Nuisance International calls?

Quentin

brewerdave wrote: »

Can't understand why no-one else has made a "Truecall" type device, but more cheaply to appeal to the mass market....

I found one which so far is working well (global call blocker), not as sophisticated as truecall, but much cheaper (they gave me a so called "phone offer" - £40 when enquiring over the phone rather than buying online)

Moneymaker

brewerdave wrote: »

Can't understand why no-one else has made a "Truecall" type device, but more cheaply

Because companies exist to make a profit for their shareholders.

I used a device called a "Phone Valet" connected to my Apple Mac Mini. The software allowed it to be programmed to do everything a "TruCall" can do, and a lot more. It could even record a message from the caller then email it to the appropriate member of my family!

Why not just block International calls completely and use "Skype" to call friends and family abroad (and vice versa)?

brewerdave

Moneymaker wrote: »

Because companies exist to make a profit for their shareholders.

.....I understand why Truecall keep their price high as they are the sole widely available supplier ....but what has normally happened, particularly with electronics, is that a manufacturer somewhere East of here has seen the gap in the market and produced a cheaper copycat model.
As to Skype - it would mean keeping one of the PCs on permanently and it wouldn't be as convenient as the cordless DECT set up now in use.We don't make many outgoing calls but need the phone for aged relatives to get in touch in emergencies.

@ Quentin -I'll have a look at global call blocker - thanks:T

guiseppi

I used a cheap linux computer, the Raspberry Pi, £30 or so, and hooked it up to an old Caller ID compatible modem. Then I hunted some similar C code on SourceForge, modified it and now have a low powered, 24-7 call blocker that reads a white and black list and logs all calls, so I can add them to the blacklist or whitelist. The same thing could be done a lot cheaper with even a PIC Micro or propeller or Arduino type thing, but you need to be able to code...

Just got incredibly peeved off, partly because I work from home most of the time and distractions by pushy barstewards or survey takers vying for my personal info are not welcome.

I just block ALL international and unavailable calls, most calls beginning with 0800 (selective based on previous calls) and every range known to be from twatland. Works a treat.

I don't care about my overseas family that much

useless_git_requires_wife

just another reason not to have a fixed line......