Dragons Den

[Samdy Gray]

I thought Trucall was shit. Well not shit exactly but £97 for a fancy dan answerphone. £20 and you have my attention.

Other than the automatic call reject/passthrough what did it do that a answerphone call screening and good CLI phone with phone book can't.

Exactly. It would be much better if it instantly recognised any number as being a nuisance number (not just those that have already called you and been stored in the 'block' list) and then just reject the call. The trouble is, a lot of companies withhold their numbers so I can't think of any immediate way that would be feasible. If you could, then that idea would be worth a lot of money.

[Spy]

Exactly, telemarketing calls are pretty much always withheld numbers so it wouldn't even remember the number anyway would it?

Why pay £100 when you can just register with the tlephone preference service?

Also, do a lot of people really get these calls all the time? I thought it was more like once a year or something.

Basically I didn't like the idea because I didn't think people get these type of calls often enough to justify some expensive, convoluted contraption.

[jayohaitchenn]

Has anyone even got a housephone anymore? I ripped out all the cabling and sockets in my house.

[Rich Pullen]

I've never, ever had a cold call

[Batch]

Why pay £100 when you can just register with the tlephone preference service?

The TPS only governs UK companies. Even so registering cut down a hell of a lot of cold calls. Most of them in fact.

As already stated, the issue is what happens when there is a lack of CLI. In effect trucall asks the caller to leave a name then calls you to tell you about it anyway. So you still have to get up to answer a phone call! OK so most cold call people hang at the name prompt, but they would most likely do if an answer phone cut in anywayl

Years ago a member of my family was getting prank calls at all hours of the day by someone trying to harass the family member. It was explained by the phone company, on the quiet, that if the phone were to be left off the hook after these calls were received, then the telephone network continues to consider the call active for a maximum of 5 minutes (or maybe it was 15?), despite the line being dead and charges the caller accordingly.

Sadly not really true. OFCOM would be going double mental if the called party could control the calling party's billing! The calling party (the dialler) is King. If they hang up the call ends* as does billing. So unless 'silence' fools the  auto dialler into not hanging up it won't work.

* with exception of operator/emergency calls.

More likely the tech got confused about suspend/resume. This allows the called party to hang up the phone, but resume (continue) the call by picking up again before the "timeout" expires. Provided the calling party hasn't hung up of course.

[Barry Scott]

Sadly not really true.

Well it still makes me feel good!

Also, do a lot of people really get these calls all the time? I thought it was more like once a year or something.

I get them almost daily. Some days i've had more than one. It's normally one of 2 companies (both answer messages, one helping me to consolidate my debts, the other helping me to lower my combined gas and electricity bills). It's nice knowing the same 2 ring me lots, because it pleases me no end always pressing the number to go through to discuss it with a supplier of impartial advice.

[Batch]

Well it still makes me feel good!

I knew that it would now.

You could always do what my mates dad used to do. Just say to the caller "can you hold on a minute", then leave the phone off hook to see kow long it takes them to hang up.

[Samdy Gray]

You could always do what my mates dad used to do. Just say to the caller "can you hold on a minute", then leave the phone off hook to see kow long it takes them to hang up.

I do that

I do it with wrong numbers as well. Just give it the "Hold on, I'll just get them for you" and put the phone down on the side and leave it.

[Spencer_White]

Barry, if you press a number then they can start charging you for the call.

[Spy]

I get them almost daily. Some days i've had more than one.

That's mental!! How come you get so many and a lot of people get next to none? Someones obvoiusly sold on your details and now as you said there's just one or two companys who just won't quit.

Do you think they are offshore based?

[Spencer_White]

Ive only had my number 12 months and I get about 10 weekly. But I know they try and call during the day as well.

If it wasnt for the internet, I would have it disconnected tommorow. The thing is just a pain in the arse, fucking expensive BT line rental as well.

[Batch]

So have you signed up to the TPS Spencer?

[Spencer_White]

No, Im hoping to move soon (not because of the auto messages!).

[Batch]

No, Im hoping to move soon (not because of the auto messages!).

Fair enough.

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/ctps/number_type.html in case you wish to do so.

[Spencer_White]

Done, easy as that. Thanks.