I don't know if we're unusual but we've been getting a lot of automatic sales calls, so I decided to look into whether we can stop them. I found that they are illegal if you have not given your permission to the marketing organisation. But you can bet many will claim they have your agreement, obtained when you sent off for a free sample, entered a competition, or completed a survey. And even if you wanted to complain getting information on the sales company would involve responding to the call, and who knows if it's a premium phone number, or will put you on another list that is sent round other sales companies.

Having thought about it I decided that there was no good reason why anyone would want automatic sales calls on a private phone line, so why shouldn't the government make them illegal? Not something that's within my power of course, but then I thought about the Government Epetition site Now if every one who's cursed an automated nuisance call, went to the site and signed that would be a pretty hefty petition. So here's the link for when you want to get revenge on those sales companies disturbing your peace..
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33439

Has anyone any other tips on getting rid of these calls, we're already on telephone preference service which seems to work quite well. The only thing with these calls is you can't point out to a computer that you're on TPS!

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/d...do-i-use-it%3F

"Anonymous Call Rejection lets you stop calls from people who have withheld their number. If a caller withholds their number so that you can’t tell what number they called from, they won’t be able to get through to you. They’ll only get through if they reveal their number.

There is a monthly charge of £4.30 for this Calling Feature."

Not the same as blocking sales calls and it costs money. Some networks do not pass the callers number to some other networks.

try http://www.truecall.co.uk/index.html

We're on TPS as well - have been for years. I think automated calls dial randomly so can't be set to check whether the number is registered or not; which as far as I'm concerned means they're illegal and I thought had been outlawed if they originate in the UK - there's nothing you can do about rubbish which originates outside the country.

There's no way the ones we're getting at the moment could claim we've given them permission anyway - they're all "if you've been missold PPI" calls; three at least this week.

I find the "You've had an accident" Texts to mobiles more annoying.

At least my new touchscreen phones, don't keep buzzing every few minutes until I've read a text.

Would re-iterate this advice. We bought one a year ago and it is definitely one of the best inventions. Every now and then we log on to our account and see just how many unwanted calls this device has intercepted and it makes me smile to think I have been spared the hassle each time

Thanks for all the advice. the device looks good but £99.99 is a lot to get some peace - but will consider it. Anyway don't forget to sign the Epetition - its free!

yeah i wish i could afford it myself to be honest!!!

I thought random callers were still legal in the UK, and being random they don't have to take notice of TPS.

On a bad day I get 6 missold PPI calls. My only consolation is that they cost the caller money.

As far as I'm aware random callers are not legal if i. You've enrolled with Telephone Preference Service and haven't given your permission ii. they're automated and don't have your permission. Unluckily they get there permission in many devious ways, and if they haven't its difficult to get their details (especially automated calls) to report them. So thats why I proposed a simpler system with the petition - just make them illegal! If you haven't signed up please help us by adding your signature.

Random callers are nuisance calls and should be treated the same as dirty phone calls.

I have a Panasonic DECT phone with a call barred facility. Works a bit like the Truecall unit except the caller gets an engaged tone once their number is enter into the barred list. Once the number is in the list I don’t even know that they have called again unless I check the list. Or sometimes I note the callers number then use “whocallsme” web site then add it to the barred list to get shot of them.

It can barr withheld numbers but unfortunately some of our friends withhold their number for some untold reasons, maybe because their using a VOIP phone and the system does not recognise the number so the Truecall unit does have an advantage over this.

unfortunately my panasonic dect phones dont have this feature.

but I am buying a cheaper call blocker, called a CPR, which is only £39, but still gets very good reviews on amazon

A common misconception. TPS applies to the phone numbers on a list, usually lists that have been sold. Random diallers are exempt.

Sadly there seem to be enough idiots out there to make this a viable business model, same as popup ads when attempting to close a webpage.

Many many thanks for this!! I have been inundated with these calls for so long now and I never use my landline so cannot understand where they get the number from. But I have posted this link for the petition on my facebook page and already have a few who have shared it to their pages lets hope the government will take notice of it! I will keep plugging the petition until there are even more signatures on it. Thanks again

I got a brand new phone number 2 or 3 months ago after moving my phone provider, but there was an overlap as I was still in contract and both are still connected. I took up BT's privacy option, with TPS registration and made it ex-directory too. I am also now extremely cautious about who I advise my new number to

I have had not a single cold call on the new line, whereas I continue to get 3 or 4 a day on the old number (which is in the phonebook) even though I never answer them (sometimes do a 1471 afterwards, they are all cold calls).

My conclusion so far is that most cold calls originate from people with lists of numbers in use, obtained from i know not (and care not) where - and not from random dialling apart from phone book lists.

My advice therefore to those who are most annoyed by this is to try changing your number, opt for a privacy scheme including ex directory and TPS, and severely limit who you give your number out to including cost comparison sites as they are another source of annoying calls.

Since I did all that, it's been bliss.

Its a good idea to create an account on www.sipgate.com
(or find a similar service)

you can create a landline number with your own area code...... then give this to companies (eg, car insurance comparisions) - many of them insist on having your landline number!!!!

There is a free voicemail feature - where they email you the message as an MP3, if someone leaves a message.

But sales calls, etc, hardly ever leave a message, they just hang up.