ULPT use a throwaway number when stores demand your phone to sign up

[-]

Specific_Piccolo9528@reddit

I just tell them no and they don’t push it.

[-]

Altruistic_Mirror_96@reddit

I still have a landline number. It’s not plugged in but I use for the bullshit stuff.

[-]

My-Internet-Name@reddit

I usually say “no thank you.” You’d be surprised how many times stores will ask for your phone number, but it is not required for anything other than marketing/data collection.

[-]

KyleSherzenberg@reddit

Why'd I have to scroll so far for a sane person?

[-]

P0Rt1ng4Duty@reddit

867-5309 works in almost every area code because a lot of people use it as their fake rewards number.

[-]

Mink03@reddit

I use it when grocery shopping when traveling. I get to use the member savings, and that person earns the points.

[-]

FrostyFerret202@reddit (OP)

I have never heard of it, I have an app Cloaked that has them, it has temp mails too (usually use them for news sign ups when they block the page and don't let you view without an email).

[-]

AustinBike@reddit

If you are dealing with an older cashier say eight sixty seven fifty three zero nine or they’ll get wise

[-]

I recently typed this in at a large chain grocery store in the Midwest and the lady asked for my name. She wouldn’t let me use the rewards account without matching the name and number since there were so many accounts. I said my name is John, thinking let’s be generic as possible. Then she asked for a last name. Long story short it no longer works at that chain depending on the cashier and store policy 😤

[-]

Sutar_Mekeg@reddit

Correct answer was "Jenny".

[-]

Gilbert_AZ@reddit

Just use self checkout?

[-]

ixnayhombre@reddit

That store didn’t have any

[-]

P0Rt1ng4Duty@reddit

It's probably cashier dependent at that store. That one sounds like kind of a jerk. I always say ''it's the one on the top'' before they have a chance to ask.

[-]

i_suckatjavascript@reddit

Hey look, Jenny’s number have 6 7 in it

[-]

Mayutshayut@reddit

The grocery store and pharmacy chain that’s local to my area discontinued those numbers last year.

[-]

Mysterious-Outcome37@reddit

Why did this number get popular though?

[-]

gooeyjello@reddit

This question has me feeling old.

[-]

Mysterious-Outcome37@reddit

🤣

[-]

Hey-Just-Saying@reddit

867-5309/Jenny is a famous song groom 1981 by Tommy Tutone.

https://youtu.be/6WTdTwcmxyo?si=TBFyzgKl4PQo0K4U

[-]

Mysterious-Outcome37@reddit

OMG, that's so bad - thanks! 😆

[-]

seancailleach@reddit

A rock song about calling Jenny, the chorus is the phone number.

[-]

Mysterious-Outcome37@reddit

Well now I gotta look that up, thanks! 😆

[-]

RaVashaan@reddit

Surprisingly, 555-1212 isn't blocked very often either. Or 555-XXXX for that matter, as any 555 number will just go to the operator.

[-]

seeingeyefrog@reddit

Yes my name is Jenny. Do you have a problem with that?

[-]

RogueThneed@reddit

A frog named Jenny? Inconceivable!

[-]

BeefyIrishman@reddit

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

[-]

mikemojc@reddit

thanks for something to hold on to....

[-]

7148675309@reddit

Stop using my phone number LOL

(No it isn’t my phone number)

[-]

P0Rt1ng4Duty@reddit

Username checks out.

[-]

luckymountain@reddit

Came here to say this!!

[-]

SeanFrank@reddit

I use this number at Sprouts Market. You get $2 off after spending $100.

About 20% of the time, I get to redeem the $2.

[-]

phathomthis@reddit

I'm in Houston, so I use 281-330-8004.
Yes, my name is Mike. Who? Mike Jones.

[-]

P0Rt1ng4Duty@reddit

I had to google it. Good one!

[-]

motorik@reddit

I've done this for years, hasn't failed once.

[-]

HalfaYooper@reddit

I totally use that number when I travel and take the rewards points too!

[-]

I578855@reddit

Dealing with this right now.

Signed up for a medical appointment. They asked for my email. I said I dont have one. They said ok, no problem.

