Back when I was a child, “pay per call” 1-900 numbers were advertised heavily. The gist was that they would bill you at $1.50 a minute for a novelty phone call.
Do these exist anymore? How easy would it be to “get” 1-900 numbers for home and cell that give me money every time someone calls me?
I’m guessing that if I succeeded in doing this, some telemarketing calls will go away, and the rest will pay me.
Has anyone done this?
http://www.ehow.com/how_1000710_get-900-number.html
I think 900 numbers are regulated by the FCC, so you should also look into that.
A 900 number is like an 800 number. It’s an alternate number which rings the same line as the primary number. You can’t have a naked 900 number without a regular number behind it.
So first you get a regular local number e.g. (202) 123-4567. And you pay $20 or whatever per month for that. Then you get a 900 number (900) 123-4567 which is “pointed to” the (202) 123-4567 number. And you pay $50 / mo for that.
So now whenever somebody dials (202) 123-4567 your phone rings & you get $0.
And whenever somebody dials (900) 123-4567 your phone rings & you get $1.00 of the $1.50 which the 900provider will stick on the caller’s bill. But you’ll get the $1.00 about 2 months later after the caller pays the bill. If he disputes the charge, you get zero, and maybe pay a penalty from the 900 provider.
Oddly enough, telemarketers are smart enough to choose Door #1 every time.