Should we have to pay to stop nuisance calls?
BT has launched a new phone that claims to block nuisance calls. Would you be prepared to pay to stop the interruption of unwanted calls? We plan to put the phone through its paces…
The occasional unsolicited call from a telemarketer or PPI claims company is annoying. But if you’re bombarded by them every day, or if you’re worried about calls to vulnerable relatives, then they can become a real menace.
It’s a buzzing topic whenever we discuss the issue on Convo and the scale of the issue is staggering. BT says it receives more than 50,000 calls to its Nuisance Calls Advice Line every month and so it’s perhaps no surprise that the company has launched a new phone it claims will let you block up to 80% of unwanted calls.
BT phone home
We’ve yet to review the phone but have requested the handset so we can put the phone through its paces.
The BT 6500 claims it will bar calls from international numbers, withheld numbers and numbers without a caller ID plus up to 10 specific numbers. Blocked calls (with the exception of those from specified numbers) are then silently routed to the answer machine so genuine callers can leave a message. The phone also comes with a Do Not Disturb mode, whichswitches off the ringer but allows friends and family to get through.
The phone isn’t cheap – it costs £44.99 for a single handset, £69.99 for a twin, and £89.99 for a trio. Although it’s the first handset ofits kind to offer this service, TrueCall’s call blocker (£100) plugs into your existing home phone to deliver the same kind of service.
Time to hang up
Now in principle you shouldn’t have to shell out in order to avoid unwanted calls. You can sign up for free to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to stop such pesky calls. However, 76% of you told us in our online poll you still get nuisance calls. And it’s worth noting the TPS cannot stop calls from international companies or from companies that choose to ignore the rules.
We’re aware that nuisance calls are a real problem and we’re busily working behind-the-scenes on the issue. We’re working with members of the Consumer Forum for Communications to take action against companies that bombard consumers with unwanted calls and texts.
Only joined-up action to prevent unsolicited calls being made, and strong enforcement action against companies that break the rules, will solve the problem. Products like the BT 6500 or the True Call blocker could serve a useful function – but we don’t think the answer will come in a paid for technological product. We need to protect everyone from the perils of nuisance calls and ensure companies respect your right to privacy.
Would you consider buying such a device if it meant an end to unwanted calls or would you be nervous you’d miss genuine calls?
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Bryan Taylor
As soon as i saw this product I went on line and placed an order! Have suffered 3,4 sometimes 5 cals a day for many months (yes I have subscribed to the telebone preference service for what good it did) I was more than happy to try anthing that might solve the problem. I gather that there was a very high demand for this product which does not surprise me but it did result in it taking a while to arrive but good things are worth waiting for!
william
I’m afraid they’ve missed a trick, Typical large organisation no brains whatsoever.
I would have loved to see a report this call button, which would flag up to BT that this call is a nuisance, and if enough people push the button, then BT would block all calls from that number.
And only 10 numbers? If enough people opt to buy a gadget to block withheld numbers, all that will happen is companies will stop blocking them, and use new numbers every day or few hours.
Having said all that, as its cheaper than a trucall, I might end up buying 2 twinsets. Assuming of course both handsets have caller ID, which I’ve not noticed in any of the literature about this phone.
meteorquake
That’s been my view too:
1. A “junk call” button on the phone you can press as they are calling. This can be electronically policed: enough people pressing it cuts that line off from making calls.
2. A “not junk call” button to go with it: all non-traceable calls should be charged eg 30p. Anyone genuinely calling won’t mind the small charge but bulk junk-call companies would be severely hit. The “not junk call” button would flash in such an instance and when pressed would refund it.
david
Maureen
I have the BT6500 trio. It is marvellous. All handsets have caller display but you have to subscribe to it with your telephone line provider. I already had this anyway.
Anthony Kaye
You make a good point William. With a virtually unlimited supply of new numbers-and they can always recycle the old ones-it’s going to be difficult to keep blocking very persistent cold callers.
