Nuisance fax calls at night

edda

I know this is supposed to be for money saving, but can anyone help with a problem I have?

I've been getting phone calls in the night (as well as the day) from a fax or automated machine. I can live with the daytime ones - but not those at 2am in the night.

I'm ex-directory, registered with TPS and FPS. I've spoken to BT - who only have recurring monthly chargeable options to sort this out (e.g. caller recognition; block certain numbers etc).

It's a residential phone and has never had a fax on it - I've been advised that either someone has copied a number down incorrectly or a machine is just generating numbers and dialling out.

It happens every 2 or 3 months but has been going on for nearly 2 years and have run out of ideas on what to do.

TPS aren't interested, because the call is automated.
FPS will only look at the problem if I can send them a copy of the fax.

The number is either withheld or busy when I try to dial back (and I've tried all times of the day/night).

It's the interuption in sleep that I resent - plus the fact that calls at night always set my heart beating (who calls with good news at that time?).

All legal suggestions gratefully considered.

amateur_saver

We had the same for ages, and we were getting fed up, and lacking sleep so I can empathise big time.. Ours was from a fax machine in Cardiff.

Hubby range BT who blocked the number after a couple of days of us having to unplug the phone at night, and then we faxed the number that was ringing us with a polite, but firm message and it seemed to stop. We were kicking ourselves why we hadn't done this before...

I don't know what to suggest if it is a witheld number - is it witheld when you 1471 or when you do ringback ? I would suggest that BT could take this on as nuisance calls and trace it.. worth a try.

Good luck in your quest for a peaceful, ring free night

A_S xx

:A

ManAtHome

Have a look at this (on the BT site) https://www.bt.com/customerservices/cust_details.jsp?parentcat=cs_protect_privacy&childcat=unwanted_calls have another go at BT (nuisance calls section). Main problem will be to get one of the front-line staff to do something rather than fobbing you off (which keeps their call-handling stats up) - be a nuisance, ask for Supervisor, Manage etc, get all their names, make a formal complaint to BT, escalate it to OfTel if no luck, then it's off to Watchdog - "BT won't block this unless I pay them" kind of thing.

tin

If you can get/borrow a fax machine (a long shot I know) the calling fax will sometimes tell you it's number on the fax. otherwise maybe there'll be some very obvious signs about where the fax has come from (marketing?). Then you might have more chance of dealing with it.

Only other suggestion? Turn the ringer off at night!

thefirs

tin wrote:

If you can get/borrow a fax machine (a long shot I know)..

This is a good idea. If you can't borrow a fax machine, most dialup modems can be configured to answer an incoming fax call, with the same result.

edda

Many thanks for your replies so far. :T

I have tried the fax machine option - as it was borrowed though, it didn't happen during this period. Might try it again - I have a record of the dates and times, so can estimate when it could next happen.

Like the idea of harassing BT - I must admit that it does depend on the operator who answers your call. Some have been really helpful, whilst others don't want to know.

Will persevere with this one.

MDUK

This happenned to me, except it was happening at 3 in the morning!

I made a note of the times it was happening and contacted BT nuisance calls section, they were able to identify the callers number and advised me it was a cable and wireless customer (eventually) without giving me the number. i contacted C&W nuisance calls (or whatever they are called) and they checked the times of the calls (i forget what they said they were doing) and contacted the person concerned (a company faxing 'offers' to all and sundry) and asked them to stop. i think they threatened legal action nuisance or something and they stopped almost immediately.

Like anything it is down to the people you deal with, BT were OK, but i had to really push them to get them to do anything - the guy at C&W was exceptional, really keen to help and more importantly did do it.