Bl**dy *rsing hopping mad - what can I do????

[xmascaroltygirl]

This morning, at 1:35am, we were all sound asleep. Not a mean feat in our house at the moment either, as we've all got that coughing bug. Anyway. The phone rang.

I went flying out of bed, convinced that something had happened to my Mum, who's 75 and hadn't been well. But when I picked up the phone it was one of those bl**dy automatic recorded advert messages. It must have been supposed to start with Santa's laugh, but the recording had gone weird and it was this huge, deep echoey, HO HO HO like something out of a horror film. Well, you can imagine.

I was absolutely furious. The phone woke up the children as well and it took us ages to get back because as well as me being terrified we all started coughing as well. And that was just us - a generally healthy family. Can you imagine the state an old person living along would have been in - at least I was able to work out what the bl**dy thing was. All I could think of was what it would have been like for my mother if she'd been the one getting the call. Or someone with a heart condition hearing that at 1:35 in the morning - the mind boggles

The number, of course, was Unavailable. So this morning I rang BT's advert complaints line and they said there is NOTHING they can do as these calls come in from abroad. There's the Telephone Preference Service for UK advertising - which we're already signed up for - but nothing for this sort of thing. They gave me the number for another organisation: can't remember its name but they told me I could register a complaint even though nothing can be done.

I rang up the new number - on hold for 15 minutes - then I was told that without a number to specifically complain about they couldn't even register my complaint! As I said - the number was unavailable. I asked if BT could provide it to me but apparently BT never give out an unavailable number. Unless, of course, I wanted to take out a private prosecution and get the police involved.

They said that even if I had the number there would be no point in getting it barred as there are scores of numbers that these effing things come in on. We can't just blanket ban international calls as dh's dad lives in the US. She said they might have been able to identify it via BT if it had been the last number that had called us. But of course, by this time, we'd been phoned by someone else so that wasn't to be done either.

GRRRRRRRR It's bad enough without being told there is nothing I can do to stop these b*stards doing it again to me or anyone else!!! Can anyone think of anything else I could possibly do that would have even the remotest bit of effect (or at least calm me down a bit???)

That's awful! We are registered with the TPS too but I didn't realise it wouldn't screen something like this! I'll ask my friend who's a call centre manager if she knows anything about who it might be or how to stop it.

My other pet hate is when you answer the phone to be met by silence. Apparently this is because some telesales operators ring several numbers at once and just talk to the one that picks up first, but the others just keep ringing (presumablty some sort of cut-off time).

Poor you - havent a clue what you can do about it im afraid but angry on your behalf. Its ridiculus that BT cannot trace the call with all their technology and the prices they charge. I know they have to be careful when giving out numbers but if someone calls you in the middle of the night (and it is not someone you know) it is a violation of your privicy. I think the government should outlaw these companies being allowed to used unavailable numbers. They should be forced to make their number available so you can complain if you are unhappy.

oohh - that bugs me too wordsmith, I just put the phone down when that happens.

Can't you get BT to do something that stops your phone accepting with-held numbers? Not sure if it would work with calls from abroad though..

Nik, I'd do that, but a few people I know - including my sister, for example - withold their numbers automatically so I'd be barring them too. I think that BT are capable of tracing the call, but aren't allowed to give the number out to anyone else. Not sure why but maybe it's because people would then find out numbers for security services and that sort of thing?

Anyway, all I can think of is writing to my MP but I can't see how this type of thing could be legislated against as it's international. Aaaargh!

When I was getting weird calls a couple of years ago (apparently a computer glitch or something) I called BT and told them that I was getting nuisance calls (really thought that someone was winding me up - dh thought I was having an affair and my lover was hanging up whenever he answered : if only!). Long story short. BT told me that each time I got a call I should press in a code (like 1471, but I can't remember it). This would allow BT to log the call and block it. I'm sure that they should be able to do something like that for you too. hth and I hope you don't get anymore of those calls and therefore this is irrelevant to you.

You could write to your MP. Surely if enough people complain they will have to do something about all these nuisance calls that are coming from abroad.

Ah - you've already said that! I think it would be worth it anyway.

Xmas carol - We were having the same problem, I rnag BT and blocked all withheld calls (it's £12 per 1/4) they also added our name and number o some register (don't know the name i'm afraid) which means if we get calls after 28 days of puttin our name on this thing then those companies are breaking the law.

any how it stopped all of ours, we occassionally get the odd one but not many.