As their approach is very formulaic-”Am I speaking to XYZ?”- I simply say “Yes you are.Goodbye”.
This is ok for me, but doesn’t help the old, the arthritic, those living on their own, etc. We really need something foolproof.
wavechange
I would have hoped that a company the size of BT would have done something positive to help the consumer (and many of its customers) put an end to the nonsense of unsolicited calls. Perhaps the new phone will be of benefit to vulnerable people but as a cynic, I see it as a way of making money from the public’s misfortune.
nhspatient
As I understand it, the jurisdiction of the ICO to demand compliance with PECR applies to companies trading (not necessarily headquartered) in the UK, and by reciprocal arrangement, the rest of the EU.
If, as is suggested, TPS Ltd refuses to provide the TPS list to “overseas-based” companies, when they need this information, then they have a serious problem with that company. If they are unable to verify their calling lists against the TPS register, then they have no basis for assuming consent to a direct marketing call.
nhspatient
It is important to understand that this phone has no way of knowing whether or not a particular call will be a nuisance call. All it does is offer the ability to block calls from withheld, international or specific numbers.
Many nuisance calls come from genuine (or faked) UK numbers. It is very easy to spoof CLI, although it is “illegal”, and this is quite common practice. Many nuisance callers are even happy to give genuine CLI which simply leads to a recorded message offering the chance to be removed from their calling list – although the true name of the company is never given.
Companies can do this is in knowledge that they are unlikely to be investigated and caught – this is where the problem lies.
Those who call the same number repeatedly, so as to warrant being put on a prohibited caller list are simply being foolish – they have no realistic hope of securing business.
If BT is correct in suggesting that 80% of nuisance calls come from overseas, have their number withheld or are from known numbers, then I am surprised. If enough people take up the offer of the BT6500 to make a difference, then one would simply expect that proportion to change! Alternatively those who do not fork out for a call blocking phone (or the equivalent chargeable service from BT) will start receiving a greater proportion of the nuisance calls are made.
I could not applaud either of these effects as being a positive step in general terms, although one must have the right to take whatever action one wishes to protect one’s own position.
Please see the fair telecoms campaign comment on the BT announcement – http://tiny.cc/ftmr_bt6500.
For those ready to invest in equipment to screen their calls, trueCall offers a far more sophisticated and effective solution, although at a greater cost. It is quite unfair to describe it as “the same kind of service”.
Neither should however be seen as a “solution” to the problem of nuisance calls. There is adequate legislation in place to deal with the majority of cases – the powers simply need to be used far more effectively.
P.S. On a point of fact, Jon is totally wrong to say that TPS registration does not apply to calls from overseas or from withheld numbers. We have another Which? conversation thread on this topic which is headed by false and misleading information. Ill informed and inaccurate comments must be accepted in any discussion, but good debate should not be started on a false basis.
wavechange
TPS does not supply overseas-based companies with numbers registered with TPS. It is only UK-based companies that operate abroad that can make use of the information.
Patrick Steen
Hi nhspatient, we’ve tweaked that now. Thanks
NFH
There should be a free-of-charge network-level service to block calls where the caller’s number is unavailable for any reason (e.g. international, withheld, not supported etc). It is not appropriate for telephone companies to levy a fee (for service or equipment) to block unlawful activity.
wavechange
Absolutely, but I would like this as a default and not something that we should have to request. If people want marketing, market research or whatever other unsolicited calls, then they should opt-in.
nhspatient
We all have the right to withhold our CLI and to make calls from overseas – it is absurd to suggest that all such calls are “unlawful”. Very many nuisance calls are made with CLI, often with genuine numbers.
It is the perpetrators of illegal activity that must be identified by those with the power to prevent and prevent their behaviour. It should not be necessary for us to risk isolating ourselves from potentially welcome calls.
