On 11 Mar 2014, Higgs Boson wrote in
alt.home.repair:

Hah another one like me! On advice of my Congressman's office, I
also kept a list. Just threw it away the other day.

I started my list because I was curious if I could detect any patterns
in the calls. Also to see what numbers, if any, recurred so I could
block them. I do find a few numbers that can be blocked, but the
majority of them occur only once so blocking isn't effective.

The calls I get a LOT these days are less from telemarketers than
from locals: contractors, plumbers, handymen -- all related to
house repairs. I try to be polite, but sometimes they don't get
the message to take me off their lists. I know they're trying to
make a buck, but at the same time they're invading my privacy. I
must get more determined about not answering unknowns.

It goes in waves, but lately almost all the calls I get are about
'lowering my credit rate', 'medical alert systems', 'Children's Cancer
Recovery', and solar panels. They all display far-away area codes. I
occasionally get local calls from someone trying to sell me chimney
sweep services (though I have no fireplace). There's one call I kept
getting which seemed to be from a real local plumbing company with a
real number, but when I researched it it appears that the company is
actually out of business, so someone else must have appropriated their
number. I've never actually answered their call to see what it is
they're selling. That number is now blocked, anyway.