The End of the Silent Phone Call?

Paul_Varjak

OFCOM initiated their own investigation into silent phone calls, under the Electronic Communications Act (2003), back in June 2006.

Today, there has been a surprise announcement that, with immediate effect, outgoing silent phone calls from Call Centres are effectively banned! Call Centres must now put a message on the line if no call centre staff are available to handle the call.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/bulletins/comp_bull_index/comp_bull_ocases/open_all/cw_905/

Jemma-T

This would be a wonderful thing but I don't trust OFCOM.

I'm sure the telcom providers can stop this sort of thing very quickly including withheld, unknown etc. I reckon we're moving towards that too as many people get hounded by this and the 'silent' has affected everyone.

Jemma-T

OFCOM:
With immediate effect, a recorded message must be played either no later than two seconds after
the telephone has been picked up; or no later than two seconds after an individual begins to speak.

I assume this then means these scumbag companies have to pay for the call as it's connected? Or maybe there's other costs?

Maybe someone familiar with this will know.

Paul_Varjak

Since the OFCOM announcement, I received two calls from two organisations where no-one was on the line. All I got was a message saying they had no-one to speak to me.

And when I call them back, all I get is a message saying I was called today and that I have nothing to worry about! The phone then disconnects!! They call me and don't speak to me. I call them back and they still won't speak to me! So BLOODY ANNOYING!!!

Despite OFCOM allowing such annoying calls to continue, I certainly will not! Any company calling me when they have no-one to speak to me is now blocked immediately from calling me in future!

Of course, these organisations argue that it improves their efficiency not to have someone on the line when they call you! Seems they consider that more important than customer satisfaction!!!!!

Jemma-T

If the company have a number please post it here and I'll be blocking it with my Panasonic phone

We'll need to start a thread of banned numbers!

Paul_Varjak

Hi Jemma...

Here are the numbers you want...

01415676201 (Scottish Power retentions)

09009886009 (Talk Talk renewals)

trueCall is even better at blocking callers!

www.truecall.co.uk

Jemma-T

Thanks!

No need to add those as they would never phone me. I don't get any calls from legit companies/organisations as I'm fully TPS'd https://www.tpsonline.org.uk

I find TPS really does work and add to that when filling in forms or making a contract overthe phone I always make sure there's no contact allowed unless it's very important.

Paul_Varjak

Yes, TPS does work, but does not stop overseas call centres calling.

TPS also does not stop companies calling you if you are their customer, so you do right to tell those companiesd only to contact you in an emergency.

If I am unsure of a company I have another number (I got free from SIPGATE) and give them that number instead. The number ALWAYS diverts to voice mail and I get an e-mail upon receipt of voicemail.

The other small problem I have is that my number is very similar to a taxi firm. So, between 11pm and 7am, my trueCall answers the phone and my phone only then rings if the person calling presses a button to speak to me.