cold calls

[granny grump]

I got a cold call today from Rhiann of Tame Insulation who kindly informed me that I was eligible for a grant for cavity wall insulation.
'How do you know that' I asked her - because you are the homeowner she said.
'There are other criteria to take into account' I told her and she promptly hung up.

When I tried to call back using 1471 the number wasn't recognised.

How can this happen? I have registered my number with the telephone preference service and how come the number wasn't recognised?

[thelewisgang]

If I was in your situation I would give your local Trading Standards a call. You were wise enough to answer back on their questions but some people would be taken in by this. I'm sure they would be interested in this information & probably would be able to locate the company (if they exist!).

[granny grump]

Thankyou the lewisgang

[Hawkwalk]

There are grants avaliable for cavity wall insulation. I dont know the full details but depending on your circumstance they are on offer as a scheme backed by government to reduce enrgy use.

You can either contact your enery providor or your local council for details.

[Fay Mousse]

All companies that call call for marketing purposes (not market research though) MUST abide by the TPS and cold callers from outside the UK working on behalf of UK companies must also abide by the TPS - the only people that are not governed by the terms of the TPS are foreign companies.

"It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so."

Use this form to complain in the first instance:

http://complaints.tpsonline.org.uk/Consumer/

[Ice.Maiden]

Cold calling should be outlawed, full stop.

[burbie]

I thought that if you are registered with the telephone preference service, any company who cold calls you can be fined if you report them.
As I am registered and I used to get the odd call I just said to them "do you know Im on the telephone preference service and you can be fined for ringing me". That shut them up.

[Twenty20]

But the problem is, even if youre registered with the TPS, that you need at least the name of the company and their telephone number to make a complaint. In cases like this you have neither. As In A Pickle says, if the company name they gave cant even be found on Google then it probably doesnt exist and they will nearly always withhold their number.

We found the only way to cut these type of calls right out was to get an answerphone and keep it switched on and screen the calls coming in - i.e. just answer the ones you want to talk to. The sales people wont want to leave a message so it will cut out all those.

[granny grump]

Thankyou all for your responses I will complain and see if there is anyhting that I can do - I have an answer phone so I will make use of it.
It is just so annoying.

[Disco Fever]

I used to get these type of calls nearly everyday so ive had BT block all incoming calls that have there number withheld and that sorted it, but when I do get a call from a company like this I can then retrieve there number and report them as I am also registered with the telephone preference service....

[granny grump]

Thank you Disco Fever