Nuisance call protection...what is the best?

Hi All

Im asking on behalf of my father who says he gets many several nuisance & scam calls per day even though he is on TPS (obviously scammers dont adhere to that) - he is moving ISP soon (as he has done every 18 months) and is not only wanting advice on other ISPs at 40/10 other than NOW and PLUSNET as he's tried them and wants to try something new, but reliable.

Anyway, his main concern was preventing the nuisance calls, BT (as a phone service) claim they can stop 100% of nuisance calls, but the reviewer said their other stuff left a lot to be desired ([censored]), and recommended the Panasonic KX-TGH260 or, even better, the Gigaset C570A handsets.

do any of our users have this problem and what is your fix?

thanks in advance

I am with Talk Talk on their FTTC Fibre 65 80/20 package and their free Call Safe is brilliant, we never get scam or nuisance calls any more -

They also offer a Fibre 35 FTTC 38Mbps package - https://new.talktalk.co.uk/broadband/fibre



Every time you get a call, CallSafe will automatically check the number to make sure it’s someone you want to hear from. Regularly dialed numbers like friends and family, will be put straight through. For any new callers, CallSafe will:

1. Check to see if the number is on a list of unwanted callers. If so, it’s automatically blocked and your home phone never rings.

2. Manage any other callers with an extra step. It will ask the caller to record a short introduction before your phone rings. You’ll hear this message when you pick up your home phone and have the choice to either answer, ignore, or block the call.

CallSafe needs no extra kit, simply dial 1472 to turn it on and leave the rest to us. If you want, you can view and manage your approved and blocked callers through My Account or by calling 1472. Or you can let CallSafe manage it, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Edited by Jack_Hackett (Mon 30-Aug-21 13:46:12)

I used to suffer from this problem several times a day up until about 6 years ago and then I bought a set of 4 BT dect phones which incorporate a call minder system.

You have to build a white list of caller numbers and calls from those number come straight through and ring out normally. Any incoming call from a number that is not white listed hears a message which requires they state their business and identity and then press the # key. The phone then rings ( a different ring tone ) and I listen to the callers name/business and choose to either press the 1 key to accept the call or just hang up.

Since I've had the phones I've found that the cold callers etc just don't bother and move on to the next. I can't think of a single nuisance call I've had although the calls list shows that a day rarely goes by without a call or two that didn't bother to try getting through

If you want to stay with your current ISP you could buy a true call box see video below.

https://youtu.be/s7TtnfVLNFI

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224590202156?hash=item344...


I have just edited my earlier post to add -

I am with Talk Talk on their FTTC Fibre 65 80/20 package and their free Call Safe is brilliant, we never get scam or nuisance calls any more -

They also offer a Fibre 35 FTTC 38Mbps package - https://new.talktalk.co.uk/broadband/fibre

Edited by Jack_Hackett (Mon 30-Aug-21 14:02:26)

TalkTalk and Sky both have exchange-side trueCall style call blockers which work very well.

BT and Plusnet just have a near useless block-by-number system at the exchange.

Edited by Oliver341 (Mon 30-Aug-21 14:40:02)

As you change ISPs, ditch your existing number and use the one provided by the new ISP.

Not sure how that is going to help in any way, The new number will still get spam calls as they just randomly dial numbers.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

TalkTalk and Sky both have exchange-side trueCall style call blockers which work very well.

BT and Plusnet just have a near useless block-by-number system at the exchange.

Agreed. White-listing systems are near pointless. The better way is as you say, or if the user has access to something like Asterisk, then a similar process can be invoked by using an IVR step before the caller is allowed to proceed. It’s simple but an extremely good deterrent to the bulk nuisance autodiallers.

Personally I find that most nuisance callers (and SMS spam) is now aimed squarely at our mobile numbers rather than landlines. The emphasis very much shifted a few years ago, as our landline usage fell away.

Well let me explain then. Our organization has 34 DDI numbers and they have NEVER received any unwanted callers. Our former fax number was recently ported over into VoIP and immediately attracted spam calls. Our conclusion on this matter was that it was a numbers that Ofcom had originally allocated to BT, although for many years bills for that number were paid to TalkTalk.

It does seem to me that where you suggest random numbers are dialled by scammers, which in my book means sequentially dialling numbers in a group, such groups are normally number ranges that are, or have been, numbers allocated to BT.

Have a number from any other ISP than BT or a VoIP provider then their number groups are seldom, if ever, used by scammers.

With call blocking phones installed how do you actually know that it has stopped any spam calls directed to your phone number? The fact that you may not have received any unwanted calls could also mean that no scammer has used your number!

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

TalkTalk and Sky both have exchange-side trueCall style call blockers which work very well.

BT and Plusnet just have a near useless block-by-number system at the exchange.

