'withheld' Nuisance Phone Calls

[wiltsman]

I do voluntary work for Age Concern, and taking calls from the elderly is a large part of my day.

This afternoon, and until a few minutes ago, I've had about ten withheld nuisance phone calls. calls, some only five minutes apart. All were completely silent, apart from one where I could hear office activity.

As 'International' is displayed on my telephone when an overseas call comes through, does this mean that when 'Withheld' is displayed, it's a UK call? But, if that's the case, then doesn't mean that the law is being broken, because I joined up with The Telephone Preference Service?

[boxtops]

No, anyone can withhold their telephone number, by dialling 141 before dialling the phone number.

[wiltsman]

That's what I'm getting at Boxtops. So getting nuisance calls that are displayed as 'Withheld', then someone, or rather some company, is completely ignoring the wishes of people who have signed up to the Telephone Preference Service. I'm obliged to take these calls, as it could be one of my 'customers'.

[woofgang]

if they are in the UK they are breaking the law. If you can be bothered, then answer the call, get their details and report them to the TPS.

[dzug2]

I'm not sure you can draw that much conclusion from caller display about the origin of the call - the originator can configure it to show pretty much anything - and different phones can interpret it differently anyway.

I have two phones that have caller display which quite often differ about a particular call.

It could even have been one of your confused clients.......

Or you may be right - a rogue sales outfit

[Prudie]

I think 'international' will only be displayed on your phone if the phone recognises that it's an international number - if it's number withheld it could be UK or abroad.

[TheWinner]

We are registered with TPS.
We still get a lot of calls from withheld numbers.
If you answer and are very friendly to them and ask who they are, they might tell you. You then tell them you are registered with the TPS and you are going to report them, and they will hang up faster than you could ever imagine. If a caller shows up as international, don't even answer.

[Gizmonster]

Your network provider will prob offer a "call barring" service, for a small monthly fee ..... and believe me, it's well worth it!!
Also, people who's numbers are automatically witheld, can still phone you - all they need to do is dial 1470 (not 1471 or 141) before they dial your number and it will "release" their number, i.e. it will not be witheld. Anyone trying to phone us, whilst witholding their number, gets the following message, "sorry your call has not been accepted - anonymous call barring is in operation".