Is there ever going to be a time when 'spam' calls are stopped?!!! WARNING; LONG RANT

HPS

I have had to change my landline phone number over and over again, because of these spam calls: soliciting for PPI and various other compensation claims, and people trying to sell energy, people doing surveys, people begging from charities; the list is endless.

I have now changed it six times in 5 years, and changed phone providers twice, and on several occasions, the 'new' number started having spam calls within HOURS of being activated. When I challenge the provider in question, they said that they recycle numbers, and it's not possible to give me a brand new one.

Up to last March, I had had 3 numbers between March 2008 and March 2012...as each one I had kept getting spam calls! So I had a FOURTH number last April 2012. AGAIN, more spam calls immediately. Plus, I got more and more calls asking for Julie or Steve, and when I said that there is no-one of that name here; I got an indignant response saying 'well I got them on this number a few weeks ago!'

On further investigation; I discovered that the number we had been given (in April 2012,) was in use to someone else, just SIX WEEKS before they gave me the number. SO I demanded they change it, as this was ludicrous, and they gave me another one, (the FIFTH number since March 2008!) And lo and behold, I started getting nuisance 'spam' calls again.

On top of that, debt collectors kept phoning, asking for a John Jones and a Linda Smith (not their real names) and I said that there are no such persons at this number, and they said that this was the number they have on file for them, and the number they gave them as a contact number.

I have put up with ten months of calls now with this new number that I got last April, people selling and doing surveys and the same and 'new' debt collectors asking for John and Linda, no matter HOW many times I tell them they have the wrong number. One plank even said to me 'well, where is Mrs Smith then?' And I said 'how the HELL should I know: I don't even know who she is!' And someone else rang and said 'well do you have her new address, if she is not there?' Completely dense, stupid idiots.

So I changed the number AGAIN last week, and within an HOUR, I got a spam call: I didn't answer the phone, but when I rang back the number, it was a call from a marketing company.

So I have now been forced to use my landline for OUTGOING calls only, and I have given mine and my partner's mobile number out to the doctor, the hospital, the dentist and anyone else who would maybe need to contact me. My close family and friends text or tweet and ask me to ring them - if they need to talk to me - as I have unlimited landline calls.

But the fact that we have had to permanently switch off our phone to stop this, and we have to get people to text us or tweet us if they need us to ring them, is absurd, but we just cannot stand the constant intrusiveness any longer.

And I have joined the TPS, with each number, and it literally has not stopped it. It's 'curbed' it, but not stopped it. I have contacted them a number of times, and they say that surveys and charity collecting, and people chasing debts cannot be stopped by them, and neither can calls from overseas. They said that we should simply tell the creditors that the person they are chasing is no longer on this number, but I have done that, and they still keep calling.

I think that they think I am lying, and that I am that person, and they call back in the hope of 'catching me out.' I have also had many calls from anonymous numbers, and from numbers which, when you ring them back, are dead - or they just say' you have been called today by someone wanting to speak to you about marketing or sales 'but because there is no business name, AGAIN, the TPS can do nothing.

So sorry about this long rant, but does anyone else have a similar problem, and does anyone know if anyone is ever going to do anything about these pests???!

missprice

until the problem is fixed

get an ansaphone thingy
set it to answer after 2 rings
ignore any calls unless people talk to machine and you know them
if it is important they will leave a message
if it is spam they may leave a message but you don’t have to talk to them
problem nearly solved:)

bod1467

tl;dr

Phone numbers are not infinite. If you change your number there's an almost 100% probability that it has been used before by someone else.

Herongull

The only 3 ways to stop being pestered by nuisance calls are:

1/ Do essentially what you've done - turn the ring volume down to zero and only use the landline for outgoing calls.

or

2/As someone else suggested, do not pick up and the phone and route all incoming calls to the voicemail (can be combined with 1/ to stop the distracting noise of phone ringing) and only return the genuine calls.

or

3/Buy a call screener. Trucall is expensive (costs around £100), but in my experience it is extremely effective in stopping virtually the nuisance calls, while still allowing genuine calls through.

Stormchaser_2

bod1467 wrote: »

tl;dr

Phone numbers are not infinite. If you change your number there's an almost 100% probability that it has been used before by someone else.

Why bother posting PURELY to critisize the OP for their post being so long that you couldn't be bothered to read it?! The OP warned it was a long post. Did you come on here just to point out that the post was too long?! Bit lame and pointless. Re: your sig: I would bet a million pounds that the OP WON'T be clicking the 'thanks' button.

OP: I don't think anyone can ever stop these hideous wretched people ringing. All you can do is do what you're doing. And maybe take the advice of the 'helpful' posters on here.

I did hear some while back - last year - that the government may be taking action on these people and instilling fines on people who hound people with nuisance calls, but I don't know how it could be policed worldwide.

Comes to something though, when you feel you have to switch your bloody phone off to avoid the scumbags.

ukjoel

Just put the phone down on the side and make a cup of tea.

The other option if its the same people calling is get their details and bill them for your time.

The previous posters mention of a call screener is also very good.

I often find that if I tell them I am recording the call for training and legal purposes on my end I never hear from them again.

Ask for a name - spelling of the name, official position, (clarification that they were born with that name (especially if they are calling from abroad), their date of birth, organisation name and address, and the purpose of their call ie is it solicited or unsolicited.

Fire_Fox

Telephone Preference Service (does not work immediately so be a little more patient than changing your phone number repeatedly; you may have to tell the person on the phone you are registered)
Having fun with Debitas (hilarious and v relevant to debt collectors)

molerat

With TPS and probably only get a couple of spam calls a year. IMO repeatedly changing the number is only making the problem worse.

meer53

Get caller display and TPS. Only answer calls from numbers you recognise. No need to change a telephone number. By changing it constantly you're just giving them another opportunity to ring you, you're a new customer to them ! I've had the same telephone number for 26 years, never felt the need to change it, spam calls are annoying, if i do answer one by mistake, i just put the phone down.

Azari

The only problem with the 'caller display' route is that services such as Call1899 which can provide very cheap calls sometimes route them in such a way that no caller ID is present.

Which means if your friends use such a service there may be occasions when you don't answer their calls because you mistake them for nuisance calls.

Similarly many doctors and hospitals and various government commercial organisations do not provide caller ID.

artbaron

The number of my new place has been recycled. Originally I got a few calls about some person who's name I've forgotten, but in the past couple of months I've had about two dozen asking for Mr Bean(!). Some use number withheld, others use landlines or mobiles which I've blocked. Recently I've been making up stories about Mr Bean and one caller was told that Mr Bean had died on the way back from a retreat in Nepal whilst another that Mr Bean been arrested for unspeakable crimes and would phone them back in the unlikely event he made bail. None of this has any effect so I just think of it as opportunity for light entertainment if the mood takes me.