Marketing Calls

[boombastictiger]

So as we all know the mountains of 'marketing' calls we all get, but I am at a stage where I am angry as my dad gets so many and its ridiculous, he's a n old guy, nice person so does not have the heart to just put the phone down on them and tell em to F-off, he goes about the whole "iv had so many calls from you please stop calling me" then hangs up.

So today I was at home and received the call from the company, "United Kingdom Preference" after they called my dad once in the morning. The first time spoke to someone called "Ray", typical Indian accent spitting out sentences quicker than Eminem, before hanging up after I interrupted and asked repeatedly for his company contact details. Second time "Sunny" called, again Indian accent and this time I asked him to take me off his calling list and he said he could not do until after I had answered his questions as it was a "give and take". I kept explaining that I want him to take me off his call list and asked him to give me an address to which he gave: 65 Milestone Road, OX18 3RL. - a quick look on Google Maps shows a private road with houses :-O. Anyway I explained to him to please take me off and that I am going to write a letter of complaint due to the daily calls we get and he just hung up.

So I dunno what to do, I dialled 1471 and it was unknown number. Sounded like they are in a call centre somewhere in India, its not personal as I know the company who own him is probably some British marketing firm who have shipped their offices to India for cheap labour, but how the hell do I stop these calls from happening, especially when they won't listen and are rude etc?

[randlemarcus]

Caller ID, dont answer unknown or 0845 calls. SImple

[coopedup]

Just tell them to hold on for a moment.......then walk off

[boombastictiger]

randlemarcus said:

Caller ID, dont answer unknown or 0845 calls. SImple

We have old school phone in the home, is there a way you can autoblock them?

[57Ford]

They won't delete it but it seems they will change it. Google another ambulance chasers number and when they call, ask them to change to your 'new home number' and call you back in an hour when you get there.
It's worked for me and hopefully they're now all chasing each other

[randlemarcus]

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/848...

Or buy him a handset from Tesco, you cheapskate

[Hoofy]

57Ford said:

They won't delete it but it seems they will change it. Google another ambulance chasers number and when they call, ask them to change to your 'new home number' and call you back in an hour when you get there.
It's worked for me and hopefully they're now all chasing each other

[Ali Chappussy]

We've had quite a few now that show up as Private Number.

If I was to buy one of those super duper phones which blocks unwanted calls how is it going to know which Private Number I want banning?

There is a serious side to my question as we have someone in the care of a mental health establishment and when they call us their number doesn't show but it comes up as Private Number so we have to answer just in case the call is from them. Most of the time it's not I should add.

[eybic]

Ali Chappussy said:

We've had quite a few now that show up as Private Number.

If I was to buy one of those super duper phones which blocks unwanted calls how is it going to know which Private Number I want banning?

There is a serious side to my question as we have someone in the care of a mental health establishment and when they call us their number doesn't show but it comes up as Private Number so we have to answer just in case the call is from them. Most of the time it's not I should add.

Unfortunately it will be a blanket blocking, we have an issue with a family member that calls with a blocked number so we can't do it either.

[boombastictiger]

57Ford said:

They won't delete it but it seems they will change it. Google another ambulance chasers number and when they call, ask them to change to your 'new home number' and call you back in an hour when you get there.
It's worked for me and hopefully they're now all chasing each other

Haha i will do this! Also going to buy some digital phones. I had a look at BT and there is a way you can autoblock unknown/withheld numbers but you have to pay £5 a month. Not a problem but it is an annoying expense.

[GOG440]

What a well timed topic.
As I was reading this I got a marketing call from EE
I am a customer of theirs so fair enough to a point, but if I wanted to buy something else from them I would approach them rather than the other way around.

[DavieW]

I've noticed recently that they are now using local (to me) dialling codes.

[grumpy52]

I have found asking the caller intimate personal questions stops the calls for ever.

[anonymous-user]

eybic said:

Unfortunately it will be a blanket blocking, we have an issue with a family member that calls with a blocked number so we can't do it either.

BT Call Guardian. Cheap as chips.
Numbers on your list get through
Any others incl withheld get a message to announce their name etc. Phone then rings asking if you want to take the call from Auntie Doris or The PPI scammer.
Press button - Auntie Doris gets through.
Press zap button to scummer.
Scammers never bother though.
Zero nuisance calls in months, no longer an irritation.
http://home.bt.com/news/bt-life/putting-the-block-...

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 24th February 18:44

[sebhaque]

Have you registered with the TPS (Telephone Preference Service)? It's easy to do and while it's not infalliable, it's definitely reduced the number of spam calls I get now. Whereas I used to get 1 or 2 a day, it's now more like 1 or 2 a fortnight. The website is http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html

Also, unrelated note - nice to see another 370Z driver on here! There's a chap over in GG who was after some advice about buying one, might be worth weighing in too.

[Jimmy Recard]

DavieW said:

I've noticed recently that they are now using local (to me) dialling codes.

I had one on my mobile earlier. When I called it back (assuming it was one of my neighbours trying to get in touch or something), it was something to do with PPI.

[boombastictiger]

Jimboka said:

BT Call Guardian. Cheap as chips.
Numbers on your list get through
Any others incl withheld get a message to announce their name etc. Phone then rings asking if you want to take the call from Auntie Doris or The PPI scammer.
Press button - Auntie Doris gets through.
Press zap button to scummer.
Scammers never bother though.
Zero nuisance calls in months, no longer an irritation.
http://home.bt.com/news/bt-life/putting-the-block-...

Edited by Jimboka on Wednesday 24th February 18:44

I found out my dad actually had 4 of these laying around that he didn't install because he didn't know how to, so I set them up last night :-). There is an option in the phone settings that lets you auto block withheld numbers. Hopefully it does the trick!

[boombastictiger]

sebhaque said:

Have you registered with the TPS (Telephone Preference Service)? It's easy to do and while it's not infalliable, it's definitely reduced the number of spam calls I get now. Whereas I used to get 1 or 2 a day, it's now more like 1 or 2 a fortnight. The website is http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html

Also, unrelated note - nice to see another 370Z driver on here! There's a chap over in GG who was after some advice about buying one, might be worth weighing in too.

Good to see another one as well. I will take a look at the other post

[BuzzBravado]

grumpy52 said:

I have found asking the caller intimate personal questions stops the calls for ever.

I bet it doesn't though.

[Old Merc]

I used to get them regularly when I had my car business.
Most of the time I just shouted and slammed the phone down.Then on a few occasions when in a good mood I would ask them what car they owned? then I would go into a fast "Dell Boy" sales pitch,explaining in detail why bringing the car to me was the best option. They soon put the phone down on me.