Cranfield Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Has anyone any experience of Call Blocker ? http://www.optoutuk.co.uk/complaints.asp?screen_id=intro We have been on a Telephone Preference list for a number of years and do not get cold call telemarketing calls. However, in the last few weeks we have been getting about 3-4 "silent" calls a day. Call Blocker seems the only solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Cranners i'm registered with the TPS and thats all I need. We went through a series of dead calls and decided to report this. It turns out that the dead calls are generated by pre-diallers and when you answer they transfer you to and agent, if no agent is free then the line goes dead. Unfortunately the pre-diallers dont use known numbers but a random dial system. So they just dial regardless of any opt out lists. The only thing you can do is take a note of the number and report it. If your not on the TPS Telephone Preference Service get yourself registered. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Here it is for you all TPS http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the lizard Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Cranners i'm registered with the TPS and thats all I need. We went through a series of dead calls and decided to report this. It turns out that the dead calls are generated by pre-diallers and when you answer they transfer you to and agent, if no agent is free then the line goes dead. Unfortunately the pre-diallers dont use known numbers but a random dial system. So they just dial regardless of any opt out lists. The only thing you can do is take a note of the number and report it. If your not on the TPS Telephone Preference Service get yourself registered. What AXE has said is essentially correct. But the "pre-diallers" causing the silent dead calls are calling from overseas (usually India), so they are un-affected by TPS. The TPS system only applies to calls made by companies within the UK. I have "Caller Display" on my phone, so whenever I get calls which show the caller's number as "unavailable", I let the ansaphone screen the call. I mean, if it's important, they'll leave a message. But they never do. Rgds, the Lizard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 (edited) I worked with a guy who did this cold calling for living before he joined us, they dial 5 numbers simultaniously via a pc and the first to answer cuts the other 4 calls off. So that is why you may get dead calls and also why there is delay when you pickup and they say ' hello mr.........' as they have to read the name of the 'lucky' person off there screen. We de-registered for junk mail and cold calls and now get none of either, we used to get anywhere between 5 and 10 cold calls a week! Edited April 5, 2006 by stuartp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Thanks for the responses Chaps. As I mentioned, I am already on the Telephone Preference System and its very effective, except for dealing with silent calls. I have an answering machine and caller display, but I don't want every call to go to answering machine and silent calls withold their numbers, so that doesn't filter them. Also, I don't want the telephone ringing and there being no one there when my Wife picks it up. Call Blocker apparently gives every caller a message to press "5" on their telephones. Then they are connected properly to your number. Auto diallers can't respond to this instruction, so you don't get their calls put through, your phone doesn't even ring. I wondered if anyone used it and did their Callers get fed up with pressing "5". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 I love to get cold calls! The secret is to beat them at their own game, drives them mad! Next time you get one and they ask if you wan't a mobile phone or whatever just say no and then say "I've got a Ford Galaxy for sale ............" then proceed to spend as long as you can giving them a fictional accont of this made up car. I had someone on the phone for 10 minutes once with that one Or another one was where I was interested in the double glazing because it would go well in my temple, and would they like to join my commune. This went on for about 5 minutes with me spouting religous nonsense it only ended when the man on the other end became a little scared Brilliant fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Cranfield, seems like a good way of sorting this out but I would imagine that the call systems will eventually catch up. I mean it would only mean having the system dial a 5 after a short delay, regardless of the number called. Those with the system will get a ring and those who have answered will just here a short beep. Perhaps other systems exist that require a predialled number. Such as your number plus 3 dor 4 digits. Maybe worth doing a search. Otherwise I would think the best solution is to explain the silent calls to your wife, so she doesnt get worried. If its the walking to the phone thats the problem get a walk about phone. Just a few ideas anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 funnily enough we had this a while back, and believe it or not it was BT trying to sell stuff but the salespeople were in India. I only found out by keeping the phone off the hook till someone eventually answered! Pretty disgusting considering we're TPS registered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 I think BT get away with it through clause. i.e. as a customer of BT they are allowed to phone you to offer various services etc. But your right it is disgusting. I must say though, since joinging the TPS I have only had 4 calls in as many years. The first two were very enjoyable as I kept them on the phone for ages. One was a double glasing sale and we spoke for 40 mins, until the women finally asked would I like to proceed and I said no. She of course asked "why not" and I replied I already have double glasing! The second was a driveway company with a similar result, I replied "I live on the top floor of a block of flats"! The third was AOL who I actually reported. I asked the lad "do you know of the TPS"? He replied "oh, are you registered with them" upon which I responded "Shouldnt you know that"! And the last was the phone netwrork 3, it was kinda amusing as the guy was really worried with the barrage of questions I hounded him with, in the end he put the phone down on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 we've only had one company other than BT and we did give them the number. We made the mistake of dropping into a Moben Kitchens showroom and getting a free quote. Well it was free but we ended up with a high pressure salesman trying to make us sign up for an 8 grand kitchen on the spot and refusing to go as we were obviously wasting his time! Our kitchen then was 10ft by 6foot so the quote was more than a bit ridiculous. We ended up threatening to forcibly throw him out it was that bad. But then we ended up with months of their telesales team phoning up trying to convince us to buy :< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Do you know if they were fined for this? I have never pursued any report past the initial reporting process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plexer Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 We often get silent calls drives me nuts but sometimes just as I'm swearing at them someone does answer. Had a crank call at 5 to 12 last night but what made it scarier for the wife was that at the same time some numpty was outside in the street shouting as well. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 We live in a very remote, secluded area (nearest neighbour well over 1/2 a mile away), which is the reason I don't want my Wife alarmed by someone hanging up after our telephone has rung. The random dial system they use, means that being ex Directory doesn't protect you. Apart from Call Blocker, I have found no other solution and I have been looking for a couple of weeks. BT are no help and TPS recommend Call Blocker for silent call problems. I actually feel sorry for people that work in the cold call telephone business. Apart from the fact that they can't get a better job, 99.9% of the calls they make must end in them getting a load of abuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Cranfield, they do have a choice about the line of work they do. I have no sympathy for them and offer them nothing but a hard time. As for the Call Blocker, it sounds like a sensible solution to your problem. I wouldnt worry about the dialling 5 affecting desired phone calls. If your caller finds it a chore then perhaps they dont really want to talk anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 I actually feel sorry for people that work in the cold call telephone business.Apart from the fact that they can't get a better job, 99.9% of the calls they make must end in them getting a load of abuse. You'll be feeling sorry for politicians next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cakie174 Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Not to be a complete sado TPS works great for UK cld calls as there are huge fines for ompanies that call TPS registered numbers. If a company has a relationship with you were you have bought goods of them in the past they are allowed to contact you. This is the case with BT as most of us in the UK will have our line rented from BT as they are the incumbent. BT will not take notice of TPS and will continue to try and sell their over priced phone services. I'm not a geek just work in telecoms. Cakie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darebear Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 funnily enough, after months and months of complaining about telesales calls from 'sandra' and 'tom' - who barely speak english with an understandable accent.... i got off my backside and registered with the TPS. the rrrrrreally annoying calls are from automated voices which you cant have any fun with. depends on my mood tho... sumtimes i'll just put the phone near the stereo and crank the speakers up full blast.... othertimes im not so polite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Its bloody typical, I havent had a call for ages and get one tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Im ex directory but still get the odd call depending on my mood some times i give them stick how did you get this number its ex directory ect. Other times im dead polite tell them im interested then say could you hang on for a minute the kettles boiling or something like that. I then put phone on handsfree turn round and start talking on here to you lot had them hanging on for up to 20 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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