Unsolicited calls - PHONE SPAM

NormCash · 27-09-2004, 19:43

For the past month or so, we've been receiving unsolicited, pre-recorded phone calls, telling us we've "Been specially selected.....", or that we've won a holiday, etc., etc. You know the sort that I mean. I know that these types of calls are a HUGE nuisance in the States, but I didn't realise that they were being used here in Britain until we started getting them. We've had 5 such calls since Saturday.

Ever since my original ntl email address got bombarded with junk mail (so much so that I eventually had to close it down), I've been extremely careful about giving out information such as our phone number and email address. Unfortunately, it looks as if some barstewards have gotten hold of our number (which is unlisted, by the way) and are using it to annoy the hell out of us.

Is anyone else out there suffering from this problem? Is the anything that we can do to stop these calls? (I know that a "Do Not Call" register has been introduced in some US states). Can NTL do anything at all to help to filter out this type of "phone spam"?

At the moment, this is just a slight nuisance, but I can remember thinking that about the few spam emails that I used to receive a few years back. This is a problem which, if nothing is done to tackle it, will almost certainly continue to grow and grow. If things do start to get worse, I guess the only recourse would be to change our phone number. Is that something that NTL can do quite easily, or does that raise problems of its own?

Looking forward to your comments, people!

dilligaf1701 · 27-09-2004, 19:45

You can register with the UK equivalent

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

Or ask for anonymous caller rejection to be added to your line...

(p.s. the anon caller rejection only stops calls that originate in the UK as far as I know - I still get calls from Dell in India)

paulyoung666 · 27-09-2004, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

You can register with the UK equivalent

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

Or ask for anonymous caller rejection to be added to your line...

(p.s. the anon caller rejection only stops calls that originate in the UK as far as I know - I still get calls from Dell in India)

and it is worth noting that you can also do the same for mail

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

i have done both and it works very well

Bifta · 27-09-2004, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

You can register with the UK equivalent

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

Or ask for anonymous caller rejection to be added to your line...

(p.s. the anon caller rejection only stops calls that originate in the UK as far as I know - I still get calls from Dell in India)

ACR is great, but it costs the customer money, and it shouldn't do, telecoms providers should be trying to tackle the problem or offering it for free.

Graham F · 27-09-2004, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

You can register with the UK equivalent

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

Or ask for anonymous caller rejection to be added to your line...

(p.s. the anon caller rejection only stops calls that originate in the UK as far as I know - I still get calls from Dell in India)

to be honest since i added my parents onto TPS abt 18 months ago within 12 month all the calls had stopped we were getting abt 20 a day

In the last 6 months i can count the amoutn i have had on one hand

Marge · 27-09-2004, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bifta

ACR is great, but it costs the customer money, and it shouldn't do, telecoms providers should be trying to tackle the problem or offering it for free.

In the areas I cover it's free

iadom · 27-09-2004, 21:51

TPS works a treat. If the odd one sneaks through I just say "TPS" and the phone quickly goes dead.

Flubflow · 27-09-2004, 22:24

I'm registered with the TPS (for about 3 years+ now) but recently I've had two of these pre-recorded tele-spam **** things. I want to slit the throats of the people responsible for this. I could NOT use my phone until the droaning spam had finished hogging MY telephone line. Not very nice if you need to make or are waiting for an urgent phone call.

NormCash · 28-09-2004, 08:41

Well, based on these replies, I've registered with TPS. I guess we'll see in a few weeks time if it does indeed work! Thanks for the advice, folks!

bob_builder · 28-09-2004, 10:28

A lot of these pre-recorded spam calls use a dialing computer that picks phone numbers at random. This has two effects, firstly anybody can be called even those who are ex-directory and have never given out their number, secondly it gets around TPS by using a loophole that it is only illegal to ring somebody who has registered if you look-up their number.

bob_builder · 28-09-2004, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Or ask for anonymous caller rejection to be added to your line...

(p.s. the anon caller rejection only stops calls that originate in the UK as far as I know - I still get calls from Dell in India)

I have found that there are some companies that have found a way round this somehow. One instance that is occurring on a very regular basis is I get a phone call that gets past ACR and shows up a caller ID of 02223334444 but when I dial 1471 subsequently it says no number is stored! Having later checked, this number is not valid and does not get through to anybody!

Jason1 · 28-09-2004, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by NormCash

For the past month or so, we've been receiving unsolicited, pre-recorded phone calls, telling us we've "Been specially selected.....", or that we've won a holiday, etc., etc. You know the sort that I mean. I know that these types of calls are a HUGE nuisance in the States, but I didn't realise that they were being used here in Britain until we started getting them. We've had 5 such calls since Saturday.

Ever since my original ntl email address got bombarded with junk mail (so much so that I eventually had to close it down), I've been extremely careful about giving out information such as our phone number and email address. Unfortunately, it looks as if some barstewards have gotten hold of our number (which is unlisted, by the way) and are using it to annoy the hell out of us.

Is anyone else out there suffering from this problem? Is the anything that we can do to stop these calls? (I know that a "Do Not Call" register has been introduced in some US states). Can NTL do anything at all to help to filter out this type of "phone spam"?

At the moment, this is just a slight nuisance, but I can remember thinking that about the few spam emails that I used to receive a few years back. This is a problem which, if nothing is done to tackle it, will almost certainly continue to grow and grow. If things do start to get worse, I guess the only recourse would be to change our phone number. Is that something that NTL can do quite easily, or does that raise problems of its own?

Looking forward to your comments, people!

Do these calls come from a private number ?
If so ntl can block private numbers calling your phone. If you have people that call you from private numbers they can dial 1470 first this releases their number for a single call so they can get through to you. as said above this is a phone scam its usually a computer that dials so this will prevent this call been connected

aliferste · 28-09-2004, 15:21

I was going to post about this as well.......my answering machine is getting clogged up with this rubbish !!!

bob_builder · 28-09-2004, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliferste

I was going to post about this as well.......my answering machine is getting clogged up with this rubbish !!!

Luckily, the NTL voicemail does not pick up for about 8 rings so most of these calls hang-up before then.

andrew_wallasey · 29-09-2004, 15:28

I used to work in a call centre making unsolicited calls selling mobile phones. There is no real way of stopping people phoning you as I spoke to hundreds if not thousands of people who were members of the TPS. The TPS only works if you make sure you tick the boxes whenever you fill in an application form because otherwise you are giving permission for people to give out your number.

The other problem is people applying for contract phones and credit in your name using you name, your address and your contact details.

Remember the people making the phone calls are only doing a job its not their fault. They don't choose to ring you, they work off a predictive dialler. Which means a computer randomly picks your number out of a database of numbers and then it comes up on their screen with your details and then at the end of the call they wrap it with details of the conversation. The amount of people which are so horrible on the phone is unbelievable, I never got told to "**** off and die" or "ill come and break your legs you little *****" so many times in my life.