Annoying phone calls

[chamoan]

I know this may not be the correct section to put this thread, but i dont where it would be put.

We are getting calls and messages almost on a daily basis from companys for someone who must of had the number before us, or have just given them any old number and its ours. Getting called for 2 people, (man and woman) with the same surname, basically it sounds like they owe money to these companys, but we keep telling these companys its the wrong address, they never lived here etc and please remove us from your list, but they wont stop, anyone have any suggestions? this is driving us crazy, sometimes our phone in box is full of messages for these people.

This is the second lot of people we have had this problem with, not long before this lot started about 6 months ago, we had companys ringing up for someone else who owed money, and wanting to deliver furniture to them and other things, but what do you do when no matter how many times you tell these companys there's nobody here by that name, and never has been, but they continue to ring you all the time.

[Aragorn]

If they are specifically calling for a named (unknown) person, I would suggest -
Make a note of the name and address they have on record
Ask for the company name and head office
Write a recorded letter to the head office stating that the person they are chasing has no association with your number and that they should stop calling your number.
If they still call for the same person, you may want to give them a written warning of legal action against them if they persist, or just send them a bill for your wasted time ;-)
HTH

[m419]

Well if you don't want to change your number, try this:Register with the Telephone preference service - www.tps-online.org.uk (http://www.tps-online.org.uk) or by calling 0800-398-893 and use the automated line.If you have an answer machine leave a personal greeting stating that you are not Mr and Mrs 'XXX' and then tell them to hang up if they are looking for them, DO NOT EVER tell the callers your details especially your surname and address.

This is a common problem and its no fault of phone companies.

However,if you still want to change your number or need specialist help, you can do this for free for the first time and make sure it is ex-directory.

Just call one of the numbers below:

If Virgin Media supply your telephone line call the sensitive information bureau: 0800-953-3333.

If BT supply your telephone line call: 0800-661-441.

A few safety tips:

If the caller asks who's that or what numbers that, ask for whoever they are looking for and just tell them if they are right or wrong, never give your name.If you have children at the property, tell them never to give information over the phone even if he/she says to the child they are friends with the family.Never become abusive,show anger or show that your stressed out and certainlu never try blowing a whistle down the phone as this may encourage nuisance callers.

[nutellajunkie]

Or simply ask Virgin to change your number, I know its annoying at first, but you can ask to be put on either a less used range, some of which may not have been used for years.

Also do not accept that you have to pay for a number change, no matter how many times you do it - if you are being harassed, you can have it done for free.

If you don't really rely on your land line, do what I did, get rid of it, and use a sip number service that provides an 01/2/3 number. Users have far more power over their SIP number.

[bw41101]

Another thing you could do is get Anonymous Caller Rejection (ACR) installed on your telephone package. As many companies automatically block their phone numbers (to stop 1471) ACR will not allow such numbers to connect to you. The only way these organisations can then call you is unless they purposely unblock their numbers. :erm:

If you do then get one of these calls, you can then do a 1471 and record the details, which will then allow you any option (you may wish to pursue) to stop these nuisance calls. :D

Si thee

[Wild Oscar]

Easiest way to sort this out is get an answerphone!
Set it to play the standard recorded message after 4 rings, if the call is one of your friends they will start to leave a message which you can stop by picking up. You'll soon get the hang of it ..
This will stop nuisance calls ... sales people etc in their tracks!!

[Magilla]

Another thing you could do is get Anonymous Caller Rejection (ACR) installed on your telephone package. As many companies automatically block their phone numbers (to stop 1471) ACR will not allow such numbers to connect to you. The only way these organisations can then call you is unless they purposely unblock their numbers. :erm:

If you do then get one of these calls, you can then do a 1471 and record the details, which will then allow you any option (you may wish to pursue) to stop these nuisance calls. :D

Si thee

Except.. it doesn't work. At least, VM's implementation of it doesn't work correctly.

When I enquired with them after a number of withheld numbers they just said "Yeah, it only works half the time", and that was that... obviously I cancelled it straight away.