Is it legal to be abusive to people who phone you?

[Hedders]

I understand that you are not allowed to MAKE threatening and abusive calls, but if someone refuses to stop calling me, is it legal for me to provide a free "abuse line" service when they call?

Failing that, i think i will ask them to hold for ten minutes while listening to a porn soundtrack, and then hang up.

Or, can i redirect any calls from that number, to a premium number??

[selmahoos]

Try this:

Caller (for the 10th time): "Can I speak to Mr Hedders please"?

You: "I'm afraid Mr Hedders isn't available right now. He's in the next room having sex with your mother/sister"

I find it works quite well.

[peterguk V6 KWK]

Hedders said:

Or, can i redirect any calls from that number, to a premium number??

If you redirect, won't you be paying the redirect costs??

[Eric Mc]

Being abusive in any circumstances CAN be illegal. There are all sorts of laws to prevent people from using abusive language or abusive behaviour. At the end of the day, it is usually up to the "victim" of the abuse to decide whether they want to press charges. In most cases, they don't.

In any case, I always find being sincere but difficult is the best way to handle unwanted telephone calls.

[Hedders]

peterguk V6 KWK said:

Hedders said:

Or, can i redirect any calls from that number, to a premium number??

If you redirect, won't you be paying the redirect costs??

I am sure i can allow for that cost in my pricing structure :P

[Hedders]

Eric Mc said:

Being abusive in any circumstances CAN be illegal. There are all sorts of laws to prevent people from using abusive language or abusive behaviour. At the end of the day, it is usually up to the "victim" of the abuse to decide whether they want to press charges. In most cases, they don't.

In any case, I always find being sincere but difficult is the best way to handle unwanted telephone calls.

These people will call me half a dozen times a day if i let them.

I even changed my phone number, god knows how they got the new one..

[Road Hog]

its part of your job to recieve calls if you work for a call centre.

[Hedders]

Road Hog said:

its part of your job to recieve calls if you work for a call centre.

Thanks for that!

[ytrebil]

If you use the words "I think" or "I believe" I'm sure you can cover yourself.

You can't call someone a , but if you say, "I think you're a " then I think you're safe.

[Hedders]

ytrebil said:

If you use the words "I think" or "I believe" I'm sure you can cover yourself.

You can't call someone a , but if you say, "I think you're a " then I think you're safe.

Ever tried it with a copper? :P

[hal 1]

Register with telephone preference service, after a short while they should stop, if they don't i think they get fined or something, Mrs Hal had a lot of trouble from a satellite sports channel ringing her mobile, usually silent calls, they don't bother her now.

[Simond001]

part of the 1984 telecoms act covers using the phone for abusive calls IIRC

43. Improper use of public telecommunication system.— (1) A person who—
(a)sends, by means of a public telecommunication system, a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character; or
(b)sends by those means, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, a message that he knows to be false or persistently makes use for that purpose of a public telecommunication system,

[ytrebil]

Hedders said:

ytrebil said:

If you use the words "I think" or "I believe" I'm sure you can cover yourself.

You can't call someone a , but if you say, "I think you're a " then I think you're safe.

Ever tried it with a copper? :P

Everyone knows coppers are bent and they will selectively choose not to hear the "I think" part.

However, logically, if you are telling someone what you think then you're not committing a crime. They can't prosecute you for thinking, surely!

[Hedders]

ytrebil said:

However, logically, if you are telling someone what you think then you're not committing a crime. They can't prosecute you for thinking, surely!

It is not that easy!

"you're a ' your honour!" {cough}i think{/cough}

[randomman]

ytrebil said:

Hedders said:

ytrebil said:

If you use the words "I think" or "I believe" I'm sure you can cover yourself.

You can't call someone a , but if you say, "I think you're a " then I think you're safe.

Ever tried it with a copper? :P

Everyone knows coppers are bent and they will selectively choose not to hear the "I think" part.

However, logically, if you are telling someone what you think then you're not committing a crime. They can't prosecute you for thinking, surely!

Coppers can

[LaserTam]

Yeah I reckon if you did get really threatening, I suppose you could get it trouble. Best bet is to sign up to the Telephone Preference Service (google will find it!) and then whenever anyone rings who is unsolicited, just advise them that you haved signed up for the TPS and they often get the message, appologise and leave you alone.

Also, if they are ringing using an automated dialler system, they have to follow a whole bunch of OFCOM rules (must give CLI, can't just leave silence then hang up, must play recorded message instead and a few others). I had some company keep ringing recently, loads of times and just hung up when I answered. When they did actually have someone to take the call, I quoted the OFCOM policy and threatened to report them to OFCOM if they did it again (50k fine from OFCOM could come their way!) and strangely not heard from them again.

[Scraggles]

used to get some company hassling me, so asked them if they cold hold, whilst sorted some stuff at the door, came back 30 mins later from the shops and they were still hanging on

friend had conservatory salesman hassling him, so he finally agreed to buy one, took the salesman a good hour, about to get bank details and friend asks what sort of stilts did the package come with ?
he then let slip that he is in a first floor flat and did not want any more calls

air horns are a pretty good alternative

[Hedders]

hal 1 said:

Register with telephone preference service, after a short while they should stop, if they don't i think they get fined or something, Mrs Hal had a lot of trouble from a satellite sports channel ringing her mobile, usually silent calls, they don't bother her now.

I registered this number with the TPS before it even went live! These are the only people that call. They are a debt collection agency who refuse to speak to my debt management company and constantly want bigger and bigger payments no matter what they agree to.

They are getting £200 a month which they agreed to last year and now they want to up it again!
Until i agree to paying more, the phone calls won't stop. If i do agree to pay more then they will start again in a few months wanting even more. They have lots of telephone staff to pay.

[Riggernut]

Would it not be easier to change your number?

[ytrebil]

Riggernut said:

Would it not be easier to change your number?

He said he tried that.