Unsolicited calls - is this just a new line they use?

[bigbluebus]

Just had an unsolicited call. It took me a short while to work out that it was, as the caller claimed to be calling about the expiry of a domestic appliance warranty. Whilst talking it became apparent that the caller knew nothing about my appliance or when they warranty runs out - even though he had just claimed it was about to expire. I told him that I am registered with the Telephone Preference Service and so he shouldn't be ringing. His response was that he didn't know what that was! I remembered that this line was used by the last unsolicited caller that rang. Both callers appeared to have been ringing from the UK - they had English regional accents.

Are call centres really not training their staff about this or is this just a line that they are throwing out when challenged? It seems to be a recent thing - in the past they just used to hang up when you told them.

Why engage in conversation? Just hang up.

I wouldn't know what lines they use. If it's an unfamiliar number I just ignore (and then google afterwards). If it's someone genuine they can leave a message.

I've had this a few times - they're just being ever so helpful and ringing to let me know my warranty/extended cover has run out on my (insert appliance here) and they'll just set it all up for me again if I just give them a few details. Only they are onto a loser right away as we never take out extended anything. I ask them which machine, and they've never got the make right yet. Telephone Preference Service is worse than useless as far as I can make out.

He said that the warranty on my washing machine was due to expire. I do actually have a washing machine with a warranty on it but off the top of my head I didn't know when it ran out. It was only on engaging in conversation that it quickly became apparent that he didn't know anything about my washing machine at which point I informed him that he was making an unsolicited call (had he been calling from my washing machine manufacturer about the actual warranty then that would not have been classed as unsolicited) and that as we are registered with TPS then he shouldn't be ringing us. Seems he was working for an agency on behalf of a very big national company. The number has now been added to my blocked list on BT call protect.

The call which I had taken about 10 mins prior to this one was also from an unrecognised number but was actually from an organisation with whom I do have a current ongoing relationship so was a legitimate call. Not all unrecognised numbers are calls that you don't want to take.

I too am wondering what the hell is going on with tps at the moment!

I've been with them several years and noticed a huge improvement but in last few months WAY more unsolicited calls and I can't always "not answer" as sometimes I'm expecting a call from someone who's number I don't have in my phone or who call from number withheld switchboards (govt are notorious for this most annoying), or are calling from large companies with a lot of numbers so you can't save a number for them.

The ones from foreign countries I have no connection to I ignore as I know they're scams, but I have family & friends all around the world who could potentially in an emergency be calling from an unknown number & that's caught me out a couple times. (I now don't answer but contact the person from that country to see if they've been trying to get me).

I'm getting 2-3 a day now, if I answer I play along in order to get the info require to report to tps but it's getting really bloody annoying!

I too thought (I've a number of people I know work in call centres but obviously legitimate roles) that it was part of the training but then if they're scammers they're hardly going to fuss about this eh?

I wish it were possible for the govt to tighten up on this but unfortunately the tech is so hard to keep up with.

Yep I've had those calls, said the warranty on my Panasonic TV was due to expire and they can renew it for just £10 a month
I told him I'd never had a Panasonic TV and if I did I wouldn't pay £10 a month for a warranty. He put the phone down!
I also keep getting fake emails from TV licence people saying my direct debit failed. I don't pay it by DD and when I click on the contact it's dodgy. I trust nothing these days

Is it an 030 something number? It's a scam. I've been blocked the numbers steadily but have been getting 3+ some days all from the same horrible company.

I'm glad you posted this OP

My elderly mother has experienced a massive increase in nuisance calls and sometimes they are so specific - she would also be confused about a call regarding the warranty on something because she does have that type of thing.

we are dealing with a lot of changeover in paperwork after dad died and this morning, I spoke with someone who I think might have been genuine, but the volume of calls has been so mad, I just now say "write to us" because I don't trust anyone on the landline.

Mum has never registered with TPS but I'm not sure how much difference if it makes.

Also has anyone had calls from a company called Fast track or similar? I haven't answered any of these but they don't understand English well enough to understand the words "he's dead" and they keep repeating that they need to speak to him, which is so upsetting for mum.

They’re also good at appearing to be calling from a number local to you

I very rarely pick up calls from an unknown number - we do have 1571 (checked rarely...) so they can leave a message if important - but I had one recently from a localish number, so I answered, & it was that Inland revenue scam with an American accent

I'm also registered with TPS, and I have also noticed an increase in cold callers in the last few days. I always tell the caller that I have their telephone number (I do as my phone registers who has called) and they either hang up or I will report them to ofcom. Most callers realise the game is up. The ones who dont, I report to ofcom.

The nuisance calls don't last for long.

The number registered isn’t always the number they’re actually calling from though. There are ways round that. Overseas callers often appear to be using a UK number

Despite being TPS registered my mum gets a crazy amount. She is the type to take out daft warrantieslike this as well. She took out £12 a month for a sky warranty?! I told her no chance if they won’t fix a fault just cancel and they fall over themselves to do it free (done this a few times). The problem is she engages in conversation and tells them her private business I tell her to just hang up. She says ‘oh I just tell them you own my house etc’ yes I do but stop telling them anything ffs!

I'm getting nuscience calls from people claiming to be the tps themselves, calling multiple times a day for the past few weeks, yesterday I had enough and when they asked if i was getting any calls I said only from them and there is no upgraded package or tps expiry and if they claim otherwise it is fraud and to not call me again. Today my phone was silent.

Of course they don’t care about your TPS status - they are scammers!