Cold Callers

[daffy654]

I'm sick to death of cold callers today, I have had 7 phone calls all purporting to be from debt solution companies. They were all from Indian sounding people with unlikely names (Sarah, Paul, Rachael are the 3 I remember).
How do I stop these people calling (already registered with tps)?

[craft1948]

I have caller ID so don't bother answering if it shows as International, Number Withheld etc.................

[yelenots]

I had them knocking on the door today- needless to say I didnt answer!

[giveup]

How I agree with you. They drive me mad as well but they seem to get through whatever you do. I also get loads of call from Europlas, at least 1 a day,surely by now they know I dont want their !!!!! windows( Expletive deleted). The other ones that annoy me are the ones that call you by your Christian name.

[missnemesis]

I'd also like to be able to put a top to them daffy. All of a sudden I seem to be inundated with 0845 numbers who all want to speak to the 'property owner'. This only started a couple of weeks ago but it's 3,4,5 times a day at the moment. I am ex directory and very rarely give out my phone number so I have no idea what's going on or how the h311 they have my number.

Hope it gets sorted for you soon daffy.

[DEN53]

I keep getting pestered by voice activated calls - as soon as you say 'hello' its an automated caller saying either 'hello are you in debt blah blah blah' or similar calls - they are really getting on my t!ts.....not sure how to stop them.

[venator]

Register for the Telephone Preference Service.

http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/

This makes it an offence to call you unless you have given permission.
Cold callers go away very quickly if you say that you are registered with TPS and they are committing an offence. They also promise to take your number off their database if asked.

I'v had this for 18 months, and we seem to get far fewer calls these days.

[Davethedog]

Daffy I had this I just started dropping the phone on them - exceedingly rude I know but I think some sort of note gets put on the list. It stops, just don't engage in conversation.

[quizbag]

I had a new phone number about 6 weeks ago and since then I have had no cold calls at all. Before then I was getting on average 5 a day some being very offensive when I declined to talk and they then finished the call with a string of four letter words. I now only put my mobile number on forms that ask for a contact number as I rarely switch that on anyway.

[venator]

I also have "number withheld" calls blocked - I have to be careful when asking people to call me back, but they can usually get me on mobile. Perhaps I've missed calls from the Inland Revenue - how sad!

[daffy654]

Thanks for the answers everyone. It is getting to the point where I don't want to answer my hone any more. I thought being registered with TPS made it illegal for these people to call me? I registered as soon as I got this number but have always had these calls (just not as many in one day).
The last call I got I told him I wasn't interested and to never call this number again before I hung up on him. I don't like to be impolite on the phone but they are taking the p**s today!

[daffy654]

*phone*

[Old_Geezer]

If you don't recognise the CLI either don't answer, or answer and drop the receiver back down again, or leave the receiver on the table.

I don't think there is much control available for overseas calls. Maybe if you went ex-directory with a new number you may get a period of respite ?

[Zeuhl]

TPS probably won't have much effect on overseas agencies.

Are you ex directory?
Be careful who you give your number to
If you have a front door you must accept people can knock on it - iIf you have a phone you must accept people can call it - suggest you put in a call filtering system as suggested above if it bothers you.
.

[DEN53]

i have a 'number withheld' blocker on my phone, but it doesn't seem to stop the voice activated calls. I think they get round it now with 'callers number not known'.

[moonraker558]

I was pestered once on the phone from a company selling solar panels so I went along with everything they said and made an appointment for a rep to do a site visit. When he arrived over an hour late I asked him how far he had to come from his last appointment, he said it was about 90 miles to which I replied "Oh good because I have no intention of buying your product I just wanted to waste your time like your sales team do to us on the phone, Have a nice day" and shut the door on him. His face was a picture. I have never heard from them since. Revenge is sweet.

[venator]

Daffy - a lot of these cold callers buy lists of 'phone numbers and personal information form businesses to whom you have given details.

I have seen such a database which had been bought for over £1000.

If you got a new number and never gave it out, perhaps that might work.

[WELSHYORKIE]

I tell them to 'hang on I have something on the stove, I won't be a second' and leave them hanging on. My son has a very loud whistle which he blows down the phone!

[WuTang]

Just say - O,hello,yes, im afraid,we are only renting this property.Magically,
you hear a click,and the connection is gone.Works every time,for me.

[daffy654]

I'm already ex-directory and my number is known to very few people. I have no idea if these people just call a list of sequential numbers and mine happens to be one on the current list, it seems that way.

We do get a heck of a lot of wrong numbers (debt collectors) always asking for the same woman so I assume this was her number before we signed up with Virgin. I may ask them to change my number and also get caller ID if they have that service.

[giveup]

Moonraker, what a brilliant idea, cant wait now for my next call