Simple way to avoid 98% of cold callers

dqj

Despite being on Telephone Preference Service we get several telephone calls a day from illegal marketing organisations, but I've found this easy way to get rid of them.

Most of these calls are generating by automated call makers that dial a number, wait for the phone to be answered and then check that there is someone talking on the receiving end. If the software does not detect anyone talking it silently terminates the call after about 6 seconds.

When you pick up the phone all you have to do is to say absolutely nothing and wait for 6 seconds. If there is a real person, friend relative etc on the other end they are bound to say "Hello - are you there?" otherwise there is a click and hey presto - no more junk call!

I have a Calling Line Identity display, and I always do this whenever I get "International Caller" or "Number Withheld", but regardless of this you will find that you won't miss any calls from people using a normal phone who ring you directly.

Derek

DoaM

Or ... get a phone with Truecall technology (e.g. BT8600 which has BT Call Guardian). I've had one (the previous BT8500) for 3 years ... in that time I've had ONE cold call get through. Yes, you read that right - ONE. So I don't even need to answer the phone and wait 6 seconds - the phone simply doesn't ring. (Genuine callers not on your VIP list get an option to announce themselves and you get an option to accept or reject the call).

[Deleted User]

DoaM wrote: »

Or ... get a phone with Truecall technology (e.g. BT8600 which has BT Call Guardian). I've had one (the previous BT8500) for 3 years ... in that time I've had ONE cold call get through. yes, you read that right - ONE.

Or.. a modern Android phone. Mine tells me if the calling number is a scam/cold caller

DoaM

I assumed that OP was talking about landlines. For mobiles I currently use the Should I Answer app on my Android phone.

gardner1

DoaM wrote: »

Or ... get a phone with Truecall technology (e.g. BT8600 which has BT Call Guardian). I've had one (the previous BT8500) for 3 years ... in that time I've had ONE cold call get through. Yes, you read that right - ONE. So I don't even need to answer the phone and wait 6 seconds - the phone simply doesn't ring. (Genuine callers not on your VIP list get an option to announce themselves and you get an option to accept or reject the call).

+1 For the BT8600 takes I bit of setting up ie inputting all your numbers but in the 4 months I've used it not a single silent/nuisance call has got through and it used to be about 2 or 3 a day

theonlywayisup

I use call blocker, it may be a bit outdated as I've had it some years but I don't need to "say absolutely nothing", my call blocker does that for me.

Lip_Stick

I don't get any cold calls on my landline but I've been ex-directory since I got it. My friend who recently got a landline gets plenty. I suggested she needs to get herself removed from the phone book. She didn't even realise she was in it until I pointed her out.

mije1983

Lip_Stick wrote: »

I don't get any cold calls on my landline but I've been ex-directory since I got it. My friend who recently got a landline gets plenty. I suggested she needs to get herself removed from the phone book. She didn't even realise she was in it until I pointed her out.

I'd say that was more down to luck than being ex-directory though. A lot of these companies use auto-diallers which will just call a range of numbers until they get an answer. They don't use the phone book anymore.

Lip_Stick

Maybe, but seems odd that we're both the same area code, and I don't get any at all. She started getting them the minute she got her telephone. Maybe it's because she made the mistake of entertaining one and getting herself put on some sort of list.

PasturesNew

If I see International I always answer with a fake foreign accent ... I used to tell them that the person they are calling died and I am a cleaner doing house clearance.... but I changed it recently to telling them that I am a cleaner and they are calling a holiday rental.

I've been here 3 years - I often get calls for the old lady that used to have this number, I just looked her up, she died in 2008.

donnac2558

I assumed if you pick up at all their system will show a live line?

I have caller display, so Out Of Area don't answer, numbers I do not know again I do not answer. So this means I get the odd out of area call very few months and then nothing for months. Answering in any form lets them know the line is live and someone there, so fake accents means nothing. In the early days I said I was dead and clearing the house, make no difference they just kept calling anyway.

If my GP calls it comes up as Private so I know to answer these.