BT's *227# withheld number blocking facility

codger

We're BT customers with a standard basic contract for rental and calls. Recently, we've been plagued by calls whose sources are not identifiable because the number has been withheld.

We've obtained from BT's website a pdf file "Calling Features". It lists various facilities provided by BT. The majority are asterisked by BT to denote that they are "only available as part of a Calling Feature pack", and thus presumably have to be paid for.

But two are not asterisked, and thus freely available. The first is 1471, to identify the last number that called (obviously useless when the number is withheld). The second free facility gets around that:

"Anonymous Call Rejection: you can stop calls from people who have withheld their number". Set up: *227#; cancel: #227#; check: *#227#

We've long used 1471 without difficulty and without charge -- so that bears out what BT states in its brochure. But *227#???

No chance. Though it's not part of any paid-for 'calling features package', all we get after setting up the block is a recorded BT message saying this service is unavailable.

Any ideas, anyone?

* We're registered with TPS, by the way.

bbb_uk

I'm afraid Anonymous Caller Rejection isn't free - it's costs a massive £4 per month. This is in comparison to other features which they generally charge £1.75 per month.

More info here.

billsavings

"Choose to refuse" is another service you can use to combat unwanted calls but thats £3.35p a month.

https://www.bt.com/SelectServices/index.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0655328897.1163846631@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladdjgkfmeghcflgcefkdffndflh.0&BV_SessionID=@@@@0655328897.1163846631@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladdjgkfmeghcflgcefkdffndflh.0&showsub3=SS_advanced_features&subProduct=SS_Choose_to_Refuse&showsub4=SS_choosetorefuse

codger

Thanks bbb. That's terrible.

But how typical of a greedy and incompetent British Telecom to produce an on-line publication that not only makes no mention of this charge, it represents it in the same way as the 1471 facility -- i.e., something everyone can use for free.

Seeing as how the "reasonableness" test is being applied to bank charges, I wonder how BT can possibly justify £48 a year as "reasonable"? Does it really cost the company that much because a subscriber has pressed three buttons to block such calls?

Even more to the point, isn't BT the cause of the problem anyway? I thought it offered the "number withheld" facility free of charge -- on which basis, it should offer blocking of number withheld similarly free.

codger

Thanks bill -- sorry, posts crossed.

Unity

You can register for BT's Privacy scheme for free, which helps to stop cold calling by telesales people if that would help. The call is free too, just dial 0800 169 1407 and when prompted press button #1. It takes a while before you stop getting this type of nuisance call, but when you do answer one of these, you just mention you are registered with BT's Privacy scheme and they usually apologise.

Hope this helps.

Unity

codger

Thanks Unity -- that's a great help! Am off to register for this now.

I'd still like to be able to block calls from people / organisations who withhold their number though -- no point in dealing with anyone who so evidently has something to hide.

hurrah

codger wrote:

Thanks Unity -- that's a great help! Am off to register for this now.

I'd still like to be able to block calls from people / organisations who withhold their number though -- no point in dealing with anyone who so evidently has something to hide.

But you say your already registered with the TPS scheme.So its no real help.As all Bt do is register you for CPS.
http://www2.bt.com/static/i/btretail/consumer/btprivacy/index.html

But you do get benefit of free caller display,handy for screening calls if you have the right phone.

codger

Thanks hurrah -- maybe a trip to eBay to have a look at caller display phones is in order!

Unity

codger wrote:

Thanks hurrah -- maybe a trip to eBay to have a look at caller display phones is in order!

Good luck! I was one of the many that homephonesonline tried to rip-off:mad: (see my post and link on the rant board), but I believe eBay withdrew them yesterday. I got my phones from another eBay seller, go-shop-direct and would unreservedly recommend them. I bought a triple set of BT Diverse 5210 cordless phones, that not only give you caller display, you can also send text messages from the hand sets. The postage was reasonable for next day delivery too:D .

Best wishes,
Unity

bunking_off

I wouldn't comment one way or another whether BT should offer the service for free (although, from their perspective if calls are automatically being rejected that means lost revenue hence probably why they charge).

However, having found the page originally referred to, I think that Codger mis-read what BT were saying. Items marked with a * are those which can be bought as part of a calling features package, ie 1 service = £1.75, 2-4 = £3.50 etc etc. Anything without a * isn't part of that type of package...in some cases like 1471 it's free (so long as you don't press 3), but for others, e.g. caller redirect (diverts all calls when you move home) which are similarly marked with no *, it's obvious they'll be charged for.

Further down on the page on BT's website which pulls up the pdf files, it gives a list of the free services and *227# isn't one of them.