General Chat

Sorry, just posted a reply and being away from Home for so long I did not realise the you also had 'phone call identification', I left England in the fifties and I am one of those weird people who think nothing changes (you can imagine how I feel when I see my family there, age) we never even had a telephone in those days..... no-one to call! Yes it is expensive, over 'here ' also to have a 'call identificaton' but it was worth the investment when I started getting calls from a collection agency that had me mixed up with someone else. After several weeks of not being able to answer the telephone not only did I have to deal with this agency but they had reported me to the Credit Bureau. It took a year to resolve. So, now I have the luxury of being able to check and see who I don't want to talk to, and press the 'shut up' button as I call it if necessary. It's lovely. =(^:^)<.

A boat horn works wonders in a situation like this. Worked for me. I also agree with the answering machine idea, it's wonderful for vetting calls, and there should be a button on there that you can eliminate the call before it finishes. Good Luck. Me in the not so 'New World' =(^:^)=

I have a telephone with caller display.Most sales companies have unlisted numbers .Any friends or relatives that have with held numbers i ask to call let it ring once or twice, then call straight back, that way i know it is a friend calling, not a saleman. I had a friend who used to recieve a lot of junk mail. she used to keep all the prepaid envelopes that came with them, then send them junk mail from other companies. ie, to a double glazing firm she would send mail from a company offering time shares. She gets a lot less junk mail now.Of course not all companies send pre paid envelopes.

We use our answerphone to screen calls. The unwanted ones never leave a message. x

I just get great satisfaction in sending a fist full of prepaid envelopes back to the sender. All this wasted paper - and wasted trees Lin

no william had one from india today.just hung upxxxxxx):

Just a quick note regarding my putting my address info in the return envelope: I write on the forms they put in: STOP SENDING ME THIS CR*P IM NOT INTERESTED! Or something of that description. It does seem to work because they then know which address sent it back. If I dont do this, they dont know the address that doesnt want it. The new way they have is posting mail, junk and otherwise to 'The Occupier' etc. I still send it back to them. Vikki xx

With regards to rubbish mail - I put everything (except the letter addressed to me) back into the prepaid envelope and post back to them - it costs them the postage to receive their rubbish back. Lin

Hi Elaine This happens because its a machine that dials random numbers. When enough people have answered to fill the call centres staff levels, it then cuts off those who answer after the quotas are fullfilled. Nothing can be done unless you actually get put thru and then tell them to stop calling you. But, even that isnt 100 % guaranteed. Try the privacy link I posted earlier and then you can see the number calling - if no number or 'secret' shows, then dont answer. You will need a caller display phone but these are no expensive to buy nowadays. Vikki xx

I keep on getting loads of calls saing do i want a free mobile phone (and pay for line rental etc), and calls asking what phone company im with and they can save me money. All are indian voices. Im sure its from indian call centers abroard. Ive just registered with the telephone preferance thingy, but it takes 28 days to come into affect. Just now, my phone has rung twice and the person has put the phone down the other end...the caller left no number. Im getting seriously hacked off now elaine x

The only way to remove yourself from unwanted calls lists outside uk at the moment ( according to Bt) is to stay on the line and phone the freephone number given. Ask to be taken off their list when you are connected. Beware though, as an earlier post suggested that these 'freephone' numbers lead to a premium service. I kept getting 'you have won a Bahamas Holiday' call and eventually phoned their freephone number. I told them very rudely I would sue their a*ses if they ever phoned me again. They havent as yet and that was 4 months ago now. Vikki xx

I had a really good one, somebody called the other day and asked me if they could ask me one question, I said 'you just have' and put the phone down! I usually stop them before they start their pre-rehearsed speech and tell them I am ex-directory because I don't want unsolicited calls, if this fails to halt them I put the phone down on them. I don't feel guilty about it, I didn't ask them to call me! Jak

Please subscribe to the Telephone Preference Service. It really does work. Only occasionally do we have a ''you have won a prize'' call. :-) Joy

Tell me about it!! We get loads of those credit card applications, with names, addresses even dates of birth!! We shred them too, but ring them first if you can then they have to take your name off!! It does stop a lot of them. I think there should be a law against them doing it, invasion of privacy, etc!! Joan

Christine - agree with everything you say. I did read somewhere that you have to ask them to take you off their mailing list. I did this for my Dad when he was getting conned by postal 'lotteries'. I sent it back in their envelope, & told them to take his name off their register. We don't get very many ever now. Apparently these conmen 'sell' what they call 'sucker' lists to other crooks, once you have replied. William - try getting a digital phone & get 'caller id' from BT, then you don't need to pick up calls that have no number showing. Joan

Hi I also send the little amount of unwanted post that I do get now, back to the company, in their return envelopes. Just putting return to sender doesnt stop them but if you use their envelopes they soon realise its costing them more money! I havent had any more post from the ones ive returned. Just make sure you put the part with your address on in the envelope. Vikki xx

Hi William TPS is very good: http://www.tpsonline.org(.)uk/tps/ Bt Privacy is new and free too. You just need to have your line renatal with them and a caller display telephone for the caller ID: http://www.bt(.)com/btprivacy/ Mailing Preference Service: http://www.mpsonline.org(.)uk/mpsr/ Remove () Vikki xx

Thanks Christine - off to look now :))

Thanks for the Information re Preference Mailing Service. Do I just contact the Post Office?

You are not alone , and I think they are an intrusion too far. You can't NOT answer, as you said, it could be family in need. It also takes a little while before you realize what is going on. Deanna