Agreed. White-listing systems are near pointless. The better way is as you say, or if the user has access to something like Asterisk, then a similar process can be invoked by using an IVR step before the caller is allowed to proceed. It’s simple but an extremely good deterrent to the bulk nuisance autodiallers.

Personally I find that most nuisance callers (and SMS spam) is now aimed squarely at our mobile numbers rather than landlines. The emphasis very much shifted a few years ago, as our landline usage fell away.

I agree with your statement.

With call blocking phones installed how do you actually know that it has stopped any spam calls directed to your phone number? The fact that you may not have received any unwanted calls could also mean that no scammer has used your number!

I know this wasn't aimed at me but all i know is before we started using CallSafe we were getting a lot of nuisance calls and as soon as we switched CallSafe on we stopped getting them.

Personally I find that most nuisance callers (and SMS spam) is now aimed squarely at our mobile numbers rather than landlines. The emphasis very much shifted a few years ago, as our landline usage fell away.

I made it a habit many years ago never to give my mobile number to anyone unless it was totally necessary i have had a couple of calls from numbers i don't recognise and i simply blocked them using the built in blocker on the phone.

Edited by Jack_Hackett (Mon 30-Aug-21 16:05:40)

A phone like this: https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-advanced-phone---one...

As others above have said, they have a whitelist to fast-track trusted numbers through (they can be your address book contacts, so it's not a chore) and anyone not on the list has to speak their name and hit the * button. Then the phone rings for you and you hear their recording and can choose to answer the call, block the call, permanently block the number or whitelist the number and answer the call.

Usually for scammers, they're using a system which wont connect the operator when it hits a system like that, so your phone simply never rings.

I can vouch for Sky's Talk Shield service.

The day I switched it on, I was receiving a scam call claiming to be from Sky every approximately 5 minutes - I phoned Sky, they switched it on, I've never received one since.

It performs similar to what others have described with the handsets - if an unknown caller rings, they get asked to leave a short message asking who they are. My phone then rings, if I want to accept the call once I press 1, if I want them to add them to the whitelist, I press * and they get straight through next time.

It's also completely free, you just have to ask for it.

In reply to a post by Jack_Hackett:

I know this wasn't aimed at me but all i know is before we started using CallSafe we were getting a lot of nuisance calls and as soon as we switched CallSafe on we stopped getting them.

Same. Automated diallers don't know how to "press 6", and human scammers don't want to do that either, or speak their name to an IVR.

In reply to a post by Skie:

A phone like this: https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-advanced-phone---one...

As others above have said, they have a whitelist to fast-track trusted numbers through (they can be your address book contacts, so it's not a chore) and anyone not on the list has to speak their name and hit the * button. Then the phone rings for you and you hear their recording and can choose to answer the call, block the call, permanently block the number or whitelist the number and answer the call.

Usually for scammers, they're using a system which wont connect the operator when it hits a system like that, so your phone simply never rings.

That is a good price and the system is very similar to the TT one -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flyOHEEesz4

In reply to a post by Skie:

A phone like this: https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-advanced-phone---one...

The problem with house-based systems is that they must be the only phone connected to the house wiring. I'm sure there are still people with corded phones attached in addition to their cordless base stations.

I don't think they randomly dial numbers as such. They must have a list of number ranges they dial between. I think this because having had two Sipgate landline numbers for a decade or more, I've not once received an unsolicited call on those numbers. It seems because they are completely different 6 digit numbers, i.e. normal area code but the number starts 8 and 9 where none of the local numbers on the same area code start with an 8 or 9, they are out of the normal range and so left alone.

Hi @paulb100,

IMPO, if you want to stop spam calls one option could be to remove his landline entirely and just have him use a mobile phone for incoming/outgoing calls. This is what I do and I RARELY have any spam calls. It would also be easier to block any numbers that do come in on the actual phone. He could also choose to not answer any calls that originate from UNKOWN NUMBER or numbers that aren't in his contacts list.

HTH,

In reply to a post by mking90031:

Hi @paulb100,

IMPO, if you want to stop spam calls one option could be to remove his landline entirely and just have him use a mobile phone for incoming/outgoing calls. This is what I do and I RARELY have any spam calls. It would also be easier to block any numbers that do come in on the actual phone. He could also choose to not answer any calls that originate from UNKOWN NUMBER or numbers that aren't in his contacts list.

HTH,

I too haven't had a landline for years. Just mobile and the number of spam calls/spam sms I've had over the years can be counted on one hand. As you say, numbers are easily blocked on the phone now. Smartphones come with extras too, internet (if you want to use it out and about) and sms. Cheap for the usage too.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

In reply to a post by Skie:

A phone like this: https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-advanced-phone---one...

