Telecom Protection Service 02030045597/08719891414

HB58

I had a call from the 'Telecom Protection Service' a few days ago. The lady said that they were working with TPS to provide an improved service to members as more and more calls were getting through. Insisted that she had got my number from the real TPS but at least she gave up immediately when I asked her to.

brightonman123

overseas calls cannot be traced at present, afaik; This was a big bug bear, when I worked for a (nice!) telecoms provider.


Most should be able to block 'withheld' number calls, from within the UK- maybe a cost, or built in to line rental.


Ask about user chosen blocking, too- you can set bars on in/out calls to certain types of numbers- premium rate, mobiles etc.

NB: If you DO start blocking withheld numbers, be sure to tell anyone you want to call that has caller ID blocked to 'release' their number, when dialling you - add 141 in front I think..

forgotmyname

Adding 141 witholds your number.

BT and Panasonic sell phones will call blockers built in. You can also buy call blockers that connect between the socket and your phone.
Some will block over 1000 numbers and block witheld and international numbers also.

Slight anomally though. I had a call today from Argos (delivery) 0845 number when you do a 1471 or check the display on my call blocker. But the BT phone says international?

SaraP

I had literally just ended a telephone call and was about to book some tickets on line when the phone rang. Suspecting it to be the usual cold callers I answered tersely "Yes". Not put off the man launched into the spiel described by others about this telephone protection service.
Having my laptop running and on my lap I tapped in the name and found this thread........ So I informed him that I had just read all about his organisation and I did NOT want a paying service and by the way why was he ringing me anyway since I am already registered with the Telephone Preference Service. I finished by telling him to remove my number from the database.

I have to say that the genuine TPS has been about as useful as a chocolate fireguard recently - I am plagued by calls from people wanting to sell me solar panels, help me reclaim insurance money and reglaze my house. The quick answer to home improvements callers is "I'll have to ask the landlord because I only rent" The sound of calls terminating is instant. I am now off to e mail all my elderly contacts about this latest nuisance call.

Goldiegirl

I've had a couple of calls from these people and sent them away with a flea on their ear, but it is worrying that vulnerable people are taken in by them

sakara

Got a call today from a company called Nuisance Call prevention Service, they spoke to my elderly father first, but my spider sense tingled and i picked up another phone to hear who was talking to him. i heard who they were and they were asking for money over the phone, so i told my father i would deal with it.
I told them their service was a scam , which the english guy speaking was adamant they were not. I said, i believe any company that offers a service that is next to useless, but still takes money off people, a total scam.
he said 'no we have been checked by Trading Standards, we are a good service , here is the number we have with them.'
- 8734429
Except that is just the Companies House register number, nothing to do with Trading Standards!
I told him, you do realise the irony of your call - unsolicited, trying to sell a service over the phone to a pensioner. That TPS and Ofcom both say services of this kind are unregulated.
he wouldn't have it, we are not a scam, we are a genuine service he kept repeating.

The company does exist, but anyone can set up a company and register it. They even have a website http://www.ncpsteam.co.uk/
(again anyone can do that.)

I took a look. They offer the same useless service as all the others. One of the services is they offer to block all withheld numbers. Except that is no good as that means hospitals, GP, services like that get blocked too.
They also offer to contact any call centers and tell them of the data protection act section 11
( http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/29/section/11)
what's to stop anyone from stating this over the phone?

oh this bit on the website i found amusing -
"Please be careful who you give your Telephone contact details to as you may without realising be giving permission for your detailed to be used or sold to other companies."
Um so how did you get my number!!?!

hollydays

I love this bit on their site.

We have asked the Telephone Preference Service (Which is a FREE UK Service) if we may also register your details on their service but they have declined to allow us to register on your behalf. Therefore if you would like to also register on The Telephone Preference Service you may do so by calling them on 0845 070 0707, or registering online at https://www.tpsonline.org.uk

Ha ha they are idiots!!

gadgetmind

Please report all of these scammers to Trading Standards.

wardaler

I would totally agree with the previous comment that the real TPS are as effective as a chocolate tea-pot! As we were receiving more than 10 nuisance calls per day I did a lot of research on what was available to help. The telephones with call blocking facilities tend to be limited in the number you can block. They also have problems dealing with 'international' and 'withheld' numbers. I eventually settled on a Truecall unit. It cost around £100 but, as we were receiving a large volume of such calls, it looked the best unit available. The unit is easy to program with detailed instructions and a telephone helpline provided. You can also program in you regular accepted callers who will then not have to go through any screening process. Since installation this unit has cut out ALL our unwanted, nuisance and sales calls. There are other machines available but this one really does what it claims to do. You can even add a memory card to record your calls if you so wish. Highly recommended.

carlislelass

WE had a call, didn`t catch the name but was told they had been on This Morning (I don`t watch it so no idea)