£10 to stop nuisance calls - is this right?

saratiddyMon 09/06/08 14:27

Advice required ....

I have been experiencing nuisance calls for some time. It used to be the odd call every couple of weeks, sometimes in the early hours (which I was not pleased with) or early evening etc. It was annoying, but I had an idea who might behind it and hoped that they would get bored as there was no reaction from me and hopefully stop doing it. Since the calls started I have been vetting calls and leave ansaphone on permanently and if I want to speak to the caller I pick up the phone. As soon as the 'nuisance' caller hears the ansaphone cut in they end the call, so problem sorted. When I press '1471' to check who the caller is I receive the stand BT message 'we do not have the callers number number to return the call' so obviously someone who is trying to 'protect' their number.

But sadly not as the calls haven't stopped and this Saturday I was getting calls every hour, and a few early this morning. After being disturbed this morning, I decided enough was enough and rang BT. I spoke to a lady (from some International Call Centre who I could hardly understand) and explaining the situation. I made it very clear it was 'nuisance calls' and the caller was not leaving number. I asked could BT stop all calls where the 'Caller ID' was being hidden, as I understood BT could do this. I was told to stop the nuisance calls I would have to pay £10 a quarter but the first month was free - WHOPPEE I repeated back to the lady very clearly "I have to pay £10 to stop this nuisance caller" and she replied "Yes".

By the way I got a friend to check if the 'service' was working from a phone that didn't leave a number and they managed to get through to me, and sortly afterwards the nuisance caller rang me. So this 'Service' is stopping the problem.

So dearest fellow OUTers I ask you what should I do, should I be paying £10 to stop nuisance calls? Has the Lady from BT missed understood what I was saying? Shall I ring BT again and demand to be put through to manager or through to someone who deals with Nuisance Calls.

I await your advice, after having them every hour of Saturday and often when I had my hands full so couldn't pick up the phone, I am fed up and it is getting to me.

satyr_zaMon 09/06/08 14:30

DON'T PAY ANYTHING!!!!!

There is a free service, I'm trying to find the official web-site now for you!

majMon 09/06/08 14:31

Call BT demand the english call center to get your help, thats ridiciulous that you should have to pay!

#202651Mon 09/06/08 14:31

There's a difference between a 'nuisance' call and an abusive, obscene or threatening call - which I'm pretty sure BT is legally required to either trace or block.

Might be that the person you spoke to didn't realise the exact nature of these calls, so might be worth trying again.

satyr_zaMon 09/06/08 14:32

Got it

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

Register yourself on there and if they call you after 30 days, you inform them you are on the list. They hang up instantly! I don't get any calls anymore!