Is it possible to get a number barred from calling me? I'm reciving nusience calls and would like to get them stopped. I'm a ntl customer if that makes any difference.

No, get caller ID and ignore them, speak to their nuisance call dept if it's really bad and they will discuss options like changing your number or reporting it to the police.

Can't you just tell the person that you don't want to speak to them and that if they continue to call you will report the calls to the police.

If you were on BT you could get 'choose to refuse' and you can block any number from calling you, even if they withhold their number. Costs a few quid a quarter. Ask NTL if they have a similar service, and if not, why not?
Last edited by poppasmurf : 21-11-2006 at 18:49

There's a firm out there called ACE European who are a massive ( £16.8 BILLION) organisation who use the number 01709763840 to power-dial people, which means that most of the time their computer doesn't have an operator to take the call and therefore the computer hangs up on you after you've answered. We've been plagued by them for weeks, and their number features a lot if you "Google" it; people are getting very annoyed with them.
For info, so they can't hide behind their number anymore, they are the ACE European Group, ACE Building, 100 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3BP. Although the actual call centre is Rotherham I believe.
Anyway, I got so fed up with them that I've purchased a widget which fits in-line with the incoming telephone cable and blocks ALL calls by asking the caller to press a particular number to continue the call and make the house-phone ring. Of course, if the number is dialled by computer, the call will not get through. This also applies to annoying auto-dialling fax machines who try to send faxes to you. The unit costs just short of £50 (It's not from BT but I can't remember who the firm are), and I'll post a note when I've received it and checked if it works.
In the course of researching this multinational ACE Group, I've discovered the name and address of the Director of the UK branch.....perhaps we should start phoning him !!!
Last edited by PhilBurridge : 13-12-2006 at 21:19

You don't need any gadgets or software or anything else. To stop unsolicted marketing calls, you just register with the Telephone Preference Service (www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/). It is free to register. Once registered it is an offence to call you.

If it is is just an nasty call tell the police. It is an offence to make such calls too. If you can get a number via 1471 or Caller ID so much the better.

BTW. There are dozens of companies out there using auto-dialers.
Last edited by beerhunter2 : 13-12-2006 at 22:32

Hi there Beerhunter. From the info I've read, registering with TPS may not be that effective as they appear not to have any teeth. Have I misinterpreted how it works or do you need to notify them of every number that you don't want to call you ?
Seems a lot of hassle to me if that's the case.
Any further input would be appreciated.

No TPS works from a list provided by the information office, call centres must get this list every 30 days and import it into their system, they must not call anyone on that list, if they do they risk being reported to the information office and being punished with an unlimited fine.

A lot of people who have registered with TPS continue to get sales calls (from within the UK).

How many companies have been fined so far?

I very rarely get unsolicited calls now I've registered with TPS. If I do, I just have to say 'I'm registered with the TPS' and they can not get off the line quick enough.
It's a free relatively successful solution to the problem.

Then they should report the companies to the regulator who will take action. A threat from the regulator is usually enough due to the enormous fines that they can levy.

My partner's mother used to get unsolicited calls, including silent calls, all the time. Since we registered her she has not received one. We are ex-directory and registered and we never get calls.

To answer a previous question: Yes you have to register all of your numbers because the system only reconmises numbers, not people or addresses.

Why not try it. It's free and seems to work

So, what is the answer to my question?

How many companies have been fined and how much?

It's no comfort to those who registered and still get calls to know that the regulator can fine companies. The question is, does he/she?

Having been pestered by this ACE European lot, I thought I'd find out how they'd got my number.
Having pointed out that I had a legal right to know where they'd got their info, I was informed that it was Debenhams (card account).
So I phoned Debenhams and asked if they were affiliated with ACE because if they weren't they were breaking their contract which has a little box which says: "If you prefer not to receive direct marketing from US please tick this box"......I pointed out the US in the conditions and told them they were breaking the law. They got a bit sheepish after that.
It seems that Debenhams are one of the biggest offenders for passing out customers infomation.
Shame, I used to like Debenhams.

No idea but as as I said earlier, the threat seems to be enough according to the stories that I have read in the trade press.

BTW. In my experience the TPS system does seem to work extremely well. Are you saying that it doesn't? And the lack of fines is the cause of this?

No, it's certainly worked for me and a few others I know. It's just that a some people have continued to get a trickle of calls and the reporting process doesn't seem all that confidence inspiring.

If you go to the TPS site, all they say is they will pass your complaint on and the information commisioner might take some action.

I can't find any evidence of the information commisioner doing anything other than warning people he will take action. Perhaps that's enough to do the job.

On the one call I got after my registartion took effect the woman did not seem in the least bit concerned about violating the TPS conditions, not even apologising for the error (although she didn't continue to try and sell me anything).

Well if you take recent example from last week:

Enforcement orders placed on
IDT Direct Limited - Toucan,
Staybrite Windows Limited,
Zenith Windows Limited,
Bowater Windows Limited
Bowater Home Improvement Limited

They have been told they will be prosecuted if they continue.

ICO has also investigated Car Phone Warehouse and Talk Talk because of similar complaints.

Press Release
For immediate release
6 December 2006
Information Commissioner calls time on unwanted telephone calls
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today served Enforcement Notices
against five companies for making unsolicited direct marketing calls to individuals
without their consent. Failure to comply with the Notices is a criminal offence and the
ICO is likely to take further action to uphold people’s privacy rights, including
prosecution, unless the companies comply with the Notices. The action has been
brought under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003
(PECR).
The ICO has ordered IDT Direct Limited, often known as Toucan, Staybrite Windows
Limited, Zenith Windows Limited, Bowater Windows Limited and Bowater Home
Improvement Limited to stop telephoning individuals for direct marketing purposes
who have already expressly told the companies that they do not wish to be
contacted, or who have registered with the Telephone Preference Service. IDT
Direct Limited has also been ordered to stop making automated calls unless it has
individuals’ prior consent.
Mick Gorrill, Head of Regulatory Action at the ICO, said: “Most of us have received
unwanted direct marketing calls interrupting our private lives. In these cases the
firms involved have not only called people without their prior consent, they have
continued to call them despite being asked not to do so. This is an unacceptable
intrusion and we will not hesitate from taking further action if the companies fail to
comply with the terms of the Notices.”
Four of the companies asked callers to ring another number if they did not want to be
called again. The Notices make it clear that this practice is unacceptable; it is the
responsibility of the company making such calls to ensure it holds accurate records
of those people who do not wish to be called.
The action follows complaints from individuals received by the ICO earlier this year.
ICO has also investigated Car Phone Warehouse and Talk Talk because of similar
complaints. They are to meet ICO on Friday 8 December to discuss the complaints
and provide further assurances about compliance in the future. Further enforcement
action has not been ruled out.
The ICO is also investigating a number of other similar complaints about other
companies.
The Enforcement Notices are available here and all future enforcement action under
PECR will be recorded publicly on the website. The ICO also provides guidance to
help organisations comply with PECR, which is also available on the website.
ENDS

Complaints should be directed to http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/pri...nications.aspx
Last edited by intheknow : 15-12-2006 at 04:45

I find caller ID only works for 90% of calls as the odd number dont show up even if the number was left on 1741. The odd call dose show as withheld or just call. TPS only stops 99% of sales and marketing calls I have found out after joining TPS over a year ago. I also joined MPS and 98% of all junk post has been stoped.

Darren
Last edited by ney : 15-12-2006 at 07:01