topic Re: Nuisance calls in Plusnet Feedback

Nuisance calls

davemch — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:00:14 GMT

Plusnet bangs on about how great it is to its customers in all its TV adverts. Well, how about backing that promise up by doing what I believe should be a mandatory service provided by ALL phone companies and allow us to BLOCK unwanted calls at no additional charge. I violently object to having to pay anything to stop these scum from pestering me. It is adding insult to injury to charge your customers £4 a month for this. Phone companies need to start taking some sort of responsibility to protect their customers from this blight. I have received 6 of these stupid calls this afternoon alone, which is what has driven me to raise this topic. So how about it Plusnet? Are you REALLY as concerned about your customers as you keep telling us? Prove to me that you are, please.

Re: Nuisance calls

Mattz0r — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:08:55 GMT

Hey there,
The reason they're unable to provide this service for free, is because there is cost at wholesale level. Companies have to make their money somewhere, if they don't make money, they simply won't exist anymore.
Also, part of having a telephone line, much like an email address, sadly involves receiving unwanted contact (Sure there are spam filters for email, but you can't ever stop ALL spam)
At the end of the day, do what I do, use your mobile phone and don't use the landline, after all, a good majority of the population just use their landline for internet anyway.
Cheers,
Matt

Re: Nuisance calls

picbits — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:25:12 GMT

Most telco companies charge for the call blocking / anonymous call stuff but you have plenty of restrictions.
If you bargain maybe £2-£3 a month then you're talking £24-£36 a year. A one off call screening / blocking phone will cost you £30-£40 as a one off payment and is far more flexible in operation than a line controlled blocker.
http://www.cordless-phones.uk.com/cordless-phones/cordlessphones-answering-machine/bt-6500-dect-phone/?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=bt%2Bbt%2B6500%2Bdect%2Bphone&utm_campaign=froogle&gclid=CPKyv8-AoboCFQrJtAod4X4AAw
Oh and you can use it as a phone and answering machine too

Re: Nuisance calls

pwatson — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:42:24 GMT

Hmm, you forgot to add the cost of CLID...

Re: Nuisance calls

picbits — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 19:17:13 GMT

Oops - true although I read somewhere that BT are going to start charging their own customers for CLID soon.

Re: Nuisance calls

MrT — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 07:21:22 GMT

A good start would be to stop callers withholding their number.

Re: Nuisance calls

w23 — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 08:41:36 GMT

The best start would be to get international caller ID working on BT systems, it works on UK mobile networks so why do BT residential landlines just show 'International'?

Re: Nuisance calls

MrT — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:50:25 GMT

@w23 I agree that would also help. Don't know how you would get the Spanish boiler houses to display their number. Perhaps a pan-Europe law might help.

Re: Nuisance calls

AndyH — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 14:59:45 GMT

Quote from: w23
why do BT residential landlines just show 'International'?

This might be of interest:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmcumeds/writev/636-i/ntc008.htm

Quote
Displaying the number of calls from abroad
19. From autumn 2013 customers will, if required, in addition to the wording INTL, start to see the CLI of calls from abroad. Our plan is, as exchanges are upgraded, to roll out this facility to all customers by autumn 2014. This network development will allow customers to screen their calls more easily and recognise the numbers of friends and family calling from abroad. It will also readily provide CLI /data to help customers report their calls to the regulators.

Re: Nuisance calls

198kHz — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 15:48:41 GMT

Not before time. Thanks for the info Andy.

Re: Nuisance calls

newagetraveller — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 15:59:07 GMT

In the interim, pay for caller display and zap them with one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-W5769-Sound-Machine-18486/dp/B002ICWDIK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1382198014&sr=1-1&keywords=sound+machine.
I've not had any repeat nuisance calls after they've been subjected to a loud "fart" etc,! I don't use it immediately but wait until they've launched into the script. In fact, if it's by the 'phone (mine is), caller display isn't that necessary. I have a Monty Python version too.

Re: Nuisance calls

picbits — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 17:11:57 GMT

I've given my stepson full permission to be as abusive as he wants to anyone ignoring the fact that I'm on the TPS register.
He came back from school the other day saying he'd managed to wind up a PPI spammer calling his new mobile phone and strung them along for 10 minutes

Re: Nuisance calls

maxjam — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 20:05:29 GMT

Quote from: picbits
I've given my stepson full permission to be as abusive as he wants to anyone ignoring the fact that I'm on the TPS register.

I'm an older guy and i'm also disabled and quite honestly i've been taking this action for a long time now....I get more than a bit twitchy having to literally drag myself to the phone only to listen to nonsense.....and I don't care who gets offended by my language......if you don't want to be offended then don't pester me with irritating phone calls. simple really...Colin

Re: Nuisance calls

Luzern — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 21:28:15 GMT

Quote from: newagetraveller
In the interim, pay for caller display and zap them with one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-W5769-Sound-Machine-18486/dp/B002ICWDIK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1382198014&sr=1-1&keywords=sound+machine.
I've not had any repeat nuisance calls after they've been subjected to a loud "fart" etc,! I don't use it immediately but wait until they've launched into the script. In fact, if it's by the 'phone (mine is), caller display isn't that necessary. I have a Monty Python version too.

Fun idea provided the call is live and not a pre-recorded spew. They're unteachable.

Re: Nuisance calls

Strat — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 21:50:10 GMT

Not far from where I live is a large call centre and whenever I pass there are usually a number of people in their late teens entering or leaving the building.
I'm thinking that this is the only job a lot of these young people, fresh from school can get....most weeks there are vacancies.
So although on the one hand I detest cold calls, on the other I feel sorry for these people who just want to earn a living.

Re: Nuisance calls

Mayfly — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 07:15:55 GMT

Yes I agree, however that is no excuse for those firms who ignore the TPS list - it is illegal for them to cold call.
One of the phrases that immediately puts me on guard and is liable to make me lose immediate interest is....
Mrs XXXXX - Hello how are you today?

Re: Nuisance calls

AndyH — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 09:23:07 GMT

Here's a little more info on the international CLID changes and rollout schedule:
http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/updates/briefings/wholesalelinerentalbriefings/wholesalelinerentalbriefingsarticles/wlr01713.do

Re: Nuisance calls

colintivy — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 09:58:13 GMT

I find that the calls, which are all "Witheld" are those where there is no-one at the other end very irritating. I gather that these are computer-generated and establish that the number is a valid one for others to use for there own purposes. You cannot make noises to them to put them off. There was a suggestion that entering a row of #s would upset their system but I do not think that it works.

Re: Nuisance calls

RobPN — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:21:36 GMT

I find that organisations such as hospitals and Doctors surgeries who call you with appointment details etc. usually withhold their number, so you either take a chance and answer the 'WITHHELD' call or ignore it and not know if it was important or not. Utterly stupid and inconsiderate of them IMHO.

Re: Nuisance calls

Luzern — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:47:00 GMT

Pity there's no middle way for such as doctors and hospitals. Would it take a genius to come up with an option that allows the number to be replaced by, say "Doctor"?