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Old 09-03-2009, 20:00
maggie48
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Please does anyone know who to contact to stop these calls?

I changed from BT to Virgin last year and since then have been having calls from a BT machine talking about SMS Text. If you call their number a m/c says 123456789. No option to talk to a person.

I complained to BT the first time and was assured that after 6 weeks my number would be removed and it would never happen again. It keeps happening despite phoning BT 3 times now. It happened again today. The phone rang 8.30, 8.40, 10am. Its infuriating!

I'm ex-directory, and on TPS. TPS say they can't help because a m/c is calling. Virgin say they can't help. Number barring wouldn't work because the number is left on my machine.

Can anyone suggest who to contact to get it stopped?

Last edited by maggie48 : 09-03-2009 at 20:03. Reason: clarification
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Old 09-03-2009, 20:06
Beavis99
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Had the same issue a few weeks ago. I found an 0800 number on these forums, which is the SMS management number for your line. Can't remember off hand, but a quick google search found:

0800 5875252

Give that a try, it's automated and there should be an option for disable SMS, or thereabouts.

B
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Old 09-03-2009, 20:31
maggie48
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Thank you very much. You may have saved our sanity.
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Old 10-03-2009, 08:50
beerhunter2
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I'm ex-directory, and on TPS. TPS say they can't help because a m/c is calling.
I assume that by m/c you mean machine. A very odd response by TPS. That sort of abuse by auto-dialers is one of the very things that TPS is there to prevent.

So I'd get back to TPS.
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Old 10-03-2009, 19:11
Beavis99
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Not sure what OP meant by m/c, but TPS can only act on cold calls. The OP was experiencing SMS messages, which is not covered by TPS. By calling the 0800 number, you can set the preferences of SMS reception yourself.

B
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Old 10-03-2009, 21:37
maggie48
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I assume that by m/c you mean machine. A very odd response by TPS. That sort of abuse by auto-dialers is one of the very things that TPS is there to prevent.

So I'd get back to TPS.
Yes I meant machine. Apparently they can only do something if a person/company is calling directly.
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Old 10-03-2009, 21:40
maggie48
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Not sure what OP meant by m/c, but TPS can only act on cold calls. The OP was experiencing SMS messages, which is not covered by TPS. By calling the 0800 number, you can set the preferences of SMS reception yourself.

B
I phoned that number and cancelled the SMS text messages. In all the years I was with BT (forever) I never agreed at any time to accept SMS messages.

I checked today and it says I'm off the list.

Thank goodness, it was so infuriating to keep running to the phone. It makes me mad as I pay the phone bills for it to be for my convenience not any machine which coughs out my number.
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Old 10-03-2009, 22:03
Heinz
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It makes me mad as I pay the phone bills for it to be for my convenience not any machine which coughs out my number.
I think you have misunderstood what has been happening.

You have been receiving 'text to speech' messages as a result of someone* sending SMS text messages (probably from a mobile) to your landline number. Because your landline cannot accept SMS messages, they are converted to synthesised speech to make them intelligible to you.

* It is highly unlikely that such calls originated from an auto-dialler.
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Old 11-03-2009, 00:24
maggie48
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I quoted the phone number to the people at BT and they confirned each time that it was their number calling me. The machine just gives numbers 123456789 no message.

Yesterday I called 1571 after the call and it said I had a message and played it. Nothing at all, just a silence.

Its not possible that anyone I know sent me a text message on my landline. Of the people I know only 1 uses text and I know it wasn't her.
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Old 11-03-2009, 09:58
Heinz
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Its not possible that anyone I know sent me a text message on my landline. Of the people I know only 1 uses text and I know it wasn't her.
I didn't say the texts were sent by anyone you know. Unfortunately, people key in wrong numbers (sometimes by accident, sometimes deliberately - consider the immature, low intelligence or alcoholic person with numerous free texts on their mobile who's consumed their nightly fill of cheap white cider).
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Old 11-03-2009, 11:58
maggie48
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I have the impression from BT that the calls are some sort of BT advertising. They are mostly morning calls when I'm rushing to leave for work, so very unwelcome.

Its odd how we never had the calls when we were with BT.
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Old 11-03-2009, 14:58
niall campbell
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you have to choose to alter the curfew and eventually its option 5
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Old 11-03-2009, 19:19
prking
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I have the impression from BT that the calls are some sort of BT advertising. They are mostly morning calls when I'm rushing to leave for work, so very unwelcome.

Its odd how we never had the calls when we were with BT.
No, its not advertising. As explained above, its trying to deliver an SMS that a person has sent. When you answer, it first reads the number that sent the SMS and then the message (if there is one). Just follow the instructions to turn it off if you don't want the calls. Or get a new handset that supports text messages.
Its nothing sinister and there is no need to worry. I hope that puts your mind at rest.
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Old 11-03-2009, 19:24
maggie48
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Thanks everyone. I've cancelled the text service now and hope that will stop it for good.
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Old 06-04-2009, 22:06
jasperjones
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[quote=Heinz;31261451]

You have been receiving 'text to speech' messages as a result of someone* sending SMS text messages (probably from a mobile) to your landline number. Because your landline cannot accept SMS messages, they are converted to synthesised speech to make them intelligible to you.

Hope you dont mind my pushing in at the end of this thread,but would you know how to swich off the 'text to speech' and have the messages come on my 'bt relate 2100'phone display and/or my BT i-player,on the tv as they used too (NICE BIG TEXT !)
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Old 07-04-2009, 11:15
Heinz
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Hope you dont mind my pushing in at the end of this thread,but would you know how to swich off the 'text to speech' and have the messages come on my 'bt relate 2100'phone display and/or my BT i-player,on the tv as they used too (NICE BIG TEXT !)
Half an answer HERE.
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Old 07-04-2009, 13:40
jasperjones
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Thanks Heinz will try it and see what happens
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Old 04-12-2014, 14:36
lincsat
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I am currently having problems with the Text to Speech service. I am receiving calls on my callsign number, callsign is where you have 2 incoming numbers on a single line. As the automated management service only responds to caller ID, which in my case sends the main and not the callsign number, I cannot set a curfew or disable the service I have been on with BT for a couple of Hours and the best they can suggest is that there is a fault on the system. Does anyone have any contact details for a dedicated BT text to speech support or any suggestions how to stop this?
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Old 04-12-2014, 23:18
Gerry1
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I am currently having problems with the Text to Speech service. I am receiving calls on my callsign number, callsign is where you have 2 incoming numbers on a single line. As the automated management service only responds to caller ID, which in my case sends the main and not the callsign number, I cannot set a curfew or disable the service I have been on with BT for a couple of Hours and the best they can suggest is that there is a fault on the system. Does anyone have any contact details for a dedicated BT text to speech support or any suggestions how to stop this?
Call the helpdesk on 0800 077 771.

Update: Aren't BT wonderful? I found the above number having tried to use the automated service (0800 587 5252) a second time. It told me to wait until the first request had been completed, or to call the helpdesk number, but it's no longer in use. Seems BT's left hand doesn't know it even has a right hand.

So Plan B is to start here if it's residential or here if it's business. If that fails, e-mail the CEO: gavin.e.patterson@bt.com or write to him at BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AJ

As a last resort, ask your MP to complain to the CEO on your behalf !
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