==============
The present level of TPS registration effectively killed the opt-out / opt-in issue as a point of debate some years ago. Recorded messages, text messages and emails have always been subject to explicit opt-in anyway.
Given the way that the industry has been allowed to behave, it is difficult to imagine anyone seriously hoping to promote consent in the present environment.
NFH
I’m not suggesting that all withheld-number calls are for unlawful activity. However, those telemarketers, who unlawfully make calls to those on the TPS, do usually withhold their number. I’d like to block all incoming calls where the caller withholds their number or the number is unavailable. If callers want to get through to me, they can redial without withholding their number, and large companies can change their systems so that they do not withhold their number on all outgoing calls.
nhspatient
The suggestion that CLI withheld and international calls are all illegal was the basis for the argument that it should be possible to block such calls without charge. It was further suggested that receipt of such calls should be by special request.
Widespread blocking of calls with CLI withheld will indeed inevitably cause those engaged in illegal marketing activity to present a number, be it real or fake. This will make no difference to the fact of nuisance calls or the detection of the callers and the need to take action against them. This work has to be done.
(Please understand that I am not opposed to the right to automatically block calls at the discretion of the person called – if it can be offered free of charge, then great. This is however not in any way a “solution” to the problem of nuisance calls, especially if it involves a cost that not all can afford.)
romilly
If people use this, we would have a problem Our low-cost phone service 18185 is often received with a blank caller ID, maybe all o’s or all dashes.
jedi44
Switchboards withhold their calls with often very good reason. Where I worked it was because any calls from any of the 250 phones in the building appeared to the recipient as coming from the main company switchboad number. I believe that is quite common. This had the resul that, if a member of staff phoning out didn’t actually leave a message and the recipient called back on the number they saw, our switchboard was innundated with returned calls and the operator had no idea who they were meant for.
richard
Actually I found using my answer phone to intercept all calls is an excellent method to stop cold callers. Cold calls fell from about three a day to about three A YEAR. Free to me – I do have a record of cold callers that leave a number. If I get two such calls in a year – I complain bitterly – loudly – rudely – and threaten legal action. So far the only ONE who sent two unsolicited calls stopped immediately.
JR
I agree entirely – I never answer calls showing numbers as unavailable or withheld, just wait for the answer machine to cut in. 99.9% of these just ring off so no problem. In fact I go one step further and don’t answer any number I don’t recognise. I too have noticed the number of these calls have virtually ceased. If everyone did this all such calls would, I am sure, eventually cease. It’s simple and costs nothing.
moaner
i think the phone company you are with should just give a number to dial which can be used directly after picking up and dealing with the nuisance caller that would take note of your last call and block any further calls and report them for the relevant people to deal with.
DavidB
In my experience, unwanted/nuisance calls originate from phones where the number is:
1. deliberately withheld,
2. transmitting a spoof caller ID
3. unavailable,
4. International
Telephone providers should provide a facility at exchange level (‘calling feature’) that blocks any combination of these as selectable by the customer.
Item 1 is covered by ‘Anonymous Call Rejection’ (ACR). For this, BT charges a rip-off rental for the privilege of dealing with what is only a small part of the problem.
Item 2 could be covered by incoming caller IDs being automatically checked against a database of valid numbers.
Items 3 & 4 are apparently covered by the new BT6500. However, this is a cunning ploy by BT. It means that such calls are intercepted in the home and thus still get through to destination as a chargeable call with little or no loss of revenue for BT! And, it is a bit cheeky of BT to expect customers to pay a lot for this phone instead of making the same facilities available at exchange level for all customers with a small rental charge or, better still, free of charge. I requested BT to provide a ‘calling features’ facility to bar all incoming international calls several years ago because of unwanted sales and “you have won a holiday in Florida” type calls. They admitted they were aware of the problem but I suspect that, for commercial reasons (potential loss of revenue), the company has little stomach to address the issues in a way that is satisfactory to consumers.
nhspatient
#1 is also covered by the BT6500.
