Unwanted Phone Calls

West Ender · 07-03-2005, 19:00

I use the telephone preference service to screen out most cold callers but, in the last couple of weeks, I have been bombarded with calls that seem to be of American origin. Always it's a recorded message, in an American accent, telling me that I have won a prize, been selected for a free holiday etc., etc. I never hear the end of the message because I always hang up in disgust.

I haven't found anyone else who lives near me who has had these calls. Are you getting them in Accrington? If so, has anyone got a solution to the nuisance as they are getting through the TPS?

-pixie · 07-03-2005, 19:12

Do you know the company that the call is from? If so, you can report them to the TPS I think.

shiny gem · 07-03-2005, 19:41

i get them!!! i let them get to the "you" in "hi youve won" before i put the phone down!!! i only know one american voice and if it aint him then the phone goes down!!! lol

garinda · 07-03-2005, 19:57

I don't think these international calls are covered by the TPS. There was an article in the other weeks Sunday Times, apparently BT said they aren't able to stop them & it's nothing to do with them- even though they get a fee for every call put through.
My neice recently took a call, thought she'd won a prize and pressed a digit as instructed, and was billed for a call for over £40. She's 7, my brother wasn't too happy!

lindsay ormerod · 07-03-2005, 20:08

We've been getting them at work for a couple of months;best policy seems to be hang up very quickly!

West Ender · 07-03-2005, 21:15

I don't know who they are because I never listen long enough to find out and of course the number is always witheld. I wonder how many people get taken in by this sort of call. There must be some or these sort of companies wouldn't bother.

mani · 07-03-2005, 21:43

yeah there's a few of htese scams around

though i havent had to face one yet...

andrewb · 07-03-2005, 22:40

I wish I still got unwanted calls, because I wanted them

I enjoy talking to the people on the other end and messing them about

No longer get any since we went ex-directory

WillowTheWhisp · 07-03-2005, 22:46

It's funny you should mention it because I've got TPS and I was only saying last week that I'd had a couple of unsolicited calls recently - I just hang up. I don't think they had American accents though.

garinda · 08-03-2005, 00:09

lf you still get unwanted calls a month after registering with the TPS, call the number again. They'll send you a form to return, and it does really seem to stop. Apparently they get fined if it doesn't.

chav1 · 08-03-2005, 05:50

when somone rings tell them you dont speak english

they will reply with but you just did

you reply with " well if your going to call me a liar i am not buying anything from you "

aslo try selling them somthing and offer them easy pay options and be just as persistant as they would be selling to you

if you cant stop them ringing you can mess with their heads lol

park381 · 08-03-2005, 08:32

Yes, the calls do seem to have started again, I'm the same got the home phone & mobile registered with TPS, has worked fine for months as with others, but I just answer the call and place the phone adjacent to the radio or tv and leave it there, and leave them to listen to the music.

On the subject of call centres, is there not a new one at padiham?

WillowTheWhisp · 08-03-2005, 08:39

I used to leave the phone off the hook for ages, still connected to them. As long as it wasn't costing me money I didn't mind about wasting theirs.

West Ender · 08-03-2005, 21:32

My youngest daughter, when she was living away from home, once had a phone call from someone selling conservatories. She let him ramble on, agreeing with him and going along with everything, feigning great interest. After about half an hour, with him getting very excited that he seemed to have made a sale, he asked for her address. She gave it to him, then delivered her coup de grace,

"By the way, it's a first floor council flat".