How to beat nuisance texts and phone calls

Last updated: Apr 18th, 2013
News by Johanna Gornitzki
5 Comments -
Nuisance call

"URGENT. You are owed £3,350 for the PPI you took out."

Sound familiar? Chances are that you have received a similar unsolicited text message or phone call at some point, if not on a regular basis. However, if you have not requested them there are ways you can make them stop.

If you receive texts from a company you are familiar with, simply reply 'STOP'. However, if you receive a text from a company you haven't heard of it's best not to reply at all as doing so would only confirm that the mobile number is in use and could encourage further spam texts to be sent. Instead, report the message to your network provider.

O2, 3 and Everything Everywhere (formerly T-Mobile and Orange) customers can do this by simply forwarding the text to 7726 (which spells 'spam' on a traditional phone keypad). Vodafone customers should forward the text to 87726.

If you get lots of unsolicited marketing calls, register your number with the telephone preference service (TPS). It's free and your details will be put on a list, which means certain companies are not allowed to make unsolicited calls to your phone. Its registration line is 0845 070 0707, or you can go to its website at tpsonline.org.uk.

Note that registrations take 28 days to come into effect. Unfortunately, however, the service does not cover texts.

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Your Comments

bettyboo71:
Fri, 19/04/2013 - 09:43

It is important to note that TPS also does not cover genuine market research calls.  But all genuine research companies will be happy to accept a refusal and should not call you again.
 

keepcraftin:
Fri, 19/04/2013 - 12:05

I Have been registered with the TPS for years now, but it has not made one scrap of difference. I rang them to ask why I was still being bombarded with unwanted calls and they told me there was nothing they could do about it.  A lot of use they are!!!
One way of getting rid of these blessed callers is to tell them you will have to ask the Landlord, They then hang up like a hot brick !! Try it, it works. Another is tell them you are OUT and hang up, or tell them they have the wrong number, or that you resent an invasion of your privacy, then hang up, but the TPS; don't bother to waste your time with them.

pastmaster:
Fri, 19/04/2013 - 12:32

I would agree that TPS is a toothless entity and makes very little difference at all. There must surely be a more robust way of stopping nuisance calls.

ifonly:
Fri, 19/04/2013 - 13:43

I too have been with TPS for years and agree that they seem to be totally ineffective - and of course do not cover calls originating from overseas.
Texts etc are covered by http://www.ico.org.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_guides/marketing
I am not sure tha this is any more effective in preventing calls/texts though. I am surpised that this was not mentioned in the article as texts and recorded messages seem to be more common now than an actual person on the end of the phone.
If there is a person on the other end just do what my mum does - she does not hang up but puts the phone down gently and carries on with whatever she was doing. When she goes back they have always given up.

mulcture:
Fri, 19/04/2013 - 14:08

TPs used to be ok but these cold callers seem to have found a way around this. Using 7726 on my mobile has stopped nuisance texts. I like your comment 'ill have to ask the landlord' I will try that. I normally say the onwer is not in can I take a message, that works wonders.