crumbling with phone calls

foxy47

CCCS advised me to quote the Data Protection Act in any correspondence that I send to creditors and to request that all my phone numbers are removed from their files. Apparently, if creditors fail to heed this advice then they are in breach of this legisaltion and can be sued. Obviously, they are large companies with more to lose than you. it's a tact worth trying. I hope it serves you well. BT also operate a "choose to refuse" service for £8.00 p.m. This will prevent any creditors getting through to you.
Good luck.
kind regards and best wishes
Foxy

dack_2

foxy47 wrote: »

BT also operate a "choose to refuse" service for £8.00 p.m. This will prevent any creditors getting through to you.
Good luck.
kind regards and best wishes
Foxy

Any idea how effective this service is in practice? I know my DCA's try calling from different numbers at different times to try and catch me out. Will they just keep changing numbers so you have to keep adding more to the blacklist?

dack

LOUISE22_2

I know some creditors would phone me off 3 or 4 different numbers (some even mobiles) to get me to pick up. Thats when I thought whats the point of the phone if I am too scared to ever pick it up just in case. I guess the point is you shouldnt be scared and follow advice from others above on what to say. I just could never face it, so i took the easy way out and changed my number and dealt with them via email and mail which i found easier.

Rainy_2

Not sure how helpful this might be but I'm experiencing similar constant phone calls from a couple of creditors. I am dealing with everything in writing so I can keep a full record of all that passes between us. My last letter sent regarding harrassment by telephone resulted in a grovelling apology and acceptance of my payment offer. Was nice to see a bit of grovelling

There are a lot of templates available, National Debtline has a list of sample letters which may be useful. The one below is just an example, originally posted by RAS on another thread - thanks RAS :T

Quote:

Your Street
Town
City
Postcode
DATE HERE

Company Name
Road
Town
City / County
Postcode


Dear Sirs,

Harassment by telephone

Account Number: XXXXXXX

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing.

I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls. (Delete if necessary)

I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only.

I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine.

Please treat this also as a formal complaint, and send me a copy of your company complaints procedure.

Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company will be recorded. (**Even if you don‘t yet have recording equipment!!**)

Yours faithfully,


(type don't sign)

dack_2

LOUISE22 wrote: »

i took the easy way out and changed my number and dealt with them via email and mail which i found easier.

It's a bit sad that it comes to this for people, many people (including me) are very hesitant about changing their main telephone number as it can be difficult to ensure all friends and family members have your new number. Also, there are likely to be some questions when you hand out the new number so if you wish to keep your BR discreet then you need a plausible excuse for the change

I needed a new house phone (no mobile now) so in anticipation of the barrage of calls I got one capable of sending and receiving texts. Most of my friends and family have mobiles and send me texts, easy to see who it is then I use BT Privacy (I think) to display the phone number of people calling me so I can screen calls. It works quite well. Mercer's also text me now, but I never reply

dack

headoutofsand

If any of you are already BR then call your case officer about the calls, they will then sort them out. If you're not BR then just ignore. As I have said "DO NOT TELL THEM ANYTHING" suprise them;)

skylight

Change your phone number.

Call BT TODAY and it will be changed within a few days. Tell them you are getting unknown harrassment calls and then the change will be free. DO NOT give out your new phone number to anything less than 110% trusted sources.

devon27_2

I had problems with phone calls as well we got caller display so dont answer any i dont recognise if you do waste theyre time or play dumb and fail all the security questions they will get bored eventually. or you could tell them to write to you and then you can send them a load of junk mail in the post without a stamp on. Just a thought!!!

b-man

i had this for the best part of 2 years. i found ulitmately the best way to deal with it is if you answer the phone and its not someone you want to speak to - hang up the phone.

i do sympathise though, it did get to the point where unless i recognised the number i would just let it go to answerphone and then phone back if need be.

this was hard especially when i was waiting for calls about new jobs from unknown numbers. But to be honest as soon as I heard the words "security questions" - the phone call just got termintated. reasoning with these people doesnt work. They will keep coming at you! to be honest I used to scream down the phone at some of them to "f off" before i came to terms with the fact that it was some poor sod in a call centre probably working 2 jobs trying to pay off his debts!

Worriedandpreg

Hi, my husband changed his number and we left the house phone unplugged for months. It's only now we have gone br we put the phone on.

XXX