cold calls

rih09

as we have been getting cold calls from abroad is there anyway to block this.
can we put a block on international calls
we are with BT


thanks

Premier_2

No, that is not possible with BT

Be aware that some calls marked as international may not originate from overseas but may simply be from a user using one of the many low cost carriers. Hence, if you could block international calls, you could also inadvertently be blocking many genuine calls.

Consider Truecall. It won't block international calls completely, but it has 2 possible lines of defence before you speak to the caller.
The first is a personal shield where it will ask all genuine callers to press a specific number on their keypad to get through. This will prevent automatic diallers and with the pre-recorded message saying that telemarketers are not welcome, will deter all but the most tenacious.

Even if they do press the required digit, you can still screen the caller via the 'whisper' function. The caller identifies themself and you decide whether or not to accept the call before speaking with them. Whilst this needs your interaction, you don't actually speak to unwelcome callers and if you don't, the message received by the caller saying the call is not welcome should hopefully put them off calling again.

BarneyBee

Premier wrote: »

No, that is not possible with BT

Be aware that some calls marked as international may not originate from overseas but may simply be from a user using one of the many low cost carriers. Hence, if you could block international calls, you could also inadvertently be blocking many genuine calls.

Consider Truecall. It won't block international calls completely, but it has 2 possible lines of defence before you speak to the caller.
The first is a personal shield where it will ask all genuine callers to press a specific number on their keypad to get through. This will prevent automatic diallers and with the pre-recorded message saying that telemarketers are not welcome, will deter all but the most tenacious.

Even if they do press the required digit, you can still screen the caller via the 'whisper' function. The caller identifies themself and you decide whether or not to accept the call before speaking with them. Whilst this needs your interaction, you don't actually speak to unwelcome callers and if you don't, the message received by the caller saying the call is not welcome should hopefully put them off calling again.

I'm sorry but it will block international calls and unavailable calls, you can even set it so that the caller hears the ringing tone, but your phone won't giving the impression that you are not in to take the call

Premier_2

BarneyBee wrote: »

I'm sorry but it will block international calls and unavailable calls, you can even set it so that the caller hears the ringing tone, but your phone won't giving the impression that you are not in to take the call

Are you referring to truecall?

The advice I posted some 6 months ago was correct at the time, and checking their website today, appears to still be correct.

http://www.truecall.co.uk/acatalog/Advanced_ICM_International.html

BarneyBee

i'm sorry for any misunderstanding about truecall function of blocking internationalk calls?

but on software version v2.2 on the truecall unit there is a function to block ALL international calls that flag up international on a caller display

Pont

Just as an addition. I either read here or on another site (can't remember) of a tactic to use.

When you pick up the phone and there's no immediate speech it's a good clue it's a cold caller. If this occurs, say nothing and keep pressing the hash key. I tried it tonight for the first time and the response was priceless! All I heard from the other end was, 'What the hell?' 'What's happened?' 'What the hell is this?' etc etc.

I don't know what happened altogether but the caller didn't sound happy!

forgotmyname

Dont bother with the BT call blocking service, It does not block ALL withheld and unknown number.

I kept getting strange calls, Signed up to the blocking service. Calls persisted. I got a refund from BT.

Set answermachine to answer after 1 ring & recorded a nice message for them. Calls stopped.

Inlaws stopped phoning also, double bonus.

:beer: