Virgin mobile - won't block nuisance numbers?

themadvix

Hi Everyone,

I hope someone can help me, although I suspect I've just been told something I don't want to hear and am hoping I'll hear something better here!

I've been getting nuisance texts and calls occasionally for about a year - always at night (2am or later usually) and always from the same number. Whoever it is obviously thinks I'm someone else, they have used my name but refer to a past I've not been a part of. I did once text back and say that I didn't know them and to please leave me alone. The calls and texts did stop for a while but have recently started back up.

I have just rung Virgin mobile who I am with and the oh-so-helpful woman I spoke to informed me that they don't support call blocking and that the only option was to change my number!!!

Surely Virgin have a duty of care to their customers? I cannot see why I should have to make changes to my life because of someone else being in the wrong.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I go from here? The messages aren't obscene but are truly a pain as they wake me up and I can't get back to sleep. My phone doesn't have a silent option - it's either on loud or vibrate, and I need to have it on during the night.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Falafely

On my phone you can divert straight to voicemail, did this with a dodgy landlord. I went via the contact, then call diverting. Or it may be in some form of settings

If they really want to leave a voicemail just ignore them. I'm sure they will get bored of calling if there's no dial. If not, then it's a matter for the police, surely? Harrasment?

Good luck!

themadvix

Thanks Falafely,

I've done that, so hopefully they won't bother me with calls again. Sadly it won't stop the texts but it's definitely an improvement.

I didn't think it was serious enough for the police, but I bet Virgin would take a different view if I went to them with a crime reference no.! Will see how things go.

Jebelious

I dont believe that there are any operators out there that block numbers, there are some devices that have built in SMS/Call blocking facilities, and for some other devices there are apps that can block calls from particular numbers also.

Gordon_Hose

No operators block specific phone numbers.

Had the same with my landline, had to ask Sky for a new number.

madalice

themadvix wrote: »

Thanks Falafely,

I've done that, so hopefully they won't bother me with calls again. Sadly it won't stop the texts but it's definitely an improvement.

I didn't think it was serious enough for the police, but I bet Virgin would take a different view if I went to them with a crime reference no.! Will see how things go.

If the calls continue I'd do that thing with the whistle that they recommend for nuisance callers. You say it's always from the same number so presumably they're not withholding their number? Blow their ears off I say. As for texts, it's a pity mobile phones don't have a similar set up as email clients such as Outlook where you can add rules and send the beggars directly to your junk box.

gjchester

Depending on the phone you can set a ring tone per person (Motorolas used to have one tone per person and it worked on calls, and texts. many time I said hello to my wife and found I was talking to the phone as it was just a text)

Try setting that number to silent. You'll still get the calls but not be woken up

Or you could simply turn the phone off overnight

Techhead_2

madalice wrote: »

If the calls continue I'd do that thing with the whistle that they recommend for nuisance callers. You say it's always from the same number so presumably they're not withholding their number? Blow their ears off I say. As for texts, it's a pity mobile phones don't have a similar set up as email clients such as Outlook where you can add rules and send the beggars directly to your junk box.

That 'thing with the Whistle' is not recommended by anyone other than urban myth and old wives. Because nuisance callers get their kicks by provoking a reaction, they actually get off on knowing you are so disturbed that you are reacting strongly.

Service providers recommend not answering the phone to numbers you don't recognise. if you do answer then put the phone down without hanging up or speaking. Come back later when they are fed up and hang up if necessary.

Incidentally, many modern phones allow you to ignore texts from specific numbers.

in_the_Cotswolds

What phone have you got? Some phone like the iPhone and Blackberry have call and text blocking apps the you can download (I've got both on my Blackberry). I think even Android has the same.

themadvix

Sadly I'm very behind the times - it's a very old Sony Ericsson (it does what I need and the rest of the time I 'borrow' fiance's phone).

I'm obviously oblivious to the lack of interest phone operators pay to their customers needs - I assumed from reading the phone book when I was little (the beginning, and yes I was that sad!) that all phone operators would take as much interest as BT used to!

Thanks everyone for your responses!

gjchester

themadvix wrote: »

I assumed from reading the phone book when I was little (the beginning, and yes I was that sad!) that all phone operators would take as much interest as BT used to!

If they are threatening or abusive then take the phoe to the police who can try and trace them and stop them that way, but as Virgin have offered to change your number theres not a lot more they can realistically do.