Then they said "would you like text message reminders about your upcoming appointment?"

I said no. I have it written down. I will be there i dont need reminders. I will be there on time.

That was 2 days ago. They sent me 4 text reminders. From 3 different numbers.

Thats a 1 star review.

[-]

orTodd@reddit

Then, when you get there on time, the doctor is 45 minutes late.

[-]

HyperactivePandah@reddit

And, even though they have all of your records, information, and insurance information, they still make you fillout the mini medical history by hand.

I get needing a signed release form and/or emergency contact, but you know wtf I have.

I guess it's also a 'In case something has changed, or we need to know something....'

See, now I've talked myself out of being upset about it... They're just trying to make sure they have all the info. Fuckers.

[-]

Treetop0806@reddit

At a new dentist I filled it all out by hand, made an appt in person (I forced myself to go in person since it’s easier for me to call) and days before my appt I get a text to fill out some needed info, was the stuff I wrote on the paper form.

I didn’t do it cause why do I need to again

[-]

Pristine-Ad-469@reddit

Tbf I bet there are plenty of people like you that think they don’t need reminders but still don’t show up.

It costs them time and money to send those reminders and I promise it’s not just for fun or to annoy you. It’s because they think rational people wouldn’t be that upset by a couple texts and it saves them hundreds by avoiding missed appointments

[-]

MyPierogitive@reddit

A reminder isn’t bad, and for me, it’s appreciated. My chiropractor send a text and email when the appointment is booked, a week before, three days before, and 2-3 texts the day of, though, and they’ve said there’s no way to reduce the number of reminders their system sends out. That system also notifies me if the doctor leaves a message in the portal or if they need to reschedule, so completely opting out is not ideal, either. Seems like some happy medium could be made. 🙂

[-]

IAmTheLizardQueen666@reddit

What if your doctor needs to call you about your test results?

[-]

L_viathan@reddit

I use a pizza joints phone number. Thanks Pizza Pizza.

[-]

Katz-Sheldon-PDE@reddit

I use the phone number of someone that I don’t like primarily. I consider this a more unethical hack.

[-]

MET1@reddit

Unethical, yes, but satisfying.

[-]

Reemixt@reddit

Your phone probably allows multiple e-SIMs. I have a free prepaid number on mine in addition to my actual line. I just turn the line fully off after the verification.

[-]

p00n-slayer-69@reddit

How is that different than just making up a random number?

[-]

Reemixt@reddit

Because I can actually receive the verification messages.

[-]

p00n-slayer-69@reddit

How do you recieve verification on a line thats turned off?

Do you turn it on every time you sign up for something with it, then turn it off? Also, i dont know of any prepaid plans that have no monthly fees or activity requirements of some sort.

[-]

Reemixt@reddit

Just turn it on. I turn it off generally because that’s where the spam calls come from, save my personal line for real people.

[-]

JudgeCastle@reddit

This is great. Curiously, what do you need to do to keep the prepaid number? Is there an expiration clause if you’re not using it?

[-]

Reemixt@reddit

No. It’s well over a year old and I have never put any credit on the account. Still works.

[-]

RogueThneed@reddit

But what about the people who are getting your spam calls?

[-]

OnlyPaperListens@reddit

They're using a throwaway, not saying a random number. There are services that offer this: Quackr, FreePhone, Burner, etc.

[-]

RogueThneed@reddit

Thank you! I hadn't caught that detail.

[-]

iH8MotherTeresa@reddit

Outta sight, outta mind.

[-]

bigguy1045@reddit

This can work, but just don’t go crying to the stores employees when you want to redeem your rewards and you have no access

[-]

Dasrule@reddit

Sign up for a Google talk number.

[-]

azuth89@reddit

I am someone's throwaway number. Been getting calls for some woman I've never met on and off for like 20 years.

[-]

Interesting-Blood354@reddit

Be extremely abusive and/or disgusting. The number is tied to her details, including her name, right? Get her trespassed from stores etc

[-]

Variabell556@reddit

"Your honor, I was not me when I made those threats, in that moment I was her"

[-]

azuth89@reddit

I'm not putting more bullshit in the world, man. Plenty of that already.