BT will give you a code as well I think its 147 or something or 151 which allows english phones with witheld numbers ie/ ur family to call you no probs, it just takes their witheld facility off for that one time the call you. they need to input the number each time they ring ur house.

Are you ex-directory? It definitely almost totally cuts out the UK ones, have never had one of this type either.

those silent ones or the beeping sort really make me mad.
BUT don't put the phone down, just lie it at the siade then they are paying for sending you a loads of beeps. hopefully the more people that do this the less call centres will do it

Davros, I'm not sure if we're XD - this number (my sister used to live in this house) certainly was at the time but I'd have to check if it still is.

Jingleballs, I didn't realise that you could block withheld calls but still get them from chosen people - will definitely look into that. It would mean teaching my mother to key in the extra numbers but we might manage it after a few goes. Would have to go round those who call us already and check who's withheld but that should be OK, and if you were giving your number to someone new you could mention it then. Cheers for that!

Still think it's a bloomin' swizz, though, and I can't be the only one it has happened to... main concern is what effect it would have on someone more vulnerable than I am.

I bl**dy hate the silent and "on hold" ones as well - fortunately we don't get those any more as they're generally UK and the Telephone Preference Service seems to be doing its job. Apart from these international ones (we've had one before - only last week - but it was in the afternoon and a recorded voice rather than spooky laughter) we had been pretty clear of junk phone calls apart from the company for one of my dh's credit cards - MBNA - who seem to do a pester call once a month or so.

That's another thing that bothers me, in fact - we had NEVER had an international recorded one before but then had one last week and another last night, so they're getting more frequent.

[angry but yawning face],

Xmascaroltygirl

I had this call last night as well, but not as late as you, how awful. Do they really think we would fall for their cheesy come-ons? I'm on TPS and also ex-directory but think I'll go for barring withheld numbers now as well. I do hope they record replies because Santa got some choice abuse from me! I don't think he'll be bringing me any treats this year.

MM, how did the call continue? Once I worked out what it was I slammed the phone down, and the voice was so distorted that I couldn't make out any words either. Does it ask you to press a button, or call a number, or leave a message or what?

We've had that recorded message too, and we are on TPS. I tried to re-register, but it told me we were already on the list. Now you have explained why these calls are getting through, as I did wonder! They are sooo annoying, and I just hang up, but it leaves me really cross.

hi xmas, it started with a pause then the Ho Ho Ho then something like "I't's Santa here, calling from the North Pole" at which point I yelled P*SS OFF SANTA and some other ladylike rants, so I didn't hear any more, sorry.

Had this one last week and I'd signed up for TPS too (not yet 28 days though). Will be furious if I get one that late as DS already gets me up at least twice a night. Think I'd consider changing my number if they became excessively frequent and at antisocial times.

bl**dy .

Its outrageous that they should be able to get away with this.

I've had those press 9 calls before, but not at that unearthly hour! Even so, it bugs me that your phone is tied up and you cant cut them off - what if you needed to make an emergency call!!

outrageous - why don't you try approaching that Radio Four consumer programme - You and Yours. I'm sure they could make a good story out of this - and perhaps push BT into being a bit more helpful.

Oooh, busybusy... that's another I hadn't thought of. Feeling all militant right now as I have just written to my local MP for the very first time ever so that might be another one. I just hate the thought of not being able to do anything at all!

Oh I had this in the middle of the night a few weeks ago- wonderedn what it was- couldn't hear a thing - the answer phone kicked in a it was groaning this weird distorted voice don't the phone.

Been meaning to sign up with the TPS. Then yesterday had a call from a double glazing company and passed the phone to ds2 (aged 2) who was just shouting "oos at on the telephone mummy?" over and over again until they put the phone down- dh and I were in stitches.

i just had the santa call! asking me to ring back as the first 10 callers win a prize. didnt ring back - listened to a christmas carol for a few minutes and put the phone down

if yuo decide to try Your and Yours you should get all the names of other mners who have had it.

There seem to be a few, so that might be a goer, although I suppose quite a few might not like to "come out" in real life? Not sure what the form is as I'm relatively new and live in the backwoods so don't go to meetups!

is it worh conatcting Oftel do you think? aren't they supposed to monitor telephone services? they'd probably just say they couldn't do anything as it from overseas, but might be worth a try.