Private Numbers

[Linz]

I have experienced someone calling me and holding their number about 5 times last week and they dont say anything when I answer, is there any way to trace the number?

[PaulB]

If you are with BT, phone their malicious calls line and they will monitor it for you 0800 661441

[thewillow]

I think they need to get police permission to do this. Also, they won't let you know what the number is.

[woofgang]

This sounds like a telesales set up. They have a machine that auto dials, but if you pick up and all their sellers are busy, you just get silence then, because that number doesn't get checked off the list, the machine dials again. Try registering with the telephone preference service. http://www.tps-online.org.uk It will take up to six months for you to be removed from the various lists but you will find that the nuisance goes away almost completely (personal experience)

[coemgen]

We had this problem where we'd be phoned about 3 times a day from a withheld/unavailable number and when we answered there was complete silence. What we did was to subscribe to BT (or any other telephone supplier) Anonymous caller reject. It does cost a couple of pounds a month but it wasbliss not to be pestered by phonecalls all day long.

[flirty41]

I would agree with woofgang on this one. It's happened to me loads of times, and it's so annoying! As for the anonymous caller reject, I can see this would be very useful. On the other hand, though, apart from preventing nuisance calls, it could block an important call. I work in the NHS and have to sometimes ring people at short notice. Obviously, my call would be classed as anonymous and, therefore, blocked, which can be a nightmare if you're trying to get hold of someone to pass on urgent information. More than once I've had to ring on my personal mobile, and advise patients to remove their blocking facility if they are likely to be receiving further calls with regard to appointments or treatment. Just something to bear in mind.

[Pinotage]

I don't get these calls, or sales people cold calling, because I went ex-directory.

[flirty41]

I'm ex-d too Pinotage, but I still get the calls. These people can glean your number from all sorts of places!

[Insane Wally]

We were getting loads of these sorts of calls a while back, we spoke to BT who said we could bar certain numbers from calling. You have to wait until they call then tap a code in your phone. It was brilliant, the only downside was it costed �8 per month! After a couple of months we just changed our number.

[craigyb85]

Flirty41, I believe you can make your number visible when calling, therefore getting past the anonymous number problem. If you dial 1470 before the number, it makes your number visible. Sometimes. It's also useful for dialling premium rate numbers on company phones which normally block them. By dialling 1470 first, many systems think it's an ok number as the 090 bit doesn't come at the start.

[stevie21]

In answer to "As for the anonymous caller reject, I can see this would be very useful. On the other hand, though, apart from preventing nuisance calls, it could block an important call" the caller should phone the operator and have them dial the number so that you're able to get through if it's an important call. Or you could just run up your mobile phone bill. Stevie.