International calls not covered by the Telephone Preference Service?

headcovers

Just recently I have had to fend off stacks of calls from Timeshare companies enquiring whether my timeshare is still up for sale.

I do have a timeshare, but have never offered it up for sale and I don't know who can have passed on my details. Only my timeshare membership company know I have it and they have never passed on my details in the 20 years I have been with them.

I am registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), but when I point this out they say that because they are calling from Spain it does not cover them.

I am receiving call after call after call and it's driving me nuts:mad:

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do - short of putting the phone down on them.

Heinz

Assuming Caller Display shows 'International', you could just ignore such calls.

That method falls down though if there are (other) international calls you wish to receive.

headcovers

Heinz wrote:

Assuming Caller Display shows 'International', you could just ignore such calls.

That method falls down though if there are (other) international calls you wish to receive.

Unfortunately that is exactly the problem I have...I have relatives abroad who do call on a fairly frequent basis, but they are not the type to call to a schedule, just to help me avoid marketing calls

mobilegossip

Interesting thread about unwelcome calls started by MSE here.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=248513

macminiuser

headcovers wrote:

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do - short of putting the phone down on them.

You could try getting Choose to Refuse on your line. The BT Website says the following:

"What's the benefit?
Allows you to stop unwanted or nuisance calls by preventing them from getting through to you.

How does it work?
If you frequently receive unwanted or nuisance calls from a particular number, you can block that number from getting through to you. This ensures your peace of mind and, if later on you change your mind, you can lift the block and allow the caller to contact you once again.

How much will it cost me?
Choose to Refuse costs £3.35 (incl. VAT) per month."

You can download a PDF explaining line features from the BT website here.

Once it's activated, to bar the last call you answered you simply dial 14258, and Choose To Refuse will ask you to press ** to confirm that you want to bar calls from that number. The number you’ve barred will no longer be able to get through and callers who have had their call rejected will hear an announcement stating that their calls are not being accepted.

Of course this only works if the people calling you disclose their number. I'm not sure how well it works (if at all) with international numbers. Might be worth a go?

Heinz

Surely, as international CLI is rarely available and as CTR relies on the number, that wouldn't work.

macminiuser

Heinz wrote:

Surely, as international CLI is rarely available and as CTR relies on the number, that wouldn't work.

I did say I wasn't sure if it would work with international numbers, having never tried it myself.

However, my mother lives in the states and I have friends in Spain and the Canary Islands and I can see their numbers come up on my caller display when they call.

Hence why I thought if the OP can see the number of the person who's calling, they might be able to take advantage of CTR.

Heinz

macminiuser wrote:

However, my mother lives in the states and I have friends in Spain and the Canary Islands and I can see their numbers come up on my caller display when they call.

Now that's interesting. Sister-in-law's Spanish number NEVER shows on CLI for us (Telefonica line to BT line). We just get 'International' on our DECT phones and BT Caller Display unit.

macminiuser

Heinz wrote:

Now that's interesting. Sister-in-law's Spanish number NEVER shows on CLI for us (Telefonica line to BT line). We just get 'International' on our DECT phones and BT Caller Display unit.

I'm not sure who the people in Spain are with - I know my friends in the Canary Islands have Telefonica, or at least it sounds familiar. I have no idea who my mum's with.

For my sins I'm with Bulldog for my landline, I'm not how that would make a difference, but apparently it does.

When my mum calls from her mobile it comes up "Out of Area" on my DECT phone, if that helps?