Chicago Senior Fights to Keep 56-Year-Old Landline Amid Spam Call Barrage

New state legislation could provide relief for residents like Joseph Turrise plagued by unwanted robocalls.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An 82-year-old Chicago man named Joseph Turrise is struggling to keep his landline phone that he's had for 56 years, as it has been inundated with hundreds of unwanted spam calls every month. Turrise has reached out to various authorities for help, but has not found a solution. Illinois state Sen. Elgie R. Sims is now working to pass new legislation that would restrict the use of automatic dialers to contact Illinois residents without their consent.

Why it matters

Turrise's situation highlights the growing problem of robocalls and spam calls that are negatively impacting the quality of life for many seniors and other residents who rely on their landline phones. The proposed state legislation aims to provide relief and protect consumers from fraudulent and unwanted calls.

The details

Turrise said his phone has been ringing constantly with hundreds of different spam call numbers each month, making his beloved 56-year-old landline virtually unusable. He has tried blocking numbers, contacting authorities, and even reaching out to AT&T's president, but has not found a solution. Meanwhile, state Sen. Sims is working to pass a new law that would prohibit companies from using automatic dialers to contact Illinois residents on their cell phones or landlines without prior consent.

  • In the first three weeks of February, Turrise received a total of 552 spam calls.
  • Last year, Sen. Sims introduced legislation to restrict robocalls, but it did not pass before the end of the legislative session.
  • Sen. Sims is now having discussions with colleagues to bring the legislation back and get it passed.

The players

Joseph Turrise

An 82-year-old Chicago resident who has had the same landline phone number for 56 years, but is now being inundated with hundreds of unwanted spam calls each month.

Elgie R. Sims

An Illinois state senator who is working to pass new legislation that would restrict the use of automatic dialers to contact Illinois residents without their consent.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If you bought a doorbell and put the doorbell on and it began ringing all by itself, how many times would a doorbell have to ring before you disconnected it and threw it out in the middle of the street?”

— Joseph Turrise (CBS News Chicago)

“Fifty billion of these robocalls go out every year, you know, with a 2% success rate. That exposes them to fraud, and certainly impacts their daily enjoyment of their lives.”

— Elgie R. Sims, Illinois State Senator (CBS News Chicago)

What’s next

Sen. Sims is having discussions with colleagues in the Senate and House to bring the legislation restricting robocalls back and get it passed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of unwanted robocalls and spam calls that are negatively impacting the lives of seniors and other residents who rely on their landline phones. The proposed state legislation aims to provide relief and protect consumers from fraudulent and intrusive calls.