Could TalkTalk have sold my details?!

Exile_geordie

Azari wrote: »

In this case it's nothing to do with any part of BT except the OpenReach subsidiary.

Obviously OpenReach will know the address, but I can't see any reason why they would be given the customer's name as, for a new build, it's only a question of activating the line at the exchange. However, they might have been given it.

But if OpenReach were passing on data I think we'd be hearing a lot more about it.

And if you read the OP correctly and my post - they didn't know their name they just knew the address of the number and generally fishing

Azari

Exile_geordie wrote: »

And if you read the OP correctly and my post - they didn't know their name they just knew the address of the number and generally fishing

From the original post:

SCUD wrote: »

What scares me more is he was asking about me with my surname and also telling me the address I am living in!

mr_fishbulb

Exile_geordie wrote: »

And if you read the OP correctly and my post - they didn't know their name they just knew the address of the number and generally fishing

They said "he was asking about me with my surname" which to me says the caller knew the OP's surname.

bod1467

Isn't it possible that the OP's details (Initial, Surname, Address, Phone Number) were added to the phone book, and that these scumpanies pay for regular updates of the phone book? Or do TT numbers automatically get assigned ex-directory status?

If you're in the phone book then it's very easy for someone to call Mr. X at Y address on Z number.

Dreamscometrue

Tropez wrote: »

Possibly. I know for a fact O2 once sold my details (which is why I left them).

As far as stopping the calls, I can recommend the BT8500 phone. It has a built in call-screener requiring everyone who isn't on the whitelist to tell you who they are. If someone does, it'll ring to announce who is calling and then you can choose whether to accept, reject, permanently block or direct to answerphone.

In my experience though, most cold callers just hang up. I've had the phone for a few months and have not received a single unwanted call. There is an onscreen "missed" call notification if someone does call, so you can always Google the number, and then add it to the blocklist if it turns up to be an unwanted number.

And anyone you add to the whitelist will get straight through without being screened. It's not too expensive - about £49.99 for a base station and second handset - and in my opinion, is well worth it.

Brilliant! I didn't know such a phone existed! I've ordered one and can't wait to see the difference it makes. I'm inbetween contracts and I seem to get additional spam calls when I update my CV on job boards. I need to answer calls in case it's an agency with work. Hopefully this will ease some of the frustration.

Dreamscometrue

Thanks once again for mentioning this BT phone. It is brilliant, no more spam calls hooray!