|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2009 11:50:43 GMT
I was going to put this on the Whinge thread but I thought I'd do it on a separate thread of its own. Is anyone else getting plagued by "silent" calls ? Basically, what happens is the phone rings, and when you pick it up all you get is a few seconds of silence followed by the phone being hung up. I've spoken to BT about it and apparently it's calls from overseas (usually India) that are dialled automatically by an auto-dialler. When you pick it up, if there is someone available at the call centre to talk to you, they do, otherwise it just hangs up and tries again later. I've asked to have the calls blocked but because they're from overseas (if you do 1471 it says "we do not have the caller's number to return the call") they can't block them. BT suggest the only option is to change our number but I don't want to do that because if the calls are generated automatically wherever these are coming from, sooner or later, they'll automatically generate our new number and start pestering us again. We get them from 7am and so far today, I've had 7 calls  Apparently, if you do speak to someone and you get abusive with them (as I would be tempted to do), it just makes them start calling through the night as well. It's becoming a real nuisance and I just wondered if anyone else was suffering the same. FA x Ps - Make that 8 calls today - I just had another one while I was typing this out. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2009 11:54:09 GMT
I forgot to mention that my number is ex-directory AND I'm registered with the Telephone Preference Service.
Sadly, neither seems to make the slightest difference.
FA x
|
|
|
|
Post by Barbara on Jan 2, 2009 12:06:48 GMT
Yes we get them FA , usually when I'm busy, I dont get as a many as you, a couple a day drive me mad.  |
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Jan 2, 2009 12:08:57 GMT
Flippin' eck  I do get a few of these calls but, if there's silence at the other end, I put the phone straight down I don't know what to suggest  SGP! x |
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Jan 2, 2009 12:31:18 GMT
Find out who they are then ask to speak to a manager and ask for your number from their list. If you stay calm and polite they are more likely to deal with your request.
Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2009 14:14:56 GMT
I'll try that the next time there's actually someone there when I answer P. It's up to 11 calls now today.
FA x
|
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 2, 2009 14:27:45 GMT
Do you not have a caller display FA - this shows the number that is calling you - I just dont pick up if I dont recognize it
|
|
|
|
Post by Barbara on Jan 2, 2009 14:32:14 GMT
It's always worse at the start and end of the month here, as if they have targets to hit.  |
|
|
|
Post by Tig on Jan 2, 2009 16:47:37 GMT
Get an answerphone and put a long message on it  We get them occasionally but not to that extent, it would drive me bonkers! My OH answers, puts the phone on the side and leaves the call connected for half an hour, they have to pay then, or try and disconnect. I think that is a deterrent... x Tig |
|
|
|
Post by Missredhead on Jan 2, 2009 17:06:50 GMT
I get these too.....I tried hanging up but when I cut them off and then try to use the phone they are still on the other end.
Now I just leave the phone next to the radio and turn it up for about half hour.
Doesn't seem to stop them but it makes me feel better.
I am ex-directory and have TP too but as FA says that doesn't make any difference.
I can't get caller display in my area Jen.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2009 18:02:07 GMT
My OH answers, puts the phone on the side and leaves the call connected for half an hour, they have to pay then, or try and disconnect. I think that is a deterrent... The problem is, if there is no-one available at the call centre to talk to you, it hangs up after about 3 or 4 seconds so doing that is not possible Tig. FA x |
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 2, 2009 18:20:08 GMT
[quote author=missredhead board=general thread=7090
I can't get caller display in my area Jen.
