topic Re: Plagued by witheld numbers in Discussions & Feedback

Plagued by witheld numbers

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:17:49 GMT

I had a minor car accident about three years ago and lately have been plagued by calls from ambulance chasers. I am TPS registered and the caller witholds their number. The names they give for teh companies are never traceable via the Internet (Latest one tonight was a supposed ACH) I have tried telling them that I have no business with them and to remove me from their database but still the calls come.

I understand that it is illegal to make harrassing and witheld number calls like this and am quite prepared to take legal action against the company involved.

I understand that like the 999 services (UK) O2 have access to all witheld CLI numbers. How do I go about getting this information from O2 so that I can take private legal action?

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:36:28 GMT

Seeing as you're already registered with the TPS, have you considered using their complaint handling service?

The following guide from Ofcom gives more information about nusiance calls, and explains what your options are:

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/tackling-nuisance-calls-and-messages/

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:42:12 GMT

The problem being that I don't have a number or good/verified company name to complain to TPS about.

I was toying with the idea of geeing the next caller along and go along with it to see if a company name arrives in the post but this would probably be seen as giving them the green light to contact me and destroy any claim I have against them for harrassment.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:56:41 GMT

I'd still contact them, because the TPS are best placed to advise you. Have a read of this section from their website:

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/stillgetcalls.html

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

MI5 — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:58:28 GMT

I think you can ask O2 to put a trace on your account under certain circumstances, but I don't know if these types of calls qualify or not?

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

perksie — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:10:37 GMT

Answering the call doesn't make you more likely to get more calls and you need to know the company name or number to make a complaint, O2 cannot trace these for you.

Any UK company must abide by the rules and comply with your wishes.

You can probably thank your insurance company for passing on your number.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 21:16:18 GMT

I don't think that you understand. O2 most certainly DOES have access to caller ID on their logs even if witheld the same as the emergency service have.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

MI5 — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 21:24:54 GMT

Yes, as I said above but they will only give you the info under certain circumstances. There are some apps that claim to do it to although I've never tried them.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

anticpated — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 21:57:12 GMT

It's just another scam for making money as some phone providers charge for the privallege of you not receiving these type of calls. The best way to deal with it is, if you don't recognise the number don't answer it. If you have an Android handset with version 4 and above you can block these type of calls.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Bambino — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:31:23 GMT

Difficult to block withheld numbers. Hospitals and doctor's surgeries normally withhold their numbers.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:49:13 GMT

As many of these calls originate from overseas, it's almost impossible to deal with it. As a last resort, you could ask O2 to change your number, but even that wouldn't guarantee that the problem wouldn't reoccur at some point.

If it's the same company that's responsible, they'll soon get the message though. I sometimes get those calls from India claiming to be Microsoft, but seeing as I don't actually own a Windows PC, I quite enjoy showing them up to be the obvious scam that they are.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

MI5 — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 09:40:14 GMT

Surely it's about time that important organisations such as doctors and hospitals stopped withholding numbers then?

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

jonsie — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 10:07:56 GMT

It definitely is time, although on occasions my GP and specialist call me and the number is displayed. However these are private numbers that don't accept incoming calls.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

perksie — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 10:53:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I don't think that you understand. O2 most certainly DOES have access to caller ID on their logs even if witheld the same as the emergency service have.

I do indeed, O2 cannot give you the numbers.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Cleoriff — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 11:24:09 GMT

@Bambino wrote:
Difficult to block withheld numbers. Hospitals and doctor's surgeries normally withhold their numbers.

As do hospitals and other large organisations who operate through a central switchboard

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

jonsie — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 15:57:28 GMT

Answer....If it's a scam call just let them babble on,their money not yours. They will soon terminate the call if you don't speak. I don't really see a problem,just press the button or let them listen to the TV. ...

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 16:12:51 GMT

The 'problem' is that I don't know if it's a scam call until I answer it after dragging myself away from whatever I am doing and I really can think of better games to play.

Anyway I have traced the accident management company who dealt with the original claim (Kindertons) and it seems they are well known for these antics so it's either them making the calls or else they have illegally passed my details on. I've drafted them a very stiff letter warning them of their criminal abuse of customers data and also quoting the Protection from harrassment act 1998 so I'll just have to wait and see what happens now.

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

jonsie — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 16:15:34 GMT

Let us know how it goes. ..

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

gindygoo — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:09:55 GMT

Any news? How was your stiff letter received?

Re: Plagued by witheld numbers

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 10:43:26 GMT

Thanks for the interest. I wrote to the accident claims management company (Kindertons) and received a reply to the effect that they absolutely agreed with me that the calls were unacceptable and swearing on their mothers eyesight that the number and my details did not come from them as it would quite clearly be a breach of data protection.

Guess what? The calls stopped dead within a day!