[-]

Interesting-Blood354@reddit

Hahahah fair enough. A less nasty way would be anyone who reaches out, tell them to close the account immediately and delete all of your information.

That way the actual person loses all of their rewards or whatever they might gain if they tried to reuse that

[-]

azuth89@reddit

Early on it was mostly dudes trying to get a date after meeting her somewhere.

Later it was billing type stuff.

Not really rewards stuff.

I just tell em straight how long I've had the number and how often folks are looking for her.

I don't hear from the same one twice.

[-]

Interesting-Blood354@reddit

Yeah after the 5th I’d be saying she has herpes, you’re a better man than I

[-]

azuth89@reddit

Lol I was 15 when I got it. I feel like calling the girl from the club and getting some kid is bad enough.

[-]

Loose_Employment_935@reddit

Use the number for ads for prostitutes give it to Jehovah’s Witnesses sign her up for insurance quotes solar panels anything you can think of.

[-]

new2bay@reddit

That woman has been using their phone number. They don’t have the woman’s number.

[-]

cardboard-kansio@reddit

I'm fairly sure it will show up when they call. Unless they've specifically requested a private number from their telco provider and set the corresponding privacy settings on their device, which it doesn't sound like this lady is tech savvy enough to do.

[-]

azuth89@reddit

Other people call me looking for her.

I don't have her actual number and apparently neither do any of them.

[-]

Interesting-Blood354@reddit

They don’t have the lady’s number boss, the lady is giving out this dude’s number to stores n such, couldn’t be clearer

[-]

The_zen_viking@reddit

You can sign up with email using"yourealemail+reddit@whstevermail.com"

All emails sent using that will have a "reddit" tag so I know who sold my email.

Also means I can make a rule "all emails with tag reddit > move to spam"

[-]

Wander3476@reddit

Wait. How is this "unethical"?

[-]

GustavoSwift@reddit

Every store app knows I was born on 4/20 69'

[-]

Travelingbunny20@reddit

4/20 was Hitler’s birthday. Yikes

[-]

SpoonFed_1@reddit

I know you.

[-]

SuitableExercise7096@reddit

Nice

[-]

x_lincoln_x@reddit

If you use their app on your phone, no point trying to give a throwaway number because their data mining will give them your real number.

[-]

_muck_@reddit

I use my landline that’s been gone for at least 10 years

[-]

tm8183874@reddit

Came here to say this.

[-]

kanakamaoli@reddit

I give the store their own number back. Bonus points if it's a large chain store and you give them a different branch.

[-]

EitherChannel4874@reddit

Give them the number of the last company that asked for your number. Rinse and repeat.

[-]

schwelvis@reddit

You can generally use Jenny...

XXX.867.5309 where the xxx is your local area code.

Same with the number for information...

XXX.555.1212

An added bonus is that if you pay attention to the receipt you can still occasionally get the free or discounted item offered to members based on the amount of people who utilize these numbers.

[-]

RaVashaan@reddit

For that matter, XXX-555-XXXX numbers all redirect to the operator, so if XXX-555-1212 comes up as "taken," just plug in another random 4-digits and try again.

[-]

7148675309@reddit

I remember at work 20 years and being bored and trying that in all SoCal areas codes and none worked.

[-]

Heavenly_Spike_Man@reddit

I’ve been giving out fake phone numbers and social security numbers for years now with zero repercussions.

There is no reason on Earth your doctor or dentist needs your SSN. It’s wild people just scribble that down in pencil and it sits in some unguarded file cabinet forever

[-]

SpoonFed_1@reddit

man, please stop doing that.

Giving someone else's social security number as your own could be a federal charge.

Ask an attorney about this.

[-]

Heavenly_Spike_Man@reddit

Dyslexia is not a crime

Call the whaaaambulance ?

[-]

sillywiddleguy@reddit

If you are in the US many offices need it for insurance purposes. There’s usually other ways to look someone up but if they don’t know their ID # this is one of the best ways. At the end of the day you do have a right to deny giving them the info!

