DEAR SUN SPOTS: I called the Do Not Call list at 888-382-1222 and asked them to not call us. They still do. Sometimes it’s three times a day.

If we press the number to talk to them, they hang up before we even finish a sentence.

Now we get calls that say “Hello, senior.” We tried to tell them we were on the “no call list” but can’t finish the sentence. They hang up. This has to stop! — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Unfortunately, the Do Not Call list is not foolproof. Charities and politicians are exempted, as is anyone you’ve done business with recently. And some callers just ignore it.

Another problem is that calls may not even originate in the United States. The “robocalls” are made by a computer, which can be anywhere in the world.

The Federal Trade Commission regulates this issue and is working hard, but their officials are up against it. Making these calls is incredibly inexpensive, while catching and shutting down the perpetrators takes lots of time and money.

Sun Spots is sorry to tell you that the calls are not only unlikely to go away, but get worse, as the callers develop new tricks (see the next letter). Also, as the fall election draws near, you will start getting calls from political campaigns. 

Telemarketing calls are the most frequent complaints Sun Spots gets. She got so sick of the calls she just got rid of her landline (cellphones are exempt from telemarketing, thanks to the fact that incoming calls may cost the person being called).

With a landline, your best bet is when you answer the phone and there’s no one there (it takes a few seconds for a real person to respond because your number is dialed automatically by a computer) to just hang up. Don’t talk to them; it can actually make the situation worse because you are shown as responding.

You can get caller ID and just ignore calls from numbers you don’t recognize, but that’s not foolproof (again, see next letter).

An unlisted or new number might help — at least for a while. But never give it out to businesses that might sell your number to others.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Because of all the phone calls from credit card companies, I now have caller ID. Recently my phone rang and I checked the number before answering. It was local, because the first three numbers were the same as mine.

When I said hello, I was greeted with “this is a very important message concerning your credit card.” I immediately hung up. Since then, I continue to get calls the same way.

I called the operator for FairPoint. She said they are aware of this new trick that credit card companies are doing. Even your own number could show up on your caller ID.

Those are the ones that FairPoint is trying to correct. So, if this trend continues, who should be notified? — No Name via email

ANSWER: This new trick is really sneaky. The same thing happens with email. The evil-doers use your own email address to send spam or viruses to the friends and family in your addressbook.

Mr. Sun Spots just recently mentioned the false number scam to Sun Spots and how difficult it is to combat. No one has a solution, but calling FairPoint is a good start. You can also report these calls and any others to the Federal Trade Commission by calling 877-FTC-HELP or online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Could you or someone at the Sun Journal print a list so people would know what district they live in? Thanks for all you do. — No Name via email

ANSWER: The list is a bit long for this column, but Sun Spots will share your suggestion with the editors for upcoming elections. Meanwhile, you can find your senator and representative and all relevant voting information by entering your address in the appropriate fields at www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_voter_info or by calling your town office.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for printing my letter about bus trips this morning (June 24). I am getting many calls, including one at 5:45 a.m.

However, there are three errors. The Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island trip is Aug. 10 to 15 instead of Aug. 27. The Winery Tour & Owls Head Lighthouse trip is Aug. 27, and the White Mountain hotel Christmas tour is Nov. 19 to 21 instead of 9-21. — Claire Bilodeau, Lewiston

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to [email protected].