We'll be talking about two different methods to find out exactly who is on the other end of the phone line and we'll discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each.

The first option is to use a trace provided by your telephone company and the other is to use an online reverse phone directory.

The Phone Company

After receiving a harassing phone call, you can hang up the phone, then pick it back up (make sure there is a dial tone), then dial *57 (the code may vary by area and provider, so if it doesn't work, then do a web search for the code applicable to your phone service).

This will perform a trace on the last phone call that you received. You will have to follow some instructions as relayed by an operator or automated system, but you will receive the number that just called you.

Be aware, though, that this service usually costs about five dollars each time you use it.

If the harassing calls are all coming from the same number, you can report that number to your phone company or to the police. You'll notice that you only receive the phone number that is harassing you, not the name of the person.

Also, some phone companies won't take any action until you perform multiple traces on the same number. An online database, however, addresses both of these concerns.

The Online Database

Okay, before we start, you're going to need to know the phone number of the person calling you. Whether you get it through caller ID, *69, or the trace mentioned above depends on your individual situation.

Once you have the number, go to a reverse phone lookup site - and resist the temptation to try the cheapest option - use one for which you pay a fee. The data you receive will be up to date, and extensive. On the main page there is a search box. Enter the number and hit search.

Of course you will need to pay for this good quality service, but you'll find that its worth every cent - we'll get back to the cost in a moment.

The phone number is then matched against the site's extensive records database, which is made up of hundreds of millions of individual records. Once the search is completed, you will receive the name of the person who owns that phone line, the person's address, address history, and other information.

The exact details you receive depend on the available records, but if the search doesn't turn up what you're looking for, with recommended companies you can get a full refund of the cost of the search.

When you pay for the search, when you receive the data you requested: When you compare the price of a search with the best of these reputable companies (or pay a yearly subscription if have multiple sources of harassment) with the total separate traces that you will need to run to get the telephone company to act - there will be little difference.

And you will identify the annoying caller - whereas through the phone company all you get is a number.

The choice is yours, but I think the answer is obvious.