Pesky Cold Calls

[Stuart*]

I thought I'd solved this problem by signing up to the 'Telephone Preference Service' a few years ago. It seems I now have to sign up to yet another service preventing random calls too through automated dailling 'puters (which I've just done through BT, who still manage the line).

I had a call from a withheld number (which normally means one of two people) so I answered. After the sales pitch I pressed '5' to remonstrate with whoever answered as to how they got the number. The person at the other end (of indeterminate accent) didn't hang around long enough to answer the question. No doubt I was charged £8/min to find out (or somthing similar), and will complain when I get a nasty bill from Virgin next month.

What's your worst experiences of sales pitches by phone. Do they make you laugh ('cos you're not going to buy) or do they annoy you intensely because they disturb your viewing of EastEnders?

[timgraham]

They don't usually get to finish it in our househould.

Fortunately it doesn't happen too often since we signed up to the do-not-call register.

[Bail]

Something I didn't know and is worth pointing out is that you need to "re-add" your number to the TPS every year, quite why I don't know but if you're having problems I'd suggest adding your number again via their site.

[Ebeneezer Scrooge]

Something I didn't know and is worth pointing out is that you need to "re-add" your number to the TPS every year, quite why I don't know but if you're having problems I'd suggest adding your number again via their site.

Sorry for dragging this one back up, but I had a cold call last week and I mentioned that I was on TPS at the start of the call as normal, but the woman at the other end was argumentative and said 'yes, well you need to update annually'. I didn't argue at that point as I remembered reading Bail's comment here, but when I went to the TPS website to re-register, I got a message saying I was already covered.
In the FAQ on the tps website, it confirms that unless you are a registered on the corporate TPS (ie a business or large organisation), you do not need to update annually. Once on, always on!

[Nick Harvey]

That's exactly how I understand it too.

I've previously been in the situation of having two lines, one classified as residential and one as business.

I had to renew the TPS registration regularly for the business line, but never had to for the residential line.

[Sput]

I've previously been in the situation of having two lines, one classified as residential and one as business.

I KNEW IT. YOU'RE BATMAN.

[Nick Harvey]

No, not me.

But I do have a batman to answer the phone for me!

[rts]

A product of cold calls can be silent calls. It's nice to see that this is being clamped down on, with a record £50,000 fine for Barclays.