How do I stop cold calling on my UK landline?

Question

I have just had another annoying sales call, my fourth today. I am totally fed up with these stupid cold calls where I pick up the phone and getting someone who can barely speak English trying to sell me something I don't want and can't afford! Its made worse by the fact Im partially disabled and it takes considerable effort to get to the phone at times.

I believe there is some sort of online registry where you can take your number off the sales lists, and similarly with junk mail to your home address. Does anyone know where I could find this?

Answer 1

Different phone companies have varying ways of doing this. I never found that the TPS was much good. Sure, you can sue people who violate it, but as often as not, they don't tell you properly who they are and they certainly all withhold their number.

Unless you commonly get calls from some mobiles, schools or public institutions, which also withhold their number, you can easily set your phone to reject all calls where the number is withheld. You can also set it and unset it easily by dialling a 3 digit code. The code varies, I believe, depending on the network, so either consult the instructions that came when you subscribed to the line or call the help desk.

Answer 2

Stop Cold Calling Forever

Answer 3

Kirun correctly stated that you need to register with TPSonline. Its free to register, and does take a little while for the registration to take effect.

Beware of other organisations which ask for money.

What you can also do to prevent unneccessary trips to the phone is to get a cordless DECT phone with Caller Display. This way, you can see the phone number of the person who is calling you. You might have to get CLI activated on your phone line, depending on the operator, and might be charged a small fee for this each month.

Call centres and international calls will usually not have a phone number come up - might show up as "with held", "call 1" or "-----".

Answer 4

In Google, type "telephone preference service", and you will find a site that allows you to "opt out" of cold calling.
It will take about a month to have full effect. but it DOES WORK! because people can be fined for calling listed numbers.

Answer 5

Next time they call ask them to remove your details from thier databses in accordance with the Data Protection Act. They must then do this by law. If they call again, you can sue them! This is true!

Answer 6

Contact BT and request that the add you to the BT privicy at home list, you also get free caller ID with this service plus its FREE.

Answer 7

I usually imitate my 86 year old granddad, partially deaf and keep them going for ages about my old age pension, meals on wheels, and having lost my cat. My record to date has been 35 minutes and they are paying for it!!

Answer 8

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk - It takes a few months to work through. Don't forget to tell all callers you are TPS registered and do not want your calls.

and

http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/