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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To unplug the bloody phone

26 replies

fairgame84 · 02/07/2020 09:21

More of a whinge than AIBU.

I'm sick of scam phone calls all day every day. I've registered with the TPS and its made no difference. I've blocked numbers, I've ignored calls and they still keep coming.
I'd had 2 calls by 08.30 today so I've finally had enough and unplugged the landline because I have no idea how to stop the calls.
Now DM is moaning because it costs too much to call me on my mobile.

OP posts:
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 02/07/2020 09:23

I don't have a landline because of this.

So intrusive.

Original poster
fairgame84 · 02/07/2020 09:25

It's awful. I work nights as well, I don't need the phone constantly ringing.

OP posts:
NekoShiro · 02/07/2020 09:25

I've found that asking them who they are and then telling them your googling their companies tends to get them to hang up and stop calling, you could also try getting you DM a mobile with an unlimited calls plan so she's using minutes instead of getting charged but tbh I don't even have a land-line and I still get scam calls on my mobile, couple of weeks ago I was getting 20+ missed calls a day from the same 'company' but they've stopped trying now and moved onto their next victim

Mojitomogul · 02/07/2020 09:28

Yanbu. So irritating! For your mums calls, can she just drop call you and you ring her back?

Original poster
fairgame84 · 02/07/2020 09:37

She's got a mobile with unlimited minutes etc but insists on calling my mobile from her house phone. She's a pain.

A lot of the calls are those automated ones now.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 02/07/2020 09:41

screen your calls? that's what my mum does.

zingally · 02/07/2020 09:43

I'm super-strict about who I give my number to... Unless they are genuinely essential people, I give them my old number. ;)

HariboLectar · 02/07/2020 09:44

Can't she 3 rings you on your mobile and you call her back?

PleasantVille · 02/07/2020 09:46

@HariboLectar

Can't she 3 rings you on your mobile and you call her back?
This is the simple and obvious answer, you don't need our permission to switch your phone off.
PhoneLock · 02/07/2020 09:53

After receiving 12 in one day we got a set of BT call blocker phones with automatic screening. Over two years ago now and not one scam call has got through since.

vanillandhoney · 02/07/2020 09:58

This is why we don't bother with a landline!

StrangeCreature · 02/07/2020 10:01

Mine is unplugged. I just plug it back in once a week to see if there are any messages. I was sick if it ringing at inconvenient times and its always a scam. Anyone who wants me can either leave a message or contact me via mobile. We have to have a landline for the broadband.

PigletJohn · 02/07/2020 10:48

If you are on BT you can register online for free "Call Protect" which diverts known nuisance numbers, and up to a hundred you add yourself.

You can also divert foreign callers if you wish, and number witheld if you wish.

Presumably you are already using Caller Display and have an answerphone for numbers you choose not to pick up?

Original poster
fairgame84 · 02/07/2020 10:57

No I don't have an answerphone. I have caller ID but it doesn't stop the phone from ringing.

OP posts:
StrangeCreature · 02/07/2020 11:17

Turn the volume right downGrin

cologne4711 · 02/07/2020 11:21

You're just as likely to get nuisance calls on a mobile, you have to register it on the TPS too - it did make a big difference when I registered mine, though it's not fool-proof - I still get some calls but nowhere near as many and I don't tend to pick up if I don't recognise a number unless I am expecting a call.

As for your mum being a pain not phoning you on your mobile OP, maybe the reception isn't great? I call my mum on her landline from my mobile because I have unlimited calls and I sit in the garden so the reception is better, but she always calls me on my landline.

Cetado · 02/07/2020 11:22

I haven't had my home phone plugged in for years, when you see your mum ringing your mobile, let it ring out then ring her back.

BarbaraofSeville · 02/07/2020 11:25

Your mum can also get a calling plan that allows unlimited calls for not very much. Or she can text you and you call her back.

Maybe she uses the landline because the signal is poor. We've tried all the networks in our house and they're all pretty shit for trying to have a reliable phone conversation.

Lyricallie · 02/07/2020 11:28

I learnt a trick for mobile where you pick up and don't speak if it's an automated scam type call it drops as it doesn't think anyone is there. If it's a real person they'll say hello. Obviously doesn't help with the real people scam calls but is useful for the automated ones. I don't have a house phone neither does my mum. We all just use our mobiles which I keep on silent as I have too many what's app messages coming through so it would annoy me on loud.

gutentag1 · 02/07/2020 11:29

If your mum has unlimited minutes on her mobile, she has no reason to be awkward about this.

Inform her that you no longer have a house phone, and if she would like to speak with you then she can call you on your mobile.

LEELULUMPKIN · 02/07/2020 11:30

I don't have a mobile and very often unplug my landline. Not to stop nuisance calls from randoms but nuisance calls from family!

It's liberating.

Telephone chit chat bores me to tears.

I only have the landline in case I ever have to dial 999.

planningaheadtoday · 02/07/2020 11:31

We use BT call blocker too. The person calling has to announce the call by speaking their name after a beep, then it puts the call through and your phone rings. You can choose whether to accept the call or not.

Most cold callers are automated so when it asks for them to leave a name they can't. So the cold calls don't ring at all on the land line.

It's very quiet here as our phone was purely for the older family members (late70's/80s) to call as they don't have smart phones.

WittyUser · 02/07/2020 11:38

I was getting 5 calls a day on my mobile at one point and it was driving me mad...changed my number and it's been bliss. Is it possible to change a landline number? Surely very few people call you on your landline nowadays, should be easy to get the new number to those people?

Chloemol · 02/07/2020 11:51

If with BT use a blocker. If not then either blow a whistle down the phone or swear loud and hard at that. Both t3nd to get you taken of the lists

PuppyMonkey · 02/07/2020 12:05

I only found out quite recently that DP unplugged our landline last year! Grin

Can’t say it has affected my life at all - all official people, schools, work, tax office etc ring on my mobile.