Annoying phone calls

[auto1]

Since retiring I have been plagued with cold calls some silent from various businesses.

I have done the TPS thing, but they get around that by being a survey etc.

Any way I have found after some research, been able to find the home phone numbers of the directors of some of the businesses involved.
Can I publish these numbers on line to people who have complained about these numbers? Would this be unlawful the idea is to ask the director to take numbers off the lists.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Peeing in the wind comes to mind. You'll probably just invite more calls/harassment/threats of legal proceedings.
I'm afraid it's a case of getting rid of the land line or getting a call blocker.
Or if you have time on your hands, look up the story of how that bloke charged them for his time/harassment etc., and do that instead.

[73mark]

Answer machine,I've seen about a90% reduction in calls like this with the use of a answer machine.

[RG63AMG]

This, tell anyone who you want to call you to speak after the beep and if your in you will pick up, this worked for me though everyone who wants to get me calls the mobile.

73mark said:

Answer machine,I've seen about a90% reduction in calls like this with the use of a answer machine.

[mygoldfishbowl]

Caller display service = £2.50 a month and http://www.bt.com/includingyou/products-phones-bt-...

[herewego]

http://www.saynotocoldcalls.com/

Also have you tried reporting them to the TPS. You can do it online. You need to ask for company name, address tel. number or get their details online. Being registered with the TPS isn't enough, you need to report them.

Edited by herewego on Thursday 26th June 11:21

[Mr SFJ]

Or play the hold game.

When they answer and ask for someone or try to sell you something, make an excuse to put them on hold, such as speaking to wrong person, and then put the phone down and see how long they wait. Cut my cold calls about 40%

[Johnnytheboy]

I love mine.

[lbc]

It's best not to speak or make any noise if you answer an unknown number, as their computers that call you are voice activated.
After a while the call will disconnect.
I seem to get less unwanted calls using this technique.

If it's a genuine call from a business that you normally deal with, someone will usually speak first.

[WinstonWolf]

I launched a tirade of utterly foul language at the "free boiler" people last time they called, it stopped the calls instantly.

[Riley Blue]

I had a new one earlier today though on my mobile:
"This is the Hearing Clinic calling about damage to your hearing from working in industry."
"I've never worked in industry."
"Sorry to have troubled you...."

What were they hoping to achieve?

TPS and an ex-directory number seem to work well on our landline, we only get one or two nuisance calls a month.

[otolith]

Riley Blue said:

What were they hoping to achieve?

They are fishing for leads for industrial injury ambulance chasers.

[RG63AMG]

My wife and I have found a reasonable solution in the fight against unsolicited phone calls by cutting the number of rings down to two (gives us an audio warning) before the answer machine kicks in. Our greeting states “Hi, if we are in and we can get to the phone we will pick up. Otherwise leave a message”.

Our family and friends know about this and if we hear a recognisable voice we pick up.

It is surprising how many cold callers hang up before the message completes. Those that do wait generally don’t speak and in most cases 1471 confirms that the caller withheld their number. Some pre-recorded message calls get recorded on the answer machine but they are easily ignored. This has greatly reduced the number of nuisance calls.

[Monkeylegend]

Riley Blue said:

I had a new one earlier today though on my mobile:
"This is the Hearing Clinic calling about damage to your hearing from working in industry."
"I've never worked in industry."
"Sorry to have troubled you...."

What were they hoping to achieve?

TPS and an ex-directory number seem to work well on our landline, we only get one or two nuisance calls a month.

The obvious reply there is "pardon, you will need to speak up I can't hear you"

[MrBarry123]

Surely now that you've retired you've got nothing better to do anyway? I thought you'd be happy at having someone to talk to... Unless the calls are disturbing you whilst you're making your Bovril?

[otolith]

I've just installed the TrueCall box I bought. Hopefully that's the end of it.

[lbc]

Riley Blue said:

I had a new one earlier today though on my mobile:
"This is the Hearing Clinic calling about damage to your hearing from working in industry."
"I've never worked in industry."
"Sorry to have troubled you...."

What were they hoping to achieve?em to work well on our landline, we only get one or two nuisance calls a month.

I had the same call last week.

I guess they are offering compensation Lawyers if you were not using ear protection?

[vanordinaire]

Sometimes these calls annoy me, sometimes I enjoy myself by thinking of new ways to annoy them or waste their time.

[Escort3500]

If I get a call asking to speak to the homeowner I just tell them it's a rented property. Works every time.

[Who me ?]

mygoldfishbowl said:

Caller display service = £2.50 a month and http://www.bt.com/includingyou/products-phones-bt-...

Last time I looked, BT still did the privacy package for free, but now you have to agree to a year's contract. This registers you with TPS and gives you caller display. The other way to weed out a lot of unwanted calls is to have all calls where a number is forwarded blocked.

Also, as well as reporting to TPS, did you know that ICO also take details of firms cold calling and cold texting. And if there is a number, try http://whocallsme.com/ to see if there's history on this number.

Edited by Who me ? on Thursday 26th June 20:18