British Gas Cold Phone Calling - How To Stop It

mjr600

##This advice is good for any annoying sales type phone calls made from the UK##

Over the past week for some unknown reason I have been cold called via the British Gas 'automated dialling' service almost daily.

It turns out that it was a call centre in Glasgow which was responsible.

Up until now I have simply hung up, however having just got up after a night shift and being that way out I asked to speak to the manager..

Got his FULL name

Told him that I held him vicariously liable for commiting an offence under The Protection From Harassment Act 1997

for

'pursuing a course of conduct (a) which amounts to harassment of another person, and (b) which he/she knows or ought to know amounts to harassment of another person'

and under The Telecommunications Act of 1984

for

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 telecommunications system, is guilty of an offence

I informed that if he did not oversee my removal from their phone system and further calls were recieved I would report the matter to my local Police. Under NCRS (look that one up for yourselves) guidelines they would refer the matter to Glasgow Police who may issue him a warning under The Protection From Harassment Act or may report him for summons to a UK magistrates court.

Those of you who properly understand the technicalities of the above will realise that I speak 80% truth and 20% bluff.

The response from the manager was instant.

He would personally ensure the removal of my name and phone number from all British Gas call centres, he apologised and will ring me to confirm when it has been done.

He sounded frightened.

We shall see.

Try it it might work for you.

Bri_2205

It's also worthwhile registering your number with the Telephone Preference Service. Once registered, if you receive ANY cold calls, simply tell them that this number is registered with the TPS & they must remove it from their lists.

That way there's no need to get on a high horse

Patr100

My mother has been getting similar calls from British Gas - She's told them not to call her, I have recently registered her with the TPS but she hasn't got the confirmation letter from them yet.

-

Cardew

I think there is a bit more to this than meets the eye. Also the TPS cannot help in certain cases. The threads below might provide a bit mor information.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=138396

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=138776