The database proposed with reference to #2 raises a number of issues. For example: what would one regard as being “valid”?, how much would one pay to have one’s number recorded on this register?
One cannot say that BT is being cunning by exploiting a desire by its customers to block all calls with certain readily recognisable characteristics on the assumption that they are likely to be nuisance calls. trueCall offers a more sophisticated and effective approach, at a higher price.
The point is that the practice of making nuisance calls is illegal. People must be free to take what measures they wish to protect themselves, however there are public bodies which exist to protect the interests of us all. We know that Which? is opposed to the power which they hold, but many of us believe that they should act effectively to ensure that the law is upheld.
Heather
Blocking withheld calls is no use to me as my mother is ex-directory (partly to avoid spam calls!) and her number is withheld. If it’s a medical emergency – and it has been on one occasion – then I don’t want her to have to leave a message, I want her to get through.
NFH
In the same way that the 141 prefix can be used to withhold one’s number, the 1470 prefix can be used to divulge one’s number on a line where the number is withheld by default on all calls. Therefore your mother could prefix your number with 1470 so that her number is not withheld.
terfar
It was a grave error to permit the blocking of CLI when it was introduced. Although it won’t stop cold callers, blocking all calls without a legitimate cli will add inconvenience to nuisance callers.
Everyone should have an unequivocal right to know the correct number of the calling party. I strongly argued against cli blocking options when it was being planned, but the shortsighted luddites won the day.
wavechange
Market research calls are nuisance calls for me and many others, yet those engaged in market research is not covered by TPS.
Does the public want market research calls or are they just another form of nuisance calls? If people want to get involved in market research, let them opt-in and let the rest of us have the chance to get on with our lives without interruption.
Maybe we could have a poll to find out whether people want to receive market research calls.
Chris Gloucester
Reality is that there is no such thing as a market research call. That’s just a way of trying to convince you it won’t be a hard sell. What really happens is that by taking part you’re give permission for some other outfit to call you and try to make a sale based on your survey answers.
Best thing is tell them all where to go in no uncertain terms.
meteorquake
i’m happy with “Public Service” questionnaires by the government, local authority or university research (the latter where unrelated to marketing/tourism etc); all other questionnaires i loathe… d
wavechange
Chris
I recently had a call asking about how Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline had dealt with a recent enquiry, which they had referred to Trading Standards. At the end, they announced that this was a market research call on behalf of the Consumer Helpline.
I have had genuine market research calls in the past, but I suspect that most callers are using market research as a cover for sales. I don’t speak for long enough to find out.
Ian
Ring, ring,
Answer machine answers and says press 6 to talk to the householder or 7 to leave a message…..
That would get rid of the automated ones, until they change there systems but can I find a phone that has this feature. We hardly answer our house phone these days.
The Wing Commander
As mentioned in this article, similar equipment is available online, certainly with more features, and a lot cheaper (Article mentions £100 unit – shop around). I myself built my own system for this, which already blocks known cold callers, updates itself constantly with their new numbers, or at my choice, notifies me that they are a cold caller, including the name of the ‘company’.
For the people reg’d with TPS, who still get calls, I agree, TPS seems useless. What DOES work, is wasting their time. Checking my logs, I get very few cold callers now, but I do waste their time immensely – Means someone else can enjoy their family dinner in peace
Seems BT are way behind on this, feature wise their offering seems poor and trying to profiteer allowing scam/nuisance callers to operate.
The Wing Commander
Withheld numbers are the equivalent of a door to door salesman wearing a SAS mask – Why do they want to hide? Abusive calls and telemarketing calls would practically cease to exist if the ability to hide your CLID was removed.
Incidentally, for those poor sods who automatically have theirs withheld, and can’t get through to friends and family because of this – dial 1470 before the number (currently at no extra charge) to allow your CLID to be sent.
