how do companies get your phone number

[emmie]

if its ex directory. Are they sold onto to businesses somehow.

[boxtops]

They can get it quite legitimately - your details are in more places than you'd think. If you order things on-line or from a catalogue, you often have to give your phone number. They won't get it from the phone book but there are many other lists out there, with businesses you deal with, etc.

[emmie]

Boxtops, its sort of what i thought, but even so i don't like the fact that people you don't know, don't want to know, like utility companies phone you out of the blue, and then proceed with the speel.

[boxtops]

We've signed up with the Call preference service - or you can use the free Telephone preference service - which means people don't phone you out of the blue. We get very few unsolicited calls these days, and if we do, we report them to the CPS.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

If it is cold calling, ie on spec, then I believe they give all the operators a sheet of numbers to ring and hope that they get some answers. For example 01234 000001, 01234 000002, 01234 000003 and so on. Once they get a response they speak confidently and act as if they know you. You would be surprised at the info they can get from you with just a few questions. I always answer "If you're trying to sell me something then I will not deal with you over the phone. Please put any requests in writing" Thank you and bye." Nauturally I never give my address!

[boxtops]

Some numbers just get dialled at random by a machine, that's why there is a click and a gap when you answer, it's transferring you to a real person. You have time to hang up during that gap!

[emmie]

we are on the call preference, and it was a utility company, not ours.
I am pished off, it spoilt dinner, and i did tell the person we are not not remotely interested. I would have said worse but decided better part of valour and all that. I did ask how they got our number, she said it came up on the screen, so thanks effin much, well that's what i was thinking.

[boxtops]

If we are having our dinner, or we don't want to answer, we just don't answer the phone - we do that quite a lot. If it's a legitimate call, they can leave a message and we'll ring 'em back!

[emmie]

trouble is i have missed some important calls. That's why i picked it up this time.

[emmie]

thinking further is Call preference something you pay for?

[sherrardk]

I keep having these stupid phone calls. I decided I would start answering them (so I could tell them to leave me alone) - the last lot kept me on hold for 6 minutes, constantly telling me my call was important to them and then a different voice said 'goodbye' and they hung up on me!

[emmie]

sherradk, i believedm obviously wrongly, we wouldn't get these calls, x directory, but need to find out if call preference service is something you pay for. Either that the number gets changed.

[DrFilth]

one thing to think about when you use your phone if you hide your number by putting 141 and then phone any of the big companies

they use the same equipment that bt do so your number will show up on their screens

dwp, gas and electric etc

[ubasses]

Telephone Preference Service is free but it cannot stop calls from call centres abroad. It will reduce them right down though. Ensure if you complete any forms with any companies you always tick the opt out box so they cannot ring you.

[Prudie]

Ubasses is right, always tick the opt out boxes (which are often small and at the bottom), also sometimes when you are dealing with a company over the phone they tell you in the pre-recorded menu that they will give your details to others and to tell the adviser if you don't want this to happen - often it takes so long to actually speak to someone that you may forget to mention this.

[chas2008]

The TPS is free, but not infallible,it was pretty good but of late i seem to be getting more than my fair share of calls.

[Dodger666]

If the call originates in the UK, and you're registered with the TPS, report the company to the TPS. They will to pass on your complaint to the Information
Commissioner's Office who is resposible for enforcement. You can complain online here:-

http://complaints.tpsonline.org.uk/Consumer/

If you have been a customer of the company who calls you, and you have given them your number in the past, the TPS can't do anything to stop that.

[emmie]

Dodger, i have, can i also do that about the company we use for internet/phone, as the pester problem with them is awful.

[Dodger666]

em10. If you mean you are getting nuisance calls from the company who actually provide your internet/phone service, then no, the TPS can't help you. They can't help with any companies that you are a customer of. Presumably you will have supplied them with your phone number in the first place.