Nuisance phone calls - how to stop them?

First, you can't easily and second they are probably from outside the UK where TPS doesn't apply anyway. Not much help, I know. If it is really a nuisance, ask your phone provider - maybe they can help?

Very likely - it was an American voice. Damn!

"Bob Mannix" wrote

Agreed. The effectiveness of the TPS takes a while to kick in (weeks/months), but is effective for UK origin nuisance calls. Worth getting call line id and a phone that can display caller number (if you haven't already). Even better if it will display your phone book entry for the number. We seem to get a spate of International calls every three months or so. If you have an answering service, the automated call appears to recognise this and cuts off as soon as the answer machine is activated.

Phil

There's a device developed to help.

At home I'm TPS-registered, ex-directory and have a very peaceful existence. However I recently stayed in a rented house in the US, where I was bombarded daily by automated calls during which a recorded voice would extol me to buy insurance, a new car etc etc. Completely intolerable - I don't know how anyone could live with that!

David

Is there anyway to block 'Number Withheld' calls, ie., without the phone ringing.

mark

If you do this, it is likely your Doctor, the emergency services and so on will not be able to call you.

"mark" wrote

Yes - it usually comes at an additional nominal cost from your service provider.

Phil

None of them have ever called me. If I need them, I call them. most large organisations that want individuals to remain anonymous will have a number that they present (e.g. the main switchboard), rather than the numbers of individual extensions, so are not "number withheld" anyway.

MBQ

Which I think is completely wrong :-(

Sod even the nominal cost. If the facility to withhold identity is free, so _free_ should be the means to refuse contact until the results of identity (or other) checks is determined.

Anonymous Call Reject costs £3.91 a month from BT (ex-VAT I think) which is above my "nominal" threshhold.

On Thu, 7 May 2009 14:56:49 +0100, "Reentrant" had this to say:

It's still worth it, from a nuisance POV.

about right) they might actually sell them. Good idea, but not worth =A3100.

Thus spake mark ( snipped-for-privacy@reepham.co.uk) unto the assembled multitudes:

With Caller Display I can see who's calling (number, or name if in my phone's contact list). Withheld numbers display as "Private" or "Unavail". I don't answer any such calls unless they are very persistent (which junk callers aren't), and Call Minder kicks in after 7 rings anwyay. If it's important they'll leave a message, but the withheld number callers very rarely leave a message, so sod 'em I say ;-)

The automated calls still come from a list of numbers rather than random, though, and decent firms will remove your number from that list if you register with the TPS. Of course it can't be enforced with overseas based call centres, but many of these do observe it. They're not gaining anything by wasting time with someone who won't react to cold calling - possibly quite the reverse. My 'nuisance' calls reduced to near zero after registering. Maybe a couple a month now.

Sadly many switchboards do this - so you'll likely loose some calls you actually want.

Ditto.

Not even that, now.

The police can. I am not sure how they do it. I asked a PO and he said they stick a code in front before dialling. It still does not show their number on my phone.

Adam

We are too, and never get any nuisance calls. However, I recently discovered why I only ever seem to get my brother's voicemail - that he won't answer any "Private Number" calls (which is how ex-directory is shown). BT told me that if I prepend 1470 to the call the number will show up - sort of like 141 in reverse.

Edward