I’d challenge Which staff to enjoy my home built telephone system, which does more than block dodgy calls :p Contact me for a demo
frank leech
just bought a BT6500 but still getting cold calls I have been able to trace them and enter them in the banned list, it is a bit early to see if the calls from India are getting stopped but have had nothing for three days so might be working, it was so bad that I have written to my MP that was waste of time
Fred Blob
Anonymous Call Reject is a waste of time and costs over £4 a month. TPS is a waste of time as well because callers just ignore it, phoning from abroad or from UK. It is an outrage that so called ‘reputable market research companies are outside the rules, but they are supposed to take you off their list if you ask. BT could stop number-withheld calls even from abroad if they wanted to, the presence of a couple of extra digits should not prevent their system getting the incoming number before connection. Probably lead to a loss of revenue though. We have got the currently free 1571 service and usually don’t pick up the phone in the day.
Sandie
It is somewhat disingenuous of BT to claim that this phone blocks nuisance calls, because it does not. What it does is silence the ringer, and the phone does not light up (note however, incompatible extension phones will still ring). The calls then go through to the answerphone, where ‘blocked’ groups (ie International or Witheld etc) can leave a message, but individual ‘blocked’ numbers cannot. Since there is no way for the caller to know that their call has been ‘blocked’ (or rather, silenced), there is no deterrent to stop them trying again……. and again. It may be that silencing the nuisance calls is enough for most people, and it is quite a nice phone, loud and clear, easy to set up and with several other redeeming features. However if you want calls truly blocked, rather than just silenced, then a proper call blocker would be a better idea.
CHEZ
I agree with you Sandie, this is misleading BT6500 phone, as it is not blocking the number at all. which in the end doesnt STOP the nuisance calls. it would of been nice if the phone did exactly what BT are saying it does. and Blocks the call instead of just putting it on slient and still allowing them to leave a message
AnnCM
I have just purchased the trio handset version of the BT6500 phone having found it being offered on the BT website with a 20% discount! (We have been receiving a large amount of calls from withheld numbers etc and I wanted to stop this). Having now had the phone just over a week, it has plenty of good features and setting it up was really easy. For example, you only need to put your regular contacts into one handset and they are automatically transferred and stored into the other handsets. The call blocking facility is also good – there is the facility to block calls by call-type as well as by individual number and I immediately set ours to block calls from both withheld numbers and unidentified numbers. However, having returned 2 days ago from a visiting trip, I noticed the answer machine was showing that we’d received 2 messages and having immediately checked these, I found firstly that the caller had not actually left any message. More frustrating was that I could not establish who had called as the caller’s number was listed as “Unavailable” and this seems to be an anomaly because this phone does not offer any means of blocking this type of call.
Steve
A bit disappointed with the phone in so much as it does not actually block calls from nuisance callers as claimed. It simply masks the call by not ringing with the caller being diverted to the answer phone. OK, it’s an improvement on the home phone ringing but as I say does not block the calls.
Another drawback is that you can no longer change the number of rings prior to the answer phone cutting in (as per the previous incarnation of this model) which is a bit of a nuisance if the phone is not within reach.
The online manual is also the older model of this phone.
AnnCM
I apologise in advance for disagreeing with your comment that you cannot change the number of rings before the answer phone cuts in, as the trio version of this phone I purchased 3 weeks ago has the ability to alter the number of rings from 1 (which is shown as “time saver”) up to 10 rings. We have the BT Answer 1571 on our own phone service which cuts in after 6 rings, so if we are have to go out, but are expecting a particular person to call us, I always switch the BT6500 answer phone on to cut in after 4 rings instead. Hope this is helpful.
Maureen
To change number of rings before answer phone clicks in
Click menu
Select answer phone
Select settings
Select Ans and record
Change number of rings and save
Maureen
I turned off 1571 as not necessary if you have an answer phone then I could have 9 rings before ans machine cuts in to give me time to get there beforehand if necessary. I had to contact my service provider to get it turned off though. I was able to do this on line though so no problem.