[/quote]
Any reason why Missy - I bought, ages ago, a small BT box which displays the number coming in - I pay BT a small fee for this -it plugs into the 'phone socket
|
|
|
|
Post by farmersboy on Jan 2, 2009 18:26:57 GMT
wHEN WE GET A SILENT call,and Mrs FB answers,she thinks ive got a lady friend whos tryion g to contact me,as if  |
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 2, 2009 18:29:02 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Tig on Jan 2, 2009 19:48:52 GMT
Sounds as if you won't be able to solve the problem then FA! You could unplug the phone when you go to bed, and tell anyone who might need to contact you to do so on your mobile! Tig |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2009 19:55:40 GMT
Sounds as if you won't be able to solve the problem then FA! You could unplug the phone when you go to bed, and tell anyone who might need to contact you to do so on your mobile! That's what we have done for the last week or so. I hope that they'll get the message sooner or later that we don't want to talk to them ! FA x |
|
|
|
Post by Missredhead on Jan 2, 2009 20:45:35 GMT
[quote author=missredhead board=general thread=7090 I can't get caller display in my area Jen. Any reason why Missy - I bought, ages ago, a small BT box which displays the number coming in - I pay BT a small fee for this -it plugs into the 'phone socket [/quote] I am with NTL or Virgin as it is now and they say that it's not as yet available in this area. |
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 2, 2009 20:59:12 GMT
Do you have call divert F-A - you could divert your land line to your moby that way they will be paying more wont they  Do you have the same banner as me - it gives a website to contact re Silent Calls |
|
|
|
Post by snowowl on Jan 2, 2009 21:31:32 GMT
I have these calls to and yes i am ex directory to it is very anoying. FA you are not alone.  |
|
|
|
Post by Missredhead on Jan 2, 2009 21:37:59 GMT
I too have a banner at the top that says 'silent calls' but you have to pay to stop them
|
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 3, 2009 7:10:26 GMT
Just realized that if you divert to your moby then you have to pay also |
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Jan 3, 2009 10:20:15 GMT
I've tried the "remove my number from your list please" routine and it gets you nowhere because they're not interested.
I kept getting calls about winning a cruise so I pressed a load of numbers until I got thru to someone and then asked them to remove my number. OK they said. Another phone call the next day, same thing, tried again, said I was registered with TPS and they should remove my number now. OK they said. 3rd time I tried to get their details so I could report them, they hung up. 4th time, same again.
Reported to BT who said they have hundreds of calls a day (this was just one fella) and all he can advise if it says on caller display out of area or withheld, don't answer it. Genuine people will leave a message on 1571, they other callers won't.
My caller display and 1571 was free FA, give it a go. Obviously you need a phone with a display ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 10:43:04 GMT
I think that sounds like a good idea April. I'll see about replacing my phones (they're quite old anyway) with one that has caller display and will then just ignore these calls. They'll get the idea that I'm not interested eventually ;D
Thanks
FA x
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Jan 5, 2009 19:02:25 GMT
Well if they don't get a response then the dialler recognises that and removes the number itself apparently. That's the purpose of ignoring it anyway...
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2009 19:40:26 GMT
I ignored most of the calls on Friday and surprisingly enough, we haven't had any since.
Hopefully it was just a blip and it will be back to the normal 1 or 2 a week. I'm still going to get caller display phones though.
FA x
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2009 21:32:06 GMT
We've been getting these for a while.
I couldn't understand it 'cos we called that number to stop them. Hadn't realised that they can't do it with the overseas numbers though.
I no longer answer the phone. Our answering machine is in all the time & family & friends know to say who it is & give us a mo to answer. Or for my aunt who hates answering machines I normally use 1471 just in case.
Sometimes we get nothing for days and others its all through the day.
Blooming annoying
|
|
|
|
Post by prodigal gardener on Jan 9, 2009 16:04:13 GMT
We dont get the silent calls. Well I think we probably do, but as we are never in during the day our number gets knocked off the list, what winds me up are those bloody pre-recorded things. "Hi - are you having trouble paying your bills" etc etc etc. How dare they presume to phone my house and launch into their spiel AND its a recording - not even a real person - HOW RUDE I have just had some bimbo telling me that the average UK householder is owed £1900.00 in bank charges. I DONT CARE - I AM OFF SICK - GO AWAY . . . . Sorry about that - feel better now - thanks  |
|
|
|
Post by Juliet on Jan 9, 2009 23:04:19 GMT
I can't use the phone (neurological thingie - I go blank) except to talk to my parents (they're used to it!) so I never pick it up anyway, but recently we got an answerphone and have altered the default number of rings before that picks up from 6 to the maximum 9. We've found that all (so far) of these sales & recorded message type callers give up after 6 - 8 rings - only genuine people hold on for 9. It also gives us time to get to the phone, listen to the beginning of any message anyone leaves, and only pick it up if we want to talk to them!
|
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 10, 2009 6:44:25 GMT
Do you not have a caller display FA - this shows the number that is calling you - I just dont pick up if I dont recognize it Didnt realise you could get this free April - I pay for mine |
|
I do get a few of these calls but, if there's silence at the other end, I put the phone straight down 