[-]

brothertuck@reddit

Get a Google Volce number just in case you need to reply

[-]

exintrovert@reddit

I got a Google voice number when we started our business. We planned on getting an official business line, but in the beginning we needed something immediate. Happiest accident I’ve ever had.

Our business entails getting a DOT number. If you get a DOT number, your business will immediately start getting spam from brokers trying to match truck drivers with loads. I cannot get it to stop. We are a propane company and don’t deal in freight.

Thankfully, now our customer-facing phone number is different from our DOT registration, and all the text messages and voice mails saying “do you need any load?” don’t ring. Yay!

So for anybody who is about to register with DOT, use a throwaway number.

[-]

False_Mushroom_8962@reddit

I use my old landline. We got rid of it because debt collectors called for Renee day and night.

[-]

poisonivy8765@reddit

Back in the day we used to have a landline. It was live but the phone itself didn't work and we never used it. Whenever we needed to provide a phone number that wasn't our cell numbers, we would use that one. Unfortunately, gave up that line years ago.

[-]

Zlatcore@reddit

I typically say I need to check it and look up the store phone number and give them that.

[-]

FjordExplorer@reddit

(Your area code)867-5309 works at most stores with phone related discounts.

[-]

ChiefWetBlanket@reddit

I use an internal AT&T exchange number for all my stuff. Easy to remember and only AT&T endpoints actually have the number. Area code 214, exchange 495.

[-]

No_Control8389@reddit

Area code - 1234567 works most places too…

[-]

crash866@reddit

1234567 does not work on many systems. No phone number starts with a 1 in North America.

I use Jenny’s number. 867-5309.

[-]

BigMikeInAustin@reddit

At one store, the guy typed in all the way to the 6 and then stopped. He said that if I didn’t want to give a phone number I didn’t have to. I said he should have told me that in the beginning.

[-]

ferdelance008@reddit

A) not unethical

B) 1995 called they want their advice back

[-]

SuitableExercise7096@reddit

Use 281-330-8004 at any walgreens or CVS for an instant discount. Say your name is Mike if they ask.

[-]

ImperfectTapestry@reddit

I did this & the fake number ended up on my credit report

[-]

djtmalta00@reddit

The thing is that these stores need to send you a verification code via text message so if you enter a fake number it won’t work and your registration with the store will not work. I know this because I’ve tried I luring a fake number for a few stores already.

[-]

meowwaza@reddit

I use the spam texts numbers that I get for things like this.

[-]

kkbobomb@reddit

For decades I’ve used a number that’s one off from my number. “Okay and you’re Jennifer?” Yup. Poor Jennifer.

[-]

imrunninglate0hno@reddit

Lol for almost 10 years someone named Amanda has been doing this to me. I have no idea how many appointments her parents, kids, even her cat have missed because she still puts mine down.

Once I even got a call from a bail bondsman. He was really ticked when he finally understood what was happening.

[-]

Over_Cake9611@reddit

I have a person that screwed me out of $600. I could have taken him to court but it was too much work for that little money. So I use his phone number and email on all those. It’s my way of saying thanks @$$hole.

[-]

Loose_Employment_935@reddit

Take out escort ads in major cities imply you sell drugs too..

[-]

dwyrm@reddit

I give them the phone number for my local FBI office.

[-]

Loose_Employment_935@reddit

Some guy used my number, I pretended to be him and sent over realtors got his address and messaged him from an app. It was something like I know where you live I know where your kids go to school and I’m pretty sure I know where your wife works. Stop using my phone number, if I get any texts and can’t use my number for accounts at Home Depot Lowe’s etc we’re going to have problems.

The annoying calls and texts got worse. I used his phone number and took out ads for escorts in major cities signed him up for Jehovah’s Witness, roof sales quotes, solar panel installation, insurance quotes, then I got drunk and spent 8 hours giving out and posting his number anywhere I could.

A few weeks later I used a service that anonymously ships shit to their front door.

Next time I went to Home Depot I added my number to my own account and have had far fewer problems.

I’ve had this number since 1996 not changing it for that asshole.

[-]