Received call for previous occupant - advice please

Birdy12

I received a 'phone call about 10 mins ago looking for the previous owner of my house. I told them that they'd moved back in April 2007 and the call ended. It was only after I 'd ended the call that it occured to me that they'd call on a number that we'd only changed to about 6 months ago. Not only that, the previous owner didn't have a landline - we had to have one re-connected when we moved in.

I rarely give out my telephone number (I usually give my mobile number) and I signed up with the, is it the Telephone Preference Service?, about 6 months ago too.

All I want to ask is, where would they have got my telephone number from? (Is that a stupid question?). I did try 1471 but I got the standard 'you were called today...'

KILL_BILL

you listed in directory enquries ?

Jemma-T

Did you 'confirm' the previous owner's name or did you actually tell them it?

Either way I confirm nothing over the phone unless I can prive it from my bank. I wouldn't blab my private business at the front door so there's no difference on the phone.

System

If you've opted to be listed neither in the (paper) Phone Book nor the on-line version nor Directory Enquiries, then I know of no legitimate way they can get your number. If you are listed in any phone book or equivalent, then anyone can (1) look up in the Electoral Register the names of the people living at a given address; and then (2) get the phone number.

woodys_wonders

I think sometimes BT reuse telephone numbers that previous persons have had.
I don't know how long they leave between users of numbers, it may be worth checking with BT