As I work from home I have seen a dramatic increase in marketing calls that just say "Goodbye" after a 2-3 second silence. As an experiment, today I didn't answer any landline calls between 10.30 and 2.00 and there were 8 such calls which were picked up by the answerphone. I am aware of the telephone preference service but given the occasional call that does have someone on the other end seems to come from overseas, I'm not sure if registering will do any good. Anyone else had this experience, it seems to have increased since Christmas, and can anyone suggest what to do about it?
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What to do about silent phonecalls?
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Posted 4 months ago #
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I had similar TPS helped massively.
When you enter any competition or your details online even if you tick 'no' I think it gets sold on... so I stopped entering all competitions.
I used to get ALOT following entering the text/Fifth Gear competition for instance.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Posted 4 months ago #
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contact offtel.
Posted 4 months ago # -
It's usually debt re-financing. It'll probably die down after January when people have been paid again!
Posted 4 months ago # -
I just assume they're shy.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I'm not sure if registering will do any good
Well you could always try that.
someone on the other end seems to come from overseas
When I call BT I sometimes appear to speak to 'foreigners' on the other end of the phone. Amazing.
Posted 4 months ago # -
My point re "overseas" calls is that the TPS doesn't have any jurisdiction on such calls so wouldn't make any difference, I wasn't being Clarkson.
I also tried using the TPS on another line and it made no difference.Posted 4 months ago # -
My missus got so annoyed with the Indian 'who is your energy provider' phone calls she started keeping her netball umpiring whistle next to the phone, after 2 more calls we went from on average 3 calls every 2 days to none
Posted 4 months ago # -
If I remember right, TPS takes effect slowly as companies have to update their records at intervals, two months maybe. It does work in time, but callers from overseas don't need to follow their rules.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Good idea Iain but there is probably a law against causing ear damage down the phone and don't forget they seem to know where you live.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Have used TPS for years. Cold calls reduced from quite a few to 1 or 2 per year max.
Posted 4 months ago # -
TPS no use for calls originating from abroad - suffered for a while with these, mostly share scams, usually just put phone down next to radio - i'm pretty enthusiastic on making sure i opt out when signing up to stuff but I guess there is plenty of situations when you miss the small print
Also TPS not effective for companies that you have a "relationship" with so if you've got sky Tv or RAC recovery they can ring you to keep you "informed" (that is sell you other services)
- think oftel have told UK based co's they have to reduce number of "dead calls" dramatically but over usual stupid timescalePosted 4 months ago # -
Put the phone down, but don't hang up. They soon get fed up of talking to themselves.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I like to sing to them
Posted 4 months ago # -
I just say "sorry my mums not in"....
Posted 4 months ago # -
new rules on silent call start at end of month
http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2011/01/31/ofcom-warns-industry-as-new-silent-calls-rules-come-into-force/
edit get back from life on mars - it is 2012 now so i guess hasn't made much difference
Posted 4 months ago # -
I wonder if the call just saying "Goodbye" is a way of circumventing these rules as technically it's not silent. I thought the main purpose of anti-silent call legislation is to stop the callers scaring the bejesus out of old ladies who think an axe murderer is stalking them.
Posted 4 months ago # -
MrNutt - Member
I like to sing to them
There's no need for that!
TPS stops most, and when the odd one gets through and you mention TPS they soon bugger off. Anything that comes up INTERNATIONAL WITHHELD on the display gets cut off with the big red button.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I impersonate someone with a stutter or someone with tourettes...
I know it isn't very PC and I truely feel for those that do suffer...but it serves my needs well
Posted 4 months ago # -
Amusing and inventive as all these strategies are, they are absolutely useless if all that happens when I pick up the phone is a 2 second silence and "goodbye" My issue is that this has happened every 20 minutes throughout the day. Who do I complain to or get to stop it???
Posted 4 months ago # -
INTERNATIONAL WITHHELD
^^^^
THISI know who might be calling me/us from abroad, so any other call with this showing up doesn't get answered. End of. If you don't have Caller ID capacity, then get it.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Don't say anything back
Posted 4 months ago #
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