Nuisance calls

[Annie]

Every day I get a minimum of six calls from companies going on about PPI, Loft insulation etc etc I press the 9 to opt out when prompted but still they keep calling. I even had one asking to speak to my daughter about her making a will..... she is 15 for goodness sake.
Today I had some Indian call centre telling me my computer had a virus, I told him to stop calling put the phone down and lo & behold Indian Adam called straight back.

These calls are really beginning to stress me out > Is there a way to stop them apart from having to cancel my landline ???

[Ellen]

Yes, you need to register here
www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html
that takes your landline off the marketing lists, within 28 days it will be illegal for marketers to call you.
It does work, it's the official government one

[Annie]

Thank you ellen, I have just registered on there, fingers crossed

[bigbawmcgraw]

Jul 13, 2012 11:59:42 GMT Ellen said:

Yes, you need to register here
www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html
that takes your landline off the marketing lists, within 28 days it will be illegal for marketers to call you.
It does work, it's the official government one

There was a programme on TV about that the other night, it doesn't work very well because they just get your number from the phone book. Illegal but they still do it.

Get your number deleted from the directory (next issue).
You can also block international numbers and numbers withheld. It costs a couple of quid but it's worth it. I only get cold calling from BT and my net provider every month or so.

[Ellen]

That's a good point, you do also need to be ex-directory too

[Annie]

Jul 13, 2012 12:07:52 GMT bigbawmcgraw said:

Jul 13, 2012 11:59:42 GMT Ellen said:

Yes, you need to register here
www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html
that takes your landline off the marketing lists, within 28 days it will be illegal for marketers to call you.
It does work, it's the official government one

There was a programme on TV about that the other night, it doesn't work very well because they just get your number from the phone book. Illegal but they still do it.

Get your number deleted from the directory (next issue).
You can also block international numbers and numbers withheld. It costs a couple of quid but it's worth it. I only get cold calling from BT and my net provider every month or so.

Jul 13, 2012 12:07:52 GMT bigbawmcgraw said:

Jul 13, 2012 11:59:42 GMT Ellen said:

Yes, you need to register here
www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html
that takes your landline off the marketing lists, within 28 days it will be illegal for marketers to call you.
It does work, it's the official government one

There was a programme on TV about that the other night, it doesn't work very well because they just get your number from the phone book. Illegal but they still do it.

Thank you,
I am ex directory already have been for years

Get your number deleted from the directory (next issue).
You can also block international numbers and numbers withheld. It costs a couple of quid but it's worth it. I only get cold calling from BT and my net provider every month or so.

Thank you,
I am ex directory already, have been for years.

[vereybowring]

The only way is to be ex directory, register with TPS and block international calls as has been said.
The TPS scheme after all only blocks UK calls relating to sales.

Also when buying anything these days (including installing apps or software) is to look out for the little boxes to click or unclick which ask you about third party adverts and marketing.
You can buy something and if you have not clicked or unclicked one of these little boxes your details can then be used for marketing purposes and that includes annoying calls.

[Bluefish]

Ooh will be regeristing tonight, were getting a bit sick of being told to claim for accidents that have never happened #icon_cheers#

[shamreez]

Best thing Annie is to have some fun.

I do get lots of calls I talk to them and have some real fun. I got a call from an Indian call centre two days back and I had a nice 10 min chat with him trying to convert him to Scientology (Thanks to Tom Cruise and internet I do know a little about it). But the bugger lost interest after 10 minutes.

I am thinking of a session about tantrik sex for the next caller

[Deleted]

You could be real nasty if they are persistent get a referee style whistle and blow down the phone (ouch!)

[DiscoDes]

I work from home so get a few of these, though greatly diminished after I do the following:

2 things you can do is to say "hang on a minute someone's at the door" then just leave the phone off the hook and walk away and carry on with whatever you're doing.

Or much better, remember to keep control ask questions, the first one (without answering any questions) is "what is your FULL name?" The second one is "what is the address of the company you're calling from?" by this time they will be getting worried, when they ask why just say you are registered with the TPS and you are going to report them. They'll leave you alone after this (most of the time!).

[Annie]

Thinking about the one earlier who said he was from Microsoft I should have let him ramble on then tell him I only had the grandsons V-tech #icon_rofl#

[fananntut]

Alternatively there's a piece of kit called 'CallBlocker' - have a look here: www.callblocker.co.uk/. Even though I've been registered with the TPS for years, I still get nuisance calls, and I am seriously thinking about getting one of these now that I work from home more frequently. It's normally quite easy for me to know if they are a cold caller because they always ask for Mrs Maiden Name, and I'm not married.

On a slightly different note, I have the poster from MSE about cold callers displayed in the porch, but still have people knocking at the door ## .

[domesticextremist]

If it's double glazing/loft insulation etc, just pretend you are
a mere tenant and that you will need to speak to the landlord.
This is usually good enough for them to cross you of their list.

For amubulance chaser types I just quiz them incessantly (who are you,
what is your company name, why do you think I have had an accident etc).
They usually hang up.

The PPI calls are a pain - mostly they are voice activated robots so they
only speak after you have said hello. I just hang up.
Some days I get two or three, the only consolation is I know it costs them
something to call me.
I am convinced they know when I am in as they come in clusters, usually
after I have been on the phone - I wonder if they have a deal with BT to let
them know when the phone is being used. I wouldn't put it past them

[OneDay]

Jul 13, 2012 13:11:24 GMT @colliwobbles said:

You could be real nasty if they are persistent get a referee style whistle and blow down the phone (ouch!)

I keep a spare rape alarm by the phone for exactly this purpose. It doesn't half give out some decibels!