The problem with house-based systems is that they must be the only phone connected to the house wiring. I'm sure there are still people with corded phones attached in addition to their cordless base stations.

The BT Call Guardian is the best of a bad bunch. The 2,3,4 packs are pretty good value TBH e.. £50 for one, £80 for three or £100 for four for the one linked.

I have it and bought one for the MIL which has completely stopped unwanted calls.

Edited by smouty (Tue 31-Aug-21 11:46:07)

In reply to a post by smouty:

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

In reply to a post by Skie:

A phone like this: https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-advanced-phone---one...

The problem with house-based systems is that they must be the only phone connected to the house wiring. I'm sure there are still people with corded phones attached in addition to their cordless base stations.

The BT Call Guardian is the best of a bad bunch. The 2,3,4 packs are pretty good value TBH e.. £50 for one, £80 for three or £100 for four for the one linked.

I have it and bought one for the MIL which has completely stopped unwanted calls.

I am not sure how you come to the assumption Call guardian is any better than Talk Talks Callsafe.

TalkTalk Callsafe is free and as i said earlier (below) i haven't had a single spam or nuisance call since i turned it on a couple of years ago.


Every time you get a call, CallSafe will automatically check the number to make sure it’s someone you want to hear from. Regularly dialed numbers like friends and family, will be put straight through. For any new callers, CallSafe will:

1. Check to see if the number is on a list of unwanted callers. If so, it’s automatically blocked and your home phone never rings.

2. Manage any other callers with an extra step. It will ask the caller to record a short introduction before your phone rings. You’ll hear this message when you pick up your home phone and have the choice to either answer, ignore, or block the call.

CallSafe needs no extra kit, simply dial 1472 to turn it on and leave the rest to us. If you want, you can view and manage your approved and blocked callers through My Account or by calling 1472. Or you can let CallSafe manage it, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Edited by Jack_Hackett (Tue 31-Aug-21 19:01:01)

In reply to a post by Realalemadrid:

Not sure how that is going to help in any way, The new number will still get spam calls as they just randomly dial numbers.

Not always true. Changed number 18 months ago due to mess up with transfer, not bothered as never use land line.
Phone has 3 calls in that 18 months.

In reply to a post by Jack_Hackett:

I am with Talk Talk on their FTTC Fibre 65 80/20 package and their free Call Safe is brilliant, we never get scam or nuisance calls any more -

They also offer a Fibre 35 FTTC 38Mbps package - https://new.talktalk.co.uk/broadband/fibre



Every time you get a call, CallSafe will automatically check the number to make sure it’s someone you want to hear from. Regularly dialed numbers like friends and family, will be put straight through. For any new callers, CallSafe will:

1. Check to see if the number is on a list of unwanted callers. If so, it’s automatically blocked and your home phone never rings.

2. Manage any other callers with an extra step. It will ask the caller to record a short introduction before your phone rings. You’ll hear this message when you pick up your home phone and have the choice to either answer, ignore, or block the call.

CallSafe needs no extra kit, simply dial 1472 to turn it on and leave the rest to us. If you want, you can view and manage your approved and blocked callers through My Account or by calling 1472. Or you can let CallSafe manage it, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Sorry, he has also been with TT and doesn't want to go back, he likes trying new ISPs - but for now mostly its for nuisance calls rather than ISPs with features, he fancies the call machine that asnwers and asks if your family, friend or cold caller, etc etc - apparatnley most cold caller mcahines hang up on one ring only as they are programmed to know its an answer machine, the person says who it is, the devices tells YOU who it is and they get through OR you can allow them through, it creats its own black and whitlists as it goes...

In reply to a post by paulb100:

In reply to a post by Jack_Hackett:

I am with Talk Talk on their FTTC Fibre 65 80/20 package and their free Call Safe is brilliant, we never get scam or nuisance calls any more -

They also offer a Fibre 35 FTTC 38Mbps package - https://new.talktalk.co.uk/broadband/fibre



Every time you get a call, CallSafe will automatically check the number to make sure it’s someone you want to hear from. Regularly dialed numbers like friends and family, will be put straight through. For any new callers, CallSafe will:

1. Check to see if the number is on a list of unwanted callers. If so, it’s automatically blocked and your home phone never rings.

2. Manage any other callers with an extra step. It will ask the caller to record a short introduction before your phone rings. You’ll hear this message when you pick up your home phone and have the choice to either answer, ignore, or block the call.

CallSafe needs no extra kit, simply dial 1472 to turn it on and leave the rest to us. If you want, you can view and manage your approved and blocked callers through My Account or by calling 1472. Or you can let CallSafe manage it, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Sorry, he has also been with TT and doesn't want to go back, he likes trying new ISPs - but for now mostly its for nuisance calls rather than ISPs with features, he fancies the call machine that asnwers and asks if your family, friend or cold caller, etc etc - apparatnley most cold caller mcahines hang up on one ring only as they are programmed to know its an answer machine, the person says who it is, the devices tells YOU who it is and they get through OR you can allow them through, it creats its own black and whitlists as it goes...

