"Nuisance" phonecalls

[kando]

We are being pestered with phonecalls where the caller never says anything - over the past few weeks it has been happening daily, sometimes a couple of calls a day. It's always the same phone number because I do 1471. I've called BT to ask for their help, but when the tried to trace the number they drew a blank because it wasn't a BT number. They offered us the "Right to Refuse" option for a free trial, which we took up. Now that the month is up, these calls have been coming in thick and fast and always the same. After about 30 seconds of complete silence, the line goes dead. I've tried calling the number back but the line goes off instantly, so I'm assuming the number doesn't receive incoming calls.

Does anyone have any idea how I can find what's going on here? Has this happened to anyone else? We've had up to 7 of these calls in one day before - it's ridiculous and I can't understand why it keeps happening.

Dh works for BT
I will ask him

Is there a pattern as to when the calls are made?
Is there any dfference when someone other than you picks up the phone?

Kando, we have had these calls off and on for ages now. The only explaination I have been given is that they are likely to be "marketing" where there can somehow call several phone numbers at the same time and the first caller to pick up is answered the others then get a dead line.
I did have a phone preference number to call to get your phone number deleted from various lists, I will try to find it for you.

can't you register with a silent calls preference thhingy?

I was told about it by BT, it is a number you call and fill in you rdetails (automated system) and most of these calls stop-we have had none since we did it, but were getting 3 or 4 a day.

Try googling for it or calling BT and asking?

We've been getting a few of these as wellno -one there for a while then it either says they have hung up of it goes dead.
I joked with dp for a while to tell his secret lover to stop calling him at the house!!
Sriously though- they are a real pain.

I have a phone preference number 0800 137159. I think it helps for a while then the calls seem to start up again, give them a call to see if tat helps.

or even if that helps!

I had the same thing. It is marketing companies calling you - their computer automatically calls several numbers at once, so they don't actually make all the calls and all you get is silence. Phone BT (I think 150?) and they will tell you the numbers you have to call to get your number taken off the list.

0800 398 893 - telephone preference number

0800 661 441 - silent calls registration

siging up to both will deal with most of these kind of calls.

(from BT website)

Thanks for that too secur, I don't know who I got my number from-I'll phone them all-it's worth it for a bit more peace & quiet!

with a family peace and quiet comes at a premium, the last thing we need is the phone taking up what time we have left!!

It's worth mentioning that although registering with the telephone preference service does cut down on sales calls, it won't stop them completely because even if you're registered, local companies are still allowed to use the local telephone book to make sales calls.

Just spoke tp dh....he said that if you had 'right to refuse' then they can trae the call and deal with it as a nuisance call if you kick up enough fuss....

Thanks for all the replies ladies. Will try those numbers and see what they say. Will also try BT again, Popsycal - not averse to kicking up a stink, especially after the way dd1 has been behaving this afternoon!!

and if you kick up a big enough stink, they will change your number for you (if you want) and refuse to pay (you are allowed one free number change but they dont tell you this...shhhh)