How do I stop these sales calls?
I HAVE had enough of representatives of companies ringing me trying to sell kitchens, double glazing or a mobile phone contract. Is there anything I can do to stop these unwelcome calls?
YES, there are a number of things that you can do to stop this type of call, known as live marketing calls. You can contact the company itself and ask for your number to be taken off its database.
-
Alternatively you can register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), a free service run by the Direct Marketing Association. Once registered with the TPS, the number(s) provided by you is added to an official list of numbers that all UK organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) are prohibited from calling for sales and marketing purposes. This takes 28 days to come into effect.
If you would like to register, contact the TPS at: Telephone Preference Service, DMA House, 70 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SS, or call 0845 070 0707. The website can be found at www.tpsonline.org.uk.
10% off hire prices on all equipment
Terms: Only valid with orders of 8 weeks or more.
Contact: 08455195266
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
There is more information about stopping other sorts of nuisance calls on the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk
Ofcom, the telecoms industry regulator, recently launched a guide about what to do if you get nuisance phone calls, faxes, text messages and email, and if you get silent, scam or abusive calls.
The guide includes what you can do if someone rings to sell you something and you want to stop the calls.
It also explains you can complain to the Information Commissioner if you keep getting recorded messages from organisations asking about claims for personal injury and services from debt management companies.
Comments
by Barnum42
Thursday, October 11 2012, 12:14PM
“Beware of the website where they say, "don't tick this box if you want us to spam you". Or even more sly where they have two boxes. You have to tick one to say you don't want their spam and NOT tick the second to say you don't want them to sell your details to other spammers.
I have found some companies try to get around TPS by saying that it's not a sales call, but a "survey" and that surveys are not covered by TPS. I report them anyway.”
by 2ladybugs
Thursday, October 11 2012, 11:59AM
“TPS and going ex-directory are both helpful advice. What you do need to be careful of though, is, if/when you do request details on anything, via a form, and they ask for your telephone number, read the wording very thoroughly as it often has (in very small writing) that your details may be passed on to other parties unless you tick the box!!!!”
by Shas_J
Thursday, October 11 2012, 11:25AM
“It also helps going ex-directory - I don't get any sales calls at all now :)”