Calls with automated announcement - Legal ?

[plover]

Is it legal for companies to call you and then play an automated announcement (with an option at the end to talk to an adviser) ? They have called me twice now and I'm on the TPS to stop this sort of call.

Number was withheld, but adviser gave me the company name, which I'm not posting to avoid PH's name & shame rule.

Any ideas where I complain ?

[james_tigerwoods]

I suspect that, if you're registered with TPS (there's a time delay of 4 weeks from registering to being off the records, I think), this could be an international company - they're not bound by the same laws...

[Stu R]

Had any dealings with the company?

If you're on the TPS and have an account with say, BT (for example), or a bank or whatever, you'll find they're perfectly able to legally phone rape you with sales patter.

Edited by Stu R on Tuesday 8th December 17:57

[speedchick]

TPS doesn't cover you if they are not trying to sell anything either

[Soovy]

They often dial randomly.

[davido140]

We get this at least two or three times a day on every extension at work! it works it's way around the office pissing everyone off in turn, I'm guessing the system is incrementing numbers.

I wonder if they have a system that determines if the call has been answered it "marks" the number for future calls.

[plover]

james_tigerwoods said:

I suspect that, if you're registered with TPS (there's a time delay of 4 weeks from registering to being off the records, I think), this could be an international company - they're not bound by the same laws...

Been on TPS since moved here 3 years ago and they are a UK company ; they are one of the claims companies offering to follow up directly on accidents to get compensation.

I assumed because silent calls weren't allowed that a recorded announcement would also no be allowed; of course they also shouldn't be calling me because of TPS !

[plover]

plover said:

Been on TPS since moved here 3 years ago

While checking my number again on TPS (which is still registered); noticed the complaints process so sent a complaint , might discourage them atleast , get enough of them on TV don't want them phoning me as well.

[mattdaniels]

Best of luck. Whenever I've had cause to escalate an unsolicited call to the TPS they have always come back with some reason why that call is not covered by what they do.

TPS is worse than useless as far as I can tell.

[Red Devil]

We used to be plagued by this sort of call (despite TPS). Cured it at a stroke with an answering machine and speaker. Filters out the automated calls wonderfully and if it's a human making them they always hang up immediately.

We never answer the phone directly now. Our messsage asks callers to identify themselves. What comes out of the speaker determines whether or not we pick up there and then. Works a treat.

[kazste]

why not just do what i do and press 5 to speak to someone straight away, and let them have to pick up the phone and listen to my inane banter until they give up!

they ALWAYS get bored before i do

[fatboy b]

mattdaniels said:

Best of luck. Whenever I've had cause to escalate an unsolicited call to the TPS they have always come back with some reason why that call is not covered by what they do.

TPS is worse than useless as far as I can tell.

Yep same here. Useless in that respect, though the actual number of shiite calls I get has dropped.

[streaky]

kazste said:

why not just do what i do and press 5 to speak to someone straight away, and let them have to pick up the phone and listen to my inane banter until they give up!

they ALWAYS get bored before i do

Press 5 (or whatever) and put the handset by the radio ... tuned to a foreign news channel - Streaky