For days now we have been getting calls but when we pick up the phone the line goes dead.
This is clearly autodialling. Having now answered a call and still done a dialback I KNOW the culprit is Virgin Media who have been ringing every week since taking over NTL without fail EVEN though I keep asking them to stop as I am a night shift worker and today they woke me up THREE times before I got someone on the other end!
Could you tell me if this is an illegal practise now and if so to whom should I report it as I need to sleep and Virgin media are invading my privacy after being asked not too!!!!!
Many thanks
Gary
2007-03-28 09:09:03 · 13 answers · asked by www.myspace.com/garykennon 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Land Phones
No, auto dialing is not illegal, or anywhere close to it. It's essentially standard procedure in any major call center...and sales of auto dialing systems are really big business.
The other problem is that if you do any business with Virgin Media or any of their sister companies, they still have the right to continue to call, even if your number is on the national do-not-call registry (you can thank Dubya for that little twist to the law!).
Unfortunately, it sounds as if your best bet might be to turn off the phone's ringer while you're trying to sleep.
2007-03-28 09:18:30 · answer #1 · answered by abfabmom1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely not illegal, it's what all call centres do, although it is illegal to have a certain level of dropped calls, so they have to keep it below that.
Only thing I can think of, as an ex-call centre employee I can tell you that if someone wanted to, they could log your number in their computer as a "call back wanted" and dial you whenever they wanted, and just hang up. People sometimes do this if someone is really rude to them, so if you've lost your temper with someone this could be their revenge.
If you know it's Virgin Media, call them and complain at the highest level because if you are a customer then the TPS wont help. In the meantime, turning the ringer off your phone seems like the best idea when you are sleeping, and getting a phone with caller display and ignoring any witheld numbers could work too.
2007-03-28 16:24:37 · answer #2 · answered by - 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know Gary it's not illegal.... Best I can suggest is register with telephone preference scheme to stop this from happening! Even though you are asking them to stop (realistically they should) but that depends on how you say it! For example if you say 'Don't phone me i'm not interested - they cover themselves by saying ok you're not interested today but you might be next week.
Ask them where they got your number and ask them to remove it from their database. Tell them also that you have registered with the TPS.
There number is 0800 398 893 or website:
www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps
Hope helps!!
2007-03-28 16:27:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
federal law prohibits telemarketers from using automated dialers to call phones. You may place your personal phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, but there is generally no reason to do so. For more information, see the FTC's press release . https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx
2007-03-28 18:07:35 · answer #4 · answered by CARLOS LARES 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Report them to your phone company. Or get a phone with a 'Telezapper' that will stop all machine dialed calls. Nexxtech has a very good one. 2.4GHz Cordless Telephone. #4303547 -- No more unwanted calls. Works great.
2007-03-28 19:23:36 · answer #5 · answered by twentyeight7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO !
but you can register with B.T telephone preference service to stop unsolicited calls. I think contact details in telephone book. But certainly on B.T website. Hope this info is O.K.
2007-03-28 16:20:56 · answer #6 · answered by MOTOGUZZIMAN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to register your no. with the tps. its a free service and you can do it online. it stops 90% of all sales and marketing calls, including autodiallers. www.tpsonline.org.uk have a look for yourself -yes it is illegal.
2007-03-28 16:19:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this information from Oftel might be useful.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/mofaq/telecoms/silentfaqs/
This info is for UK
Also in UK the telephone preferance service can help prevent most silent calls.
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/
2007-03-30 15:09:36 · answer #8 · answered by Sprinkle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
apparently if you press the # key on your telephone repeatedly, it sends the computer doolally. I haven't tried it myself yet, but it might be worth a shot!
2007-03-28 16:23:05 · answer #9 · answered by Rachael H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try this website :-http://www.callpreventionregistry.co.uk/?gclid=CJq0svilmIsCFQjmlAod2Te_Sw
you can opt out and should not receive unsolicited calls ,the only down side is it takes about a month to happen
2007-03-28 16:23:02 · answer #10 · answered by dick19532003 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