Philip Ray-Jones
I signed up with TPA which reduced the number of calls. I now string the caller along for 15-30 minutes, by giving false/stupid information until the caller gives up and ends the conversation. As I am 80 years old, I am only wasting the callers time and money. The only thing that annoys me, each call damages the environment, and shortens the life of my handset.
Peter Spring
Many thanks to nhspatient for his many knowledgeable comments and particularly the link to the fair telecoms campaign PDF http://tiny.cc/ftmr_bt6500 .
This largely elaborates on what Jon says at the top, with which I wholeheartedly agree: “Only joined-up action to prevent unsolicited calls being made, and strong enforcement action against companies that break the rules, will solve the problem. … we don’t think the answer will come in a paid for technological product. We need to protect everyone from the perils of nuisance calls and ensure companies respect your right to privacy.”
I’m about to write to my MP, Vince Cable, for the 3rd time (he doesn’t seem to take this very seriously) about this, and CC Sir Michael Rake, who rakes in £600,000 pa as BT CEO (I’m a BT customer). Whom else should I write to?
drdpsmith
Whilst numbers can be blocked, it is not clear if you can block an entire code set with this phone. I have most trouble with 0843 numbers (3 per day with the 0843 prefix but constantly changing number to prevent blocking). Does anyone know if this new 6500 phone can cope with this?
viffergb
Results from research and what others have found, it looks unlikely that I’ll be going for the BT 6500 to deal with nuisance calls. Before making a final decision however, I would be interested to hear what ‘Which?’ has to say, but it seems quite a while since they put in a request for a handset to take a first look! Are you (Which?) having problems in sourcing one, or just haven’t gotten around to testing it? I only ask, as if it does turn out to be worth buying one with it’s limited capabilities, I would only consider doing so whilst it’s being offered at the reduced price – until the end of April – for those of us who are BT customers.
Chris Gloucester
Nuisance calls are most definitely a pain but I won’t be paying out to stop or reduce them. I’ve taken a different attitude towards them, I now use them as an opportunity to be as horrible and abusive as I like. After all they called me uninvited so they can’t really complain if they get a mouth full of obscene abuse. I always feel better when they hang up, it’s a kind of “release” for me, stops me getting to a full head of steam. Mind you it doesn’t seem to stop them coming back for more, but still I firmly believe an aggressive approach to them always makes one feel more empowered.
Of course some mugs must buy stuff from them or they wouldn’t call in the first place. Maybe a campaign to get people not to buy from any unsolicited call might reduce the number we get.
Anthony Kaye
It’s worth bearing in mind that even “research” calls are out to get you. Your answers are sold on to other organisations who then cold call you even more.
Anthony Kaye
It’s worth bearing in mind that even “research” calls are out to get you. Your answers are sold on to other organisations who then cold call you even more.
As the format is always the same-”am I speaking with xxxx?”- the answer is easy. “Yes you are. Goodbye”
Douglas
I recently bought the new BT 6500 twin phone and it works perfectly barring unwanted international calls. You can also see when you have had one of these calls on the small screen on the phone.
An excellent buy!
GBMI south London
Hang and quarter them. Send a piece to 4 other cold callers as a warning to stop. Continue until they heed the warning! Then lie back and contemplate the worthwhile cause achieved and recognise that there is justice in this world after all.
Barry Keating
I have absolutely no faith in BT, usually their products are out of date by the time they reach tthe market.
Also, if you give them the opportunity to contact you they will be a bigger nuisance than the PPI and Microsoft computer virus callers together.
Neil
I acquired a set of 3 BT6500 phones a week ago and they have been wonderful – except for one thing. I can block No Caller ID phones but not No Number. What is the difference? I haven’t been able to ask the caller as so far they have all been silent calls.
drdpsmith
Do you know if you can block entire dialing code sets, such as 0843, with this phone?
