Nuisance Phone Calls

[rabet]

I have had six of these today on my landline and one on my mobile, despite being registered with the telephone preference thing. I find it very difficult to believe that anyone bothers to listen to these people, especially when it is a recorded spiel or someone with an almost impenetrable foreign accent claiming to be called "Matthew" or "Belinda" or some such. How can such calls possibly be cost effective to the companies paying for them?

[woofgang]

because people do answer and do give them money.....

[trt]

## because people do answer and do give them money....##

Not always, most of mine used to be for surveys!

[gingejbee]

....and the survey results earn them money.....

[Butterbun]

The calls are getting more frequent now that Christmas is on the way. They try to sell you windows or conservatories as well as doing surveys.

[BlackadderV]

If I don't recognise the number or it has been concealed in some way, I don't answer the phone; they can talk to the answering machine. The extra £10 per quarter for caller display is money well spent, IMO.

[gingejbee]

You're charged extra for caller display? That's unusual.

[BlackadderV]

BT have always charged extra.

[gingejbee]

When I was with BT, you could ask for their "privacy package" which included caller display. The whole package was cost-free...I had it for several years.

[BlackadderV]

Thank you. I shall look into that. I sometimes think that BT are ripping me off. I don't need free weekend or evening calls. I used to get a low user rebate but that has disappeared. Perhaps time to check out other providers.

[gingejbee]

I see that they have recently started to charge for the privacy package...but it's only £1.75 per month and includes caller display. Glad I'm with another company!

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8098/~/all-about-bt-privacy

[Slapshot]

I'll tell you what a feckin nuisance Sock puppets. On one of my sites a similar forum to this found someone who had FOUR id's only flagged when I did a diagnostics run and picked up the same IP address running through too many arguements....... not a happy camper!! At least said salad chef admitted it and has been deleted

[DaisyNonna]

If a number is withheld or out of area I do not answer.

[tonyav]

rabet, I don't think that the telephone preference thing works on calls from foreign lands.

[gness]

Slappy....did that one person agree with or argue with him/herself?...x

[marval]

I am the same as Daisy, if it is international or withheld I don't answer it. It goes to the answerphone, if it is someone I want to talk to I can just pick the phone and say hello.

[Slapshot]

With EVERYBODY!! they set up their own threads pick a topic that';s likely to be inflammatory, sit back wait the create all sorts of arguements and counter arguement to see who else they can drag in and frustrate..... bugs the hell out of me. I often wonder if there's similar going on here???

[gness]

I have no experience of other forums, Slappy....but I suppose there is no reason why AB couldn't have the same happen....though less likely now with Auntie and her spoon....☺

[Tuvok]

BT used to offer caller display free but then sneakily changed it so that you have to opt in for 12 months to get it free, otherwise they charge for it!

[SpikeyBush]

I love winding them up. I took a call one afternoon at work. It was a hissy, crackly line and through the interference I could make out an Indian gentleman saying he was calling from British Gas and wanting to know where I got my electricity from. So I told him I got it from the plug. When pressed further for details of my current supplier I told him my place was wired to the lamp post and it was fantastic value as it didn't cost me a penny. He hung up. You know you've won when these muppets hang up on you!