Absolutely FED UP with telephone cold callers

Laz123

I used to get so many of these calls, plus scam and phishing too. I bought a cheap answerphone and recorded a message which says:
'Due to the high levels of scamming and phishing calls this phone will not be answered, but if you are a genuine caller please leave a message and someone will get back to you'.

This has cut down the calls to nil in the last few weeks. I can hear who is calling so I can pick up the phone if it's a genuine caller and this automatically stops the recording.

fluffnutter

1. Sign up with TPS.
2. When using the web, and particularly on sites such as insurance comparison sites, always give a false number. Think very carefully whether a new company you wish to have an account with really needs your phone number. If you've supplied an email address, they can use that to contact you instead.
3. Make sure your preferences are set to 'no marketing calls' with your bank, utility companies, phone provider etc.
4. Let the answerphone pick up your calls.
5. Consider a Truecall machine.
6. If companies do phone, tell them to remove you from their list.

I do all of the above (apart from Truecall) and I get just a couple of calls a year. The most important thing is to be very, very careful with sharing your number. Once you're on marketing lists, it's difficult and time-consuming to be removed.

Azari

fluffnutter wrote: »

2. When using the web, and particularly on sites such as insurance comparison sites, always give a false number. Think very carefully whether a new company you wish to have an account with really needs your phone number. If you've supplied an email address, they can use that to contact you instead.

This.

Many companies ask for you email address and landline and mobile phone numbers but never contact you by anything other that post.

I do as fluffnutter and, similarly, get very few calls; probably around one every 3-4 months.

speedfreek1000

fluffnutter wrote: »

2. When using the web, and particularly on sites such as insurance comparison sites, always give a false number. Think very carefully whether a new company you wish to have an account with really needs your phone number. If you've supplied an email address, they can use that to contact you instead.

I sometime use real number plus false name.

It's very easy to screen calls when the person calling asks for a MR D Cammeron plus you can have a laugh with caller

I also sometimes fill in the general No for the Houses of Parliament.

I filter my calls with a phone with built in address book and answer phone. If I'm not expecting the call or it's not on the list then it goes to answer machine. Calls connect so it cost them money, I get to dance around the room to my funky samba ringtone and they can call back all they want as I ain't answering \o/

dollydiva

Whilst TPS is effective for filtering calls, they are no good whatsoever I getting a company to STOP calling you, if your number belonged to someone else before you got it.

I am constantly plagued with calls from Toucan Finance asking for some poor sap who obviously once dealt with them many moons ago.

I asked Toucan to stop calling on many occasions; they ignore you. Ive emailed, I've written. No chance. But if you google this awful Co. you'll know why.

So I reported it to TPS and logged the calls. Waste of time. Bog standard reply with as my tel no once belonged to someone else there is nothing they can do. So don't bother.


Dd

*Scarlett

If you want to pursue it, ask the caller to remove your details from their database, ask and make a note of the company name and address - there are ways to report them if they contact you again. Companies can be fined for unwanted contact - tell them this when you speak to them.

Make sure you tick or untick any boxes for future contact if you are completing any forms and never use your real phone number unless you have to.

Fridaycat

I too used to be fed up with cold calls. I tried all the good things suggested on here, but they didn't stop.

The only thing that has been 100% effective is TrueCall. Absolutely positively 100% worth the smallish investment (I got mine off Amazon with vouchers that I'd saved up from doing surveys, Top Cashback, Nectar points etc).

I have had mine since August and have not had a single cold call since - result :T

pineapple

teapackets wrote: »

Is there any way of reducing these calls does anyone know,

Retire!
I know, I know, maybe it's just a coincidence but on retiring all the calls just STOPPED. Are these people that well connected? Maybe they know about my paltry income and savings too! :eek:
It's like I suddenly became a non person. Move along people, nothing to see here, only a poor retired person.....
I almost miss those calls

st999

Retire!

Then you get calls about stairlifts.

I just tell them I live in a bungalow.

fluffnutter

dollydiva wrote: »

Whilst TPS is effective for filtering calls, they are no good whatsoever I getting a company to STOP calling you, if your number belonged to someone else before you got it.

I am constantly plagued with calls from Toucan Finance asking for some poor sap who obviously once dealt with them many moons ago.

I asked Toucan to stop calling on many occasions; they ignore you. Ive emailed, I've written. No chance. But if you google this awful Co. you'll know why.

So I reported it to TPS and logged the calls. Waste of time. Bog standard reply with as my tel no once belonged to someone else there is nothing they can do. So don't bother.


Dd

Ask your service provider to block their calls. They're breaking the law by harassing you.