when I answered this call, only dead air. then in a few minutes a click or two as though call was being transferred, Shortly after the last clicking sound a dial tone was heard. so I hung up

I answered, noone was there, so I called back, and it is now a disconnected Verizon number when I call it.

After dozens upon dozens of futile complaints to the FCC, FTC, and Texas PUC who are supposed to enforce the state and federal "Do Not Call" lists, I got nowhere.  I have an unlisted home phone, asked Verizon for help, got none.  I even asked the police to monitor my phone for a month to catch these a**holes, and they wouldn't.  I got so frustrated I stopped using my answering machine, just turned it off and refused to answer any calls I didn't recognize.  I got robo calls every single day and one day got 10 in 8 minutes!  I finally found a solution and after only three calls have cut down on the activity significantly.  I went to youtube and looked for "Disconnected Phone Message".  I recorded this message as my answering machine message and notified family and friends as such.  Now these illegal telemarketers think the phone is disconnected!  Hasta la vista jerks!

NEVER give any credit info to these unsoliticed callers. Your card would be maxed out and/or your bank account emptied.  Too bad you responded. Now you are going to get scam *sales* calls non stop.

South Texas Teacher:

The JP was incorrect. Since they are making calls to a Texas resident while the resident is in Texas, they are subject to a lawsuit under Texas law.

Also, you don't need their permission to record a call, as long as you are recording in Texas. for future reference.

Had the same things happen with a debt collector trying to collect from my deceased mother-in-law. They kept calling and calling, and refused to quit. I did some checking and the guy to speak to is T. Dean Malone in Dallas. Super nice guy on the phone, ruthless bstrd when going after collectors.

I recorded calls, and he shut down two of them for me that kept calling for my late M-I-L, and I got more from them in settlements than Louise had ever owed them.