem expensive to pay a monitoring fee, but it is cheap when you consider the potential cost. I will not own a homme that does not have an alarm system that has integrated smoke and CO alarms.

[BumbleBeeDave]

Originally Posted by akelman

With a lawn so vast, Dave, it's going to get harder and harder to keep people off it.

I guess the only BS part is claims that it makes everything easier to find. Just frsutrating at times--horribly so--to know the info is out there but not know the secret to finding what seems like it should be simple to find!

BBD

[deechee]

Move to Canada, we still have printed white pages and yellow pages, and our online directories are free. There's always your public library as well, I know mine has copies of white pages from across the country, come to think I think they have the US as well.

[martinrjensen]

411 info is not free.

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

can't ya dial 1-411 still?

[BumbleBeeDave]

Originally Posted by martinrjensen

411 info is not free.

With live people, I mean. Or even with computer you can talk to . . . I haven't used it in so long that I honestly didn't think of it until OldPotatoe mentioned it.

BBD