Nuisance calls, how do YOU deal with them?

[cee-dee]

Reading this:-

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/nuisance-tv-call-centres-fined-100816600.html#16cWgCu

I think that not enough is done to put a complete end to unsolicited calls.

There's a few ways such as the Telephone Preference Service and Silent Call Guard but really, there shouldn't be any unsolicited calls at all.

OK, so you can put the phone next to the radio until they ring off or make noises (like from a whistle) down the phone or even wind the caller up a bit but sometimes that invites calls at "unreasonable times".

There's one company in Leeds which pursues people for "debts" and I've put that word between inverted commas because they sometimes pursue a "debt" not owed by the person they call.

What happens is you answer the phone and either they ask for a person you've never heard of or more likely the call is completely automated and says it's for someone you've never heard of and says you should call a certain number.

If you're fool enough to call them, they won't give you any details whatsoever until you've given them your personal details. Then they'll keep pursuing YOU for money you don't owe.

Another stunt they'll try to pull is to send a text-to-voice message asking you to call one of their numbers. They might be premium rate, I dunno but don't be tempted to try calling them to say they've got the wrong number.

The company seem to be very well known and there are lots of forums where people are relating their experiences with them and it's been going on for YEARS!

The company buys debts then tries to recover the debt plus "fees" which are seemingly extortionate and escalate from the moment you're daft enough to try to reason with them.

If you've been targetted as a wrong number for someone you've never heard of, they'll pursue YOU for money making out you owe them if you give then your details.

How do I deal with them? So far I use Call Barring. As soon as they call I just Bar the number.

[mitzigirl_123]

I inform them that as I am not a customer of theirs, they are contravening the cold calling  rules and the Financial Services Act 1986, their call is unwelcome and I believe their actions advertising their service does not fall within an exemption!   

I don’t give them a chance to answer and keep this dialogue up without coming up for air - inevitably they hang up after 10 seconds.

If not, I state that, if they do not remove my contact details from their database I will report their company for harassment and their call, which has been recorded and will be used in evidence should the need arise.

With regard to the text-to-voice message left on my land line, I never respond to those.

[cee-dee]

But you've read some of the comments about the firm I mentioned, without doing what I do, bar the calling number, how would you stop them calling at "unreasonable times" without responding to them and having to give your details?

[bankhaunter]

There is one way of getting rid of most cold callers which if enough people did it, may put them off trying to sell by cold calling.

You need to record your calls and when you get one for say a PPI claim keep talking until you get through to the actual business who employs the call company that first called you.

Inform them that if you get any further calls from them you will charge your time at £10 per minute and you will consider a further call to be acceptance of the contract.

Next time you get a call cross your fingers and hope it is them, 🙂 again keep talking until you get to the company and inform them they are being charged, they will probably ring off.

Check the record of the call and send them an invoice, if they don't pay, sue them.

It works.

[mitzigirl_123]

But you've read some of the comments about the firm I mentioned, without doing what I do, bar the calling number, how would you stop them calling at "unreasonable times" without responding to them and having to give your details?

I wouldn't give them my details - I wouldn't even confirm my surname and post code!  I never disclose any personal data to someone on the phone claiming to be from a company no matter how reputable.  I even give my bank a hard time it is for them to prove to me who they are before I answer any security questions! :^O

If I owe money to a company or anyone for that matter, they would have contacted me in writing.

[cee-dee]

You'd be pestered with calls from THAT company.

[mitzigirl_123]

They can pester all they like they'll get nowhere fast - believe me my tactics are tried and tested and they leave me alone.  I can't stop them sending me texts to inform me that I may be missing out on PPI claims and the like but that is easy to deal with ... just press delete.

I only deal with the written word and if that is a bona fide Court Order then I know I've overlooked correspondence and/or not paid a debt. 

I foolishly took part in a survey once and was assured that my details would not be passed on to any other third party.  I gave them a false name.  A month to the day, and for 3 months afterwards I was bombarded with calls asking for "that person" and each time I told them they had the right phone number but the wrong name and "that person" hadn't lived here for 5 years.  

I felt bad because it involved charities and the "cold calling" was from a selection of charities trying to coerce me to support them and set up a direct debit etc etc ... some were really friendly, other representatives were pushy and vexed that they had been given duff information with permission for them to contact me.  Never again will I agree to a telephone survey or online survey - no sireee!

[linda_lightning]

I reply exactly the same as I respond to doorstep cold-callers. I ask them to put it in writing and I never hear from them again

[renomarvinm]

Click the receiver several times, and then yell, "Officer THIS IS THE ONE!!  Trace This Call Now!  Quickly, BEFORE THEY HANG UP!!!    HURRRRRRRRRYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

[al**bear]

 Never answer Phone and give your family, ie "CeeDee house here" , if someone says "who's this" you say you called Me, so who are you ?

I very very rarely get them, If one gets through , I tell them I'm ex-Dir and on TPS , so take my number off your list now, if they keep talking, I just lay the phone down on the table and come back when it starts buzzing , but as I said , this may be 3 times a Year.

I've never given my number to any company, unless they have a privacy system in place, that states they don't sell on numbers. I have been a TPS member since just after ti started. Been ex-directory for over 20yrs

I never ever give my mobile number out , nor do I use it to call companies or take part in competitions or voting by texting

I have never had a nuisance/silent call or text on my mobile

You can check a number here

http://www.telepest.co.uk/

[bankhaunter]

Perhaps I should have added to my earlier post, that the person who first worked out the system I described, got £200 for the particular nuisance call.

He said he quite looks forward to them now. 🙂

[tommy.irene]

£225,000 fine for TV show call centre after it harassed householders with thousands of nuisance phone callsThe BBC Three series presents life inside the call centre as something of a comic soap operaThe calls cause real annoyance to millions, while there is evidence that some elderly people feel bullied and harassed

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2344122/225-000-fine-TV-centre-harassed-householders-thousan...

[electric*mayhem*band]

A long, hard blast down the mouthpiece with a Police whistle, works for me.

WARNING.....This action may cause the caller to suffer severe Tinnitus.

[packagingwarehousedirect]

"can I speak to the home owner ? or at work   the person in charge of ?? " answer with three simple words  FOR WHAT REASON ? it throws them , if they recover then ask again and again until you find out what they want then say " sorry we are fine with what we have currently and please remove us from your database!!"    works everytime !     --- they hang up !

[ronnie-dog]

I give them the Liam Neeson routine.........

' I don't know who you are, but if you ring this number again, I will hunt you, and I will find you........'

Scared the bejesus out of an Indian Call guy.....

lol