MSE News: Watchdogs put Telephone Preference Service under nuisance calls spotlight

Former_MSE_Helen

"Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office have teamed up to launch a new drive to tackle nuisance calls..."

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Watchdogs put Telephone Preference Service under nuisance calls spotlight



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TheAngelStardust

We have been with the TPS for ages.
To be honest, it has reduced the number of calls, but we still get a lot from overseas and calls pretending to be surveys etc, or saying we have given our number when we haven't. We get a lot of aggravation from call centre staff over the registration.
Callers have even claimed to have our number from the phone book list as given to them, but we are ex-directory.
Amazing what excuses you get and how one person managed to get our phone number from the electoral roll (we are also edited out of that) beats me.

fionajbanana

I wish Ofcom or TPS or another organisation could stop those prerecorded calls which about winning a cruise or a holiday and ring me at 3am!

I have mentioned these to Ofcom but they said it was out of their control!

John_Pierpoint

This topic is constantly being thrashed on this thread - but spam calls are getting worse in my case, especially the overseas ones.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1162709

Krojan

Considering the TPS have taken literally NO action against companies whom persist calling registered members, its all too little too late. Unless they bear their teeth and take action and stop spouting hollow words then it'll still be referred to as the Totally Pointless Service.

chris_m

Krojan wrote: »

it'll still be referred to as the Totally Pointless Service.

It's been that ever since companies discovered that it was cheaper to use overseas call centres - plus the added bonus that using them would circumvent what few teeth the TPS has.

Of course, a dinky little fine if the TPS do actually take any action is really going to deter the shyster companies isn't it? The threat to close them down or take away their licence to trade would be far more effective, especially if it was actually done to one or two of them.

My call-blocker box is far more effective, I just wish it allowed me to record a suitably Anglo-Saxon message instead of just disconnecting the call

hamsterfan1

It's incorrect to say that just because a call is from overseas TPS (allegedly) can't do anything about it - if the call is made on behalf of a UK firm they are still covered by the rules

Browntoa

Rules are full of holes allowing "surveys" and other exclusions that the cowboys exploit . The rules should be changed so you have to OPT IN to receive further contact from UK companies, some give you NO option to opt out when you contact them without writing to them

And give the TPS some teeth !!

Pincher

I propose we establish a Hi-Tech version of the SAS, called TAS (Technical Air Service).

The real enemy would be hacker cells with intent to attack and spy on UK interests, as well as cyber criminals in general. For practice, they will track and take down nuisance call operations. Preferably exterminate with extreme prejudice the slimy bosses who set them up and dump their bodies in open sea like Osama Bin Ladin.

Froggitt

TPS are a waste of skin. Surely they must get hundreds of reports a day......they should take action against all those companies and the number of spamcalls will reduce.

Reaper

PPI seem to be the worst at 22% of all calls. Typically companies registered abroad will make the calls then sell the leads to a UK company.

The solutions are blindingly obvious. Pretend to be interested and find out which company buys the lead then prosecute the UK company. If the UK based company checked the TPS and did not pay for any TPS member leads the calls would soon dry up.

The only rule change I think is needed is the UK company (and call centre too if based in the UK) having contacted you should be obliged to tell you on demand precisely how they got your number. e.g. "we bought a list from HassleThem.com", rather than some vague excuse that you "ticked a box on an affiliated web site". If they don't know and used a 3rd party it is up to them to find out or be fined for wilful ignorance.