Reply to: Who to 'complain' to?

[mudskipper]

Just wait until she "accidentally" presses it when you call her...

Yep, I'm sure it will happen!

[d000hg]

Just wait until she "accidentally" presses it when you call her...

[mudskipper]

They rarely let you ask for specific numbers to be blocked, but I think "stop blocked-ID calls" is a common thing you can have for £0-5 per month.

If they do ring from a number you can see - and she has called ID - you could also buy her something like this, provided you can explain to her how it works. http://www.amazon.co.uk/CPR-Global-C.../dp/B004BTVQ5E

Well, we got this, enabled caller Id, and it seems to be brilliant. She pressed the button twice in the first week, and the calls have stopped. Sister in Oz can still get through no probs. The beauty of it is the simplicity - nothing complicated, just pressing the button - I think she feels quite empowered! Recommend for other oldies!

[mudskipper]

With the Truecall unit you can block any withheld numbers, but you can give a PIN no to those you want to speak to.

That sounds good - solves the sister abroad problem. Will see how we go with the unit we've ordered - it seems to have options to block different things - withheld numbers seems to be a separate option to international, so hopefully we can find a balance.

[Zippy]

With the Truecall unit you can block any withheld numbers, but you can give a PIN no to those you want to speak to.

[mudskipper]

Psst. Does she want some uppers, downers, ketamine. I know a man...

Think she's got most of those in one form or another...

[mudskipper]

Can she do a data protection request to virgin to ask for the numbers of everyone who's phoned her in the last few months? That might help you find out which numbers to block.

Automatically blocking numbers with no caller ID is called "anonymous caller rejection", not sure what Virgin charge for it but it should be available.

Yeah, not sure how calls from abroad come through - sis is in Oz, so don't want to accidentally block her.

Will see how we go with the device we've ordered.

Thanks all.

[MarillionFan]

The callers are Indian, so suspect the TPS has limited jurisdiction.
I'll get the blocking thing and make sure she knows to press the button when they call - hopefully that will do the trick. Will also trawl her flat for vitamins and see if we can get a refund.

Psst. Does she want some uppers, downers, ketamine. I know a man...

[Freamon]

Can she do a data protection request to virgin to ask for the numbers of everyone who's phoned her in the last few months? That might help you find out which numbers to block.

Automatically blocking numbers with no caller ID is called "anonymous caller rejection", not sure what Virgin charge for it but it should be available.

[speling bee]

To whom to 'complain'

Blocking unknown caller IDs is a good idea but will block NHS providers. She may want to give your phone no as contact for NHS.

Worth investigating whether the credit card company has any liability under the consumer credit act but the amounts may be too small. Is it time for your mum just to have a cashpoint card and for you to hold credit card?

[NotAllThere]

...Although he did have someone phoning him trying to sell him life insurance he nearly went for. FFS. Why does an 80 yr old who lives alone need life insurance?...

Wouldn't that be like buying car insurance knowing that in the next few days it's going to be stolen?

[KentPhilip]

I wonder whether you could have a service that has a white list of friends and family numbers, and all the other calls go through to a human operator who can vet the caller and then if ok put the call though but record it and stay online (like a conference call)

[mudskipper]

They rarely let you ask for specific numbers to be blocked, but I think "stop blocked-ID calls" is a common thing you can have for £0-5 per month.

If they do ring from a number you can see - and she has called ID - you could also buy her something like this, provided you can explain to her how it works. CPR All-in-One Call Blocker: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

edit: also register with TPS

Have ordered one of these, but looks like it needs caller Id which I think Virgin charge for (cheeky barstewards). Worth it though - she had another call today and got in a state about it.

Cheers doogie.

[tarbera]

ok get one of these bad boys

BT6500 phone – BT Inclusion

Block the calls as a starter for 10

[tarbera]

Complain to your mum

Last time I was at my mother's flat, she had a large box full of various vitamins (all unopened). She's 80, and gets easily confused.

It seems these people are calling her several times a week and doing a hard sell that has had her in tears.

The last woman was "Why won't you give me your credit card details? Don't you trust me?"

I've told her to tell them to sod off and hang up, but she's too polite. I'm intending to find out who the company are (apparently there are several different ones that ring her) and ask them politely to desist, but, if they don't, what other recourse is there?

I suspect the box I saw is the tip of the iceberg...

Complain to your mum....ohhh hang on