Unwanted Government Funded Calls?

westiea

I just received a call from someone asking me about house insulation.

Now I have been part of the Telephone/Mailing Preference Services since year dot, so I asked how they had got my phone number (I am also ex directory and am only on the Edited Electoral Register.)

They informed me that as it was a government grant that they are able to access my details!--anyone else experienced this, or know if this is accurate?

mikey72

Probably, if the goverment haven't given it them by accident they would have sold it to them.
They don't have a good record on privacy, and if they can ean a few more pounds for their expenses claims.........

stef73

I get about 2 or 3 of these calls a week as i work 2-10 im at home in the day time we have loft insulation and cavity wall insulation . I use a vuvuzela horn every time they call now saves speaking to them .

david39

There are many cold-callers (based overseas so TPS and OFCOM cannot touch them) who claim they are calling with information about government schemes and grants about all sorts of things.

They are all scams trying to sell you something - many of them being financial services that cost you fees to join and then don't deliver. Some of them try to wind you up so that they illicit information from you while you are in a temper and then use it to scam you by other means.

Once you are on their "list" it is almost impossible to stop the calls. The best way of responding is to put the phone down on them without speaking - if you talk to them, you are classed as "responsive" and the call frequency will increase and your number will be sold on to other companies in other lines of business. If you don't speak to them, they eventually give up - but it might take months before they do.

dizzy_dog_fan

The Information Commissioner is the official responsible for policing the 'unsolicited direct marketing phone/fax/email/text' market - if you get any of these types of calls/contacts from organisations that are trying to sell you something, or arrange an appointment, etc - get their details (company name, address, phone number, etc), make a note of the content of the call and the time/date of it, and register a formal complaint with the ICO. - there's a page on their website about Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulations (the governing law here) and how to complain.

Talking to OFCOM or BT etc won't help - and TPS can only write to the caller asking them to stop, they can't enforce things, as the ICO is the regulator, not TPS.:idea:

pinkshoes

I'm also registered with TPS but got one of these calls about a government grant for insulation. Telling them you're thinking of moving house gets rid of them.