Can one access Xdirectory number?

sebastianj

A friend has been getting mysterious calls in the middle of the night. She was advised to change and go X directory. She did and a few hours later she was getting the same calls, no one speaks at the other end.
The calls come from a Network that is not able to transmit numbers. What can she do? how can she find out who is calling her.
seb

S0litaire

Get her to contact BT again. The only people what can get access to ex-directory numbers is BT and the Police.

If she has never heard anyone at the other end it may be a fault with the line or the exchange.

Also BT can always see what number was dialled it's just the end user that does not see the number. And number changes take a while to go through and if she just goes ex-directory it will still be in the phone book till next year.

from the BT site:

Reporting persistent calls

If you are receiving persistent nuisance calls, please contact our specialist advisors at the Malicious Calls Bureau on 0800 661 441 (24hrs, 7 days a week). However, if you are receiving abusive, threatening or obscene calls, malicious or otherwise distressing to you, then you should report them to the police.

sebastianj

Many thanks, She is with Virgin Media, does this matter?
rgd
seb

S0litaire

If her phone line is with BT then it should not matter. Don't know what the procedure is if her phone is via Virgin media.

Leopard

More generally, it's also possible to obtain some numbers that are not in the directory by calling Directory Enquiries and giving the name and address of a person.

Some people choose not to have their name, address and number entered into the public directory but to make it available by specific request to Directory Enquiries.

This prevents people scouring the directory and then ringing up and saying, "Hello, Mrs. Sucker. How would you like to buy a conservatory?" while at the same time enabling a friend or relative who has mislaid their number to ring up Directory Enquiries and obtain it.

S0litaire

Leopard, it's better and easier to join the "Calling Preference Service" in your example. For the OP's situation get the person on to the "Malicious Calls Bureau" and see what they say.

Leopard

Oh, I agree with you absolutely. I wasn't disputing that, in any way.

I was simply making a different and more general point. :beer:

sebastianj

Thanks very much, I have got the Virgin "Malicious Calls Bureau"0800 9533333
will call them and see what happens. Thanks again.
rgd
seb

dehowletts

Also in the short-term she could / should treat the late night caller to a really horrible high pitched NOISE

(like the noise the hand held rape alarms make...........my singing voice is pretty horrendous too if she can't source an alarm!?)

at least that way they might not be so keen to call back........