Cold callers - why are they allowed?

GingerBob_3

I'm ex-directory but recently I've been plagued with cold callers - PPI etc, and today it's been accident referrals. A basic question:

When a particular number is known to be linked to these scammers why can't BT just shut it down? Why should the scammers get away with using a number for months on end?

Nodding_Donkey

I think you are confusing BT with a company that gives a !!!!

pelirocco

Although annoying I wouldn't call them scammers

GingerBob_3

pelirocco wrote: »

Although annoying I wouldn't call them scammers

Care to choose a description for them?

Jemma-T

All cold callers are scammers as they're after some gain without your prior knowledge or permission.

I don't think we can do much except block the numbers TalkTalk have made a start with most customers getting a free call block option (just 10 numbers though) and caller ID and of course it's possible to get a phone that blocks much more.

If it's a cold caller where I have some dealings then I'll usually be polite but abrupt and if it's a company who are scum I'll ask them "Where they got my !!!!ing number from?".

Maybe had 1 cold call in 2 years. It's not rocket science to stop them.

It's your phone take control of it.

steveymp

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

I think you are confusing BT with a company that gives a !!!!

YEP, I wonder were these cold callers get the numbers from ? I have recently moved house, got a new(non recycled) phone number, but I don't use the phone at all, only close family know the number. The number is also ex-directory, yet I get cold calls all the time despite being registered to the TPS also

If I was a suspicious person I would almost think BT sold my number :rotfl:

I love the cold calls when I'm in the mood, string them along for a sale for half an hour, give them made up information, ask them to hold and go make a cup of tea. Other times I politely ask them not to call again and hangup, I am still waiting for one from "The Call Centre" in Swansea

Tr@cker

Telling them to f"ck off usually does the trick but that's beside the point.

I am also ex-directory but i get all kinds of unsolicited calls.


The ' privacy ' pledge on many sites is in my opinion not worth a !!!! !!!

Tr@cker

Last word = w*nk.

Stevie_Palimo

Being ex directory or on the TPs will not make a jot of difference I'm afraid as data is sold all of the time and you may well opt in to marketing without your knowledge from lots of places.


Store loyalty cards, insurance, mobile phone contract, competition websites and so on, The worst guys that sell it on are the insurance and finance websites that you search to find a deal, I suggest you add a false number in every time.


Amazon are another and read the t's and c's they are pretty long winded to say the least.


Decent company's will remove your number on request but in the data industry these are few and far between so most occasions you will find an idiot on the other end of the phone who is very amused at upsetting you.


Not a lot you can do here to be honest about it barr ignore and watch what you enter online and also t & c's elsewhere.

MataNui

I am no longer polite, i just get so many calls. Beware comparison websites. They now make (or the meerkat one does at least) it compulsory to give them a mobile number when comparing car insurance (perhaps other things as well). This number will be passed to all the companies on their database who in turn will probably sell it on.

Not wanting to encourage fraud etc but its probably not a good idea to give genuine phone numbers to these sites. I always seem to get a lot of calls about 'my accident' after i get my car insurance quote. Not that i have ever claimed for an accident anyway but either the meerkat site or one of the insurance companies its using is selling my details, that is obvious.

GingerBob_3

MataNui wrote: »

Not wanting to encourage fraud etc but its probably not a good idea to give genuine phone numbers to these sites. I always seem to get a lot of calls about 'my accident' after i get my car insurance quote. Not that i have ever claimed for an accident anyway but either the meerkat site or one of the insurance companies its using is selling my details, that is obvious.

Good advice. For the most part I use bogus phone numbers. Let's face it, most of the organisations we deal with have no need of your phone number, but insist on harvesting it.