Nuisance Payday loan texts/calls.

Goinker

Probably like many mobile users, I'm getting anything up to 10 texts or calls a day on my mobile from Payday loan firms or brokers. To say it's a nuisance is an understatement, and I block each one (136 numbers blocked to date!) but they keep coming at me on different numbers each time. I've never used any Payday loan company (I'm a pensioner) and never will, but I'm getting fed up with all the pestering, and of course, I never reply or text "Stop" as all that will do is confirm the number is in use. Obviously, my number has been sold or otherwise passed on to these parasites, so is there any way I can put a stop to these pests. I've already tried asking callers to remove me from their database, tried giving them an earful (Perhaps not recommended, but does give me tremendous satisfaction!), even tried answering "*********** Constabulary" to them (they hang up!), but can't seem to shake them off. Any sensible suggestions welcomed!

Buzby

Yes - abandon your existing number for a 'new' (hopefully previously un allocated by the network). Nothing else will work, I'm afraid.

Earthworm

Agree with Buzby... Change your number.

Harald

And while you're waiting, register your number with TPS and keep reporting texts to ICO:
http://www.ico.org.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_guides/marketing

[Deleted User]

Buzby has the answer although it will be a nuisance informing genuine callers of the number change. I'm a pensioner too and I've tried a different approach suggested by my son, which actually turns out to be fun because it's so silly.
When they ask the first question just say something like OBLONG then to the second question answer "I prefer custard with it". The third question could be answered with "gloss paint" - you can use anything silly and they usually lose interest and ring off, never to ring again because they'll mark the number as belonging to an idiot.
When you pass 65 you can lose all inhibitions and have some fun at their expense!

The_Deep

When you pass 65 you can lose all inhibitions and have some fun at their expense

Indeed, I get a lot of cold calls from Asian sounding people wanting me to complete lifestyle surveys, and have developed a sure way of ticking them off.

Q. Are you a homeowner or do you rent
A. Neither, I live in an abandoned car in a field

Q Do you have a pet
A I have a giraffe

Q Do you have a funeral plan
A. I have no plans to die

Q how old are you
A I am 107

and so it goes on until they hang up

J_B

Deleted_User wrote: »

When you pass 65 you can lose all inhibitions and have some fun at their expense!

Ermmm .... why wait till 65?

Goinker

Hi Guys.
To answer the last 3 posts, I always remember that growing old is compulsory, growing up isn't!!! I might be late 60's in body, but I'm around 14 (and daft with it!) in mind. I'm very reluctant to give up my existing number as I've had it since the 90's and I had the opportunity of a new number 6 months ago when I moved from Vodafone to Giffgaff, but declined it, transferring my original number, so it's my own fault I guess. I thought I'd seen somewhere about reporting the pest numbers to either the network operator for blocking, or OFCOM or similar to get the offending companies fined. I have a limited circle of people who know my number, so I am quickly aware of any unusual number calling me, and don't answer, blocking the number immediately afterwards. I wasn't aware that you could register mobile numbers with TPS, although my home number is registered and Ex-directory. For the present, I'll report texts to ICO, and see how it goes. Thanks to all who have replied.

Goinker

Just registered my own and Wife's mobiles with TPS, although Wife has had no problems. ICO needs date/time of texts, but having blocked the numbers, this information is no longer on my phone. I'll add the next texts as and when they arrive, as they surely will!