Cold Call Blocker

brue
brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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edited January 2017 in General Chat #1

I was pleased to hear on BBC Radio 4 this morning that BT have finally launched their latest cold call diverter and blocker. This can be done on line or via the phone and if you get a cold call you can dial 1572 to prevent further calls from an individual caller. I presume further details are available but it's good news for many.

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  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited January 2017 #2

    Does this work with our existing phones or do you have to buy one of BT's latest Call Blocker phones Brue. 

    K

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited January 2017 #3

    It sounds like a great idea although it's not that often I get a repeat cold call!yell I also tend to make a note of the number and ignore future calls as I wouldn't be without caller display.  I had one this morning and mistook it for my sister's number - they were trying to tell me I could get a new central heating system courtesy of the government because I am not on gas mains.  However it seems I need to be in receipt of some kind of income supplement to qualify.  undecided

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited January 2017 #4

    Because of the cold caller problem we brought a telephone that interrogates callers and demands that they answer searching questions before we are made aware of their existence. The pleasing result is that we no longer receive many telephone calls. 

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #5

    Useful information. Thanks brue. Did it say if it works with "withheld" numbers? Just tried to Google it but couldn't find anything.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #6

    As far as I'm aware the service is called "call protect" and it's free. I hope this link is helpful.

    Call Protect

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited January 2017 #7

    Call Guardian (BT) requires that any caller from a number not on a user defined list has to state their name. The recipient can then decide whether to accept or reject the call. Rejected calls are added to a 'blocked' list.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #8

    Our phone was playing up so we bought a new one in the sales, or rather two for £50. One main with answer phone and a second for using upstairs. You can set it to do what you have said Ian, or what we find more useful, divert any unrecognised calls direct to answerphone. If you are in and someone you want to talk to leaves a message you can pick up, or ring them back. Then of course add them to permitted calls for next time. If it's a cold call they just seem to ring off. So far it has worked very well. Those on the permitted list have been let through and others shunted to answerphone. The only glitch was when Lowdham phoned to say our van was ready to collect, they were sent to answerphone, despite being on the permitted list. The only thing I can think, is that as they are ringing from a switchboard it is not sending their ID properly.

    So generally very pleased and would recommend it. The model is a BT8610 Advanced Call Blocker.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #9

    It looks as as though BT are now getting in advance of nuisance calls and their new system will start to eradicate the problem by directing the calls away from users.

    In the meantime this is also good information and advice about nuisance calls see here.

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
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    edited January 2017 #10

    I spoke to BT yesterday about this situation and they put me through to their new call blocker service which is free to customers and takes 24 hours to get up and running.Basically its a number you type in when you get a nuisance call and it blocks any call from that number thereafter.Registration is free,quick and automated over your phone.

    v9.

  • woodlanewanderers
    woodlanewanderers Forum Participant Posts: 28
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    edited January 2017 #11

    I'm with TalkTalk and to block last caller I dial 14258** after the call.

    I also have Call Preference which should stop cold callers but a few do seem to get through.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #13

    We rent our landline through BT but our calls are routed via another provider. We are rarely affected by nuisance calls but I'm very glad that the BT scheme is now up and running....the downside is that BT prices are now going up!! yell

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,668 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #14

    I presume we would not be able to get it.  We were with BT till just over a year ago but now we are with SSE, though they use BT lines.

     We pay only SSE for landline and broadband, and have no call package or caller display, though our phone can handle caller display as we used to have it with BT.

    Our "cold calls" seem to come in chunks, a lot for a few weeks then none for a few weeks.  We are in a no calls period at present.

    We had the scammers trying to sell us the cold call thingy Oneputt referred to.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited January 2017 #15

    We have 'TalkTalk' calling us most days at the moment......a 'problem with our internet connection'.

    They can quote our account number, so I assume they are the ones who hacked TalkTalk a while ago.

    TalkTalk take no interest in the matter when we tell them.

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
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    edited February 2017 #16

    I signed up on the Telephone Preference Service a few years ago & rarely get any cold calls, except for those from energy companies we're with, or others we've bought stuff from before trying to sell us something new.  I always tell them I'm not interested & put the phone down.  In fact, the more they contact me to sell me something, the more determined I am to not want it wink

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited February 2017 #17

    Talk Talk - I am so glad I left them not long after the hacking - so much less hassle from PlusNet - and if anyone thinks of changing - cite their security as your reason and be firm that you are not paying any exit fees. 

  • tombar
    tombar Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited February 2017 #18

    My mum, who is 90, was forever getting calls, and sometimes no one was there.  But she did say that in the last month or so, she's had no calls whatsoever.  So that's good