MSE News: Bosses of nuisance call companies to face fines of up to £500k

Caddyman

Well, for the first time in several weeks, this evening my phone starts flashing up a telephone number from North Shields. I don't know anyone in North Shields, so I didn't answer it. Google the number, and lo and behold, people are starting to get phone calls from the same number. My wife had a different number from North Shields call this afternoon, but like me, she didn't answer then blocked it, so whomever is doing this, they're clearly using multiple numbers routed through the same geographic area.

Whichever nuisance call boss is sanctioning this round of pointless unwanted calls, they aren't sticking to the five ring tactic before cutting off, they're ringing until the phone is either answered or goes to answer phone and then they don't leave a message. At least if you leave it to go to answer phone, they've paid for a call. I certainly wouldn't waste time and effort calling them back.

I could of course report the number to OFCOM, but I just can't be bothered.

MothballsWallet

Caddyman wrote: »

Well, for the first time in several weeks, this evening my phone starts flashing up a telephone number from North Shields. I don't know anyone in North Shields, so I didn't answer it. Google the number, and lo and behold, people are starting to get phone calls from the same number. My wife had a different number from North Shields call this afternoon, but like me, she didn't answer then blocked it, so whomever is doing this, they're clearly using multiple numbers routed through the same geographic area.

Whichever nuisance call boss is sanctioning this round of pointless unwanted calls, they aren't sticking to the five ring tactic before cutting off, they're ringing until the phone is either answered or goes to answer phone and then they don't leave a message. At least if you leave it to go to answer phone, they've paid for a call. I certainly wouldn't waste time and effort calling them back.

I could of course report the number to OFCOM, but I just can't be bothered.

OFCOM won't do anything anyway - they're more interested in letting BT do whatever they want to the phone network.

Ian011

Caddyman wrote: »

... so whomever is doing this, they're clearly using multiple numbers routed through the same geographic area. ...

What you see on screen is a 'presentation number' programmed by the caller. In normal use it shows the number the caller wants you to call back on should you be seeing this as a missed call. The number shown on screen bears absolutely no relationship with the line that is actually calling you.

Nuisance callers program random numbers for display and keep on changing them. If you were to call back, you'll likely find the number isn't actually in service or belongs to someone who clearly does not make nuisance calls. Sometimes nuisance calls are shown as coming from your own number.

Caddyman

I appreciate the explanation above from Ian011, but as long as folk have a burning desire to answer every telephone call that pops up on their mobile phone or landline, nusiance calls will persist forever.

If everyone just took a step back, looked at the screen on their phone to determine whether or not they recognise the number, or just let their landline ring until it stops and then dial 1471 or wait to see if a message is left, these nusiance callers will carry on. They prey on the very people that can't help themselves, i.e., the folk who think that if they miss a call or don't answer it, it will always be some sort of life or death situation. I'm just one of those people who couldn't care less who rings, if I don't recognise the number or it's blocked, I just don't answer it. It doesn't get more simple than that! I certainly don't start wondering in my tiny mind who the caller was and I never lose any sleep over it.