Neil
No, you can block types of call (goes to answerphone), i.e.” International”, “Withheld number”, “No Caller ID”, or “Payphone” (but not “No number”!) and up to 10 specific numbers (doesn’t even go to answerphone), but not dialling code sets.
Figgerty
I have the numbers of all our usual callers programmed into the phones. When I receive a call, the name of the caller shows on the screen if it is a usual caller and I accept the call. If the number is shown but unknown, I usually answer it as well, but if the number is withheld, no number or an overseas number, I usually let it go to answerphone. If by chance I accept a call from a market research or someone trying to sell me something, I ask them to hold on for a moment, then just leave the phone for ten minutes and when I check the phone the caller has rung off. I very rarely get cold callers. If I am asked for a telephone number and am reluctant to supply it because I do not think it is necessary for the transaction, I supply my mobile number and that is only answered if I know the caller, and is ignored in the study when I’m indoors.
I have a limited listing in the electoral register, tick the privacy box on most forms I complete and am careful to whom I give my home telephone number. This seems to help.
nhspatient
Some good advice and a strategy that works to minimise the effect of the nuisance.
If this strategy were to be presented as a general answer to the question posed by this Conversation, the answer would be “Yes”. It requires delivery of caller id, its presentation on the handset and either personal or automated attendance to the caller id of every call. These have to be paid for.
I do not agree with the common implication that those who are content to have their number listed in a telephone directory should have to accept that this ensures that they will be the victims of those who break the law. The issue of nuisance calls in general should not be confused with that of privacy.
I do not believe that callers who are unwilling or unable to provide a number for a return call should have to accept that their call is unlikely to be answered in person, if at all. There are many who advocate and many who deploy delivery of “presentation” CLI that cannot be used for a return call. Not only does this diminish its value, and solicit worthless calls, I cannot see how this helps one to distinguish between wanted and unwanted calls, except for those who are able to maintain a list of all those from whom they wish to receive calls.
There are useful ideas for mitigation being discussed, but whilst companies are content to break the law, action must be taken against them. We should not be compelled to spend money and withdraw from open engagement in society because of their illegal activities.
Daniel
When I ring family in Ireland and Germany my UK home number is displayed !
I don’t understand why BT can not display International numbers !
I did ask them a year or two ago and I’ve forgotten what they told me.
Daniel
I should have added that they do not have to pay for caller ID !
meteorquake
You don’t have to pay for Caller ID with BT. There a free BT package you can ask for, which gives you free caller ID – i’ve forgotten what it’s called though; I have it on mine. Perhaps connected to the reduction of junk calls. d
Daniel
meteorquake – yes there is a free BT element in their contract to give you caller ID-
- weather today just warm enough to get off my backside and find my contract …………… –
it’s called – BT Privacy at Home with free Caller Display –
As a result of reading the comments above I have decided to route my incoming calls to my very basic pay-as-you-go mobile phone and guess what – it gives the ID of the International Caller.
Yes I know I would have to pay BT if I answered a call from within UK routed to my mobile – but my calling plan gives me free calls (exemption the ‘silly’ expensive codes) and costs me nothing to call the UK number back – I think I have solved the majority of unwanted calls – (my very modern Panosonic handset allows 30 incoming numbers to be ‘call barred’ (not “international”) – and now that I have International ID via my mobile I can further reduce the stress of not knowing who is calling me from abroad by simply diverting my home number to my cheap mobile.)
Yes – we still have the problem of ‘number witheld’ – I paid BT for this for a few years but being in poorish health I missed calls from my GP surgery. Someone commenting above suggested that this should be stopped and ‘big organisations’ should ‘front up’ with their exchange number at least ! I fully support this idea.
I have great sympathy with those older persons who rely so much on their telephone – they need protection from the dasterdly intrusion of this modern digital gadget – they are very vulnerable.
Daniel
Should have stresed that the telephone -when invented – was such a simple, convenient and very quick way to contact someone else on the local network exchange – !
This is what older people still expect !