No worries in that case go with my slightly edited earlier suggestion below and get a Trucall box


If you want to stay (or move ISP) you could buy a Truecall box see video below.

https://youtu.be/s7TtnfVLNFI

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224590202156?hash=item344...

Edited by Jack_Hackett (Sun 05-Sep-21 15:41:25)

TrueCall.

Correctly set up (which is pretty easy) it will let known callers straight through but block the scum. From time to time I see the red light come on but after a few seconds it goes out and that's that.

A second vote for TrueCall.

Or, what I’ve now opted for, no landline phone connected.

Another vote for TrueCall. I have had one for years. It's brilliant. It plugs into the master socket and all phones are downstream, so all are protected.

+1
And it doesn't require you to be using BT.

AIUI the TalkTalk system requires TalkTalk.

ok guys n gals

I've talked them in into ridding his house phones unlimited calls for £9 a month, and Three's 3-2-1 mobile at £5 a month n i will find PAYG monthly sims for £10 or less that gives unlimited minutes- saves money, saves mess on, a single device

so now i gotta find deals after finding which network is best for his Area (indoors and outdoors + his home is built with stoned walls)

cos I've never gotten a dodgy cold call on my mobile, and as it runs an OS it isn't a 'one-trick pony', theirs still TPS, and apps for call nuisance, and whitelists/blocklists directly on the fone

thanks guys

Edited by paulb100 (Tue 07-Sep-21 19:28:08)

In reply to a post by paulb100:

cos I've never gotten a dodgy cold call on my mobile, and as it runs an OS it isn't a 'one-trick pony', theirs still TPS, and apps for call nuisance, and whitelists/blocklists directly on the fone

I get far more nuisance/cold calls on my mobile (and lets not mention all the scam texts) then I ever have had on any fixed line.

Good luck anyhow.

In reply to a post by paulb100:

ok guys n gals

I've talked them in into ridding his house phones unlimited calls for £9 a month, and Three's 3-2-1 mobile at £5 a month n i will find PAYG monthly sims for £10 or less that gives unlimited minutes- saves money, saves mess on, a single device

so now i gotta find deals after finding which network is best for his Area (indoors and outdoors + his home is built with stoned walls)

cos I've never gotten a dodgy cold call on my mobile, and as it runs an OS it isn't a 'one-trick pony', theirs still TPS, and apps for call nuisance, and whitelists/blocklists directly on the fone

thanks guys

Your action of using mobile phones exclusively for voice traffic may save YOU lots of pennies but has consequences you may not appreciate that costs you more than you think.

I notice that our company almost invariable has to call customers on their mobile phone numbers which pushes up our phone bill considerably. This added costs is factored into the price of goods and services we provide.

No doubt other companies do the same and maybe using revenue sharing numbers which would be outside the call plan you have.

Beyond that, how exactly are you getting a broadband service?

this is because you have given your mobile number to a dodgy 3rd party who has passed it on, read the small print- ive been on the same number for 4 years n ive no iffy calls, cos i dont give out my real number unless its a proper service (GP, Hospital, Council etc and read to make sure my number isn't shared) that needs it, most Joe Bloggs put their real details on EVERYTHING, you dont need too...

its all about common sense really - and as its an android device it has a blocklist and an array of apps to handle nuisance callers

Edited by paulb100 (Wed 08-Sep-21 17:36:55)

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

In reply to a post by paulb100:

ok guys n gals

I've talked them in into ridding his house phones unlimited calls for £9 a month, and Three's 3-2-1 mobile at £5 a month n i will find PAYG monthly sims for £10 or less that gives unlimited minutes- saves money, saves mess on, a single device

so now i gotta find deals after finding which network is best for his Area (indoors and outdoors + his home is built with stoned walls)

cos I've never gotten a dodgy cold call on my mobile, and as it runs an OS it isn't a 'one-trick pony', theirs still TPS, and apps for call nuisance, and whitelists/blocklists directly on the fone

thanks guys

Your action of using mobile phones exclusively for voice traffic may save YOU lots of pennies but has consequences you may not appreciate that costs you more than you think.

I notice that our company almost invariable has to call customers on their mobile phone numbers which pushes up our phone bill considerably. This added costs is factored into the price of goods and services we provide.

No doubt other companies do the same and maybe using revenue sharing numbers which would be outside the call plan you have.

Beyond that, how exactly are you getting a broadband service?

thats for him to decide, they are two separate things, