Who calls me?

[Coldicote]

I see there are previous items about nuisance phone calls but my problem is this: Quite frequently my phone rings and I answer it but there is no-one there, no sound of any kind until after about half a minute I hear the dialling sound. 1471 tells me "You were called at ........ we do not have the caller's number." I am wondering if this is a mechanical problem at the exchange or someone just being a nuisance. Do others experience this and know a way of dealing with it?

[NazNomad]

http://consumers.ofco.../privacy/silent-call/

[boxtops]

It's random calling coldicote, a computer is programmed just to ring any numbers and it's only if you actually pick up the phone that an operator the other end is alerted and will come on the line (usually to try to sell you something). We've got in the habit now of if there is nobody there when we pick up the phone, or you hear a delay and a click, we just hang up straight away. Some of these calls are generated from outside the UK so there is not much people can do about it.

[Coldicote]

Thanks for these replies and explaining the problem. Unfortunately there doesn't seem much one can do about it. Perhaps going ex-directory might be the answer.

[TTG]

I have extended my telephone ring limit to stop these. Bit of a pain for family and friends but because of this, not had an "auto call" for ages.

[Pumbah]

We have "caller display" on our phone, which also has a built-in answerphone. If we do not recognise a number, or no number comes up (because it was witheld or outside the UK, we leave it to the answerphone to "respond". If they don't leave a message, tough on them. The call can't have been that important.

[Coldicote]

Thank you for these useful tips. I'll probably make a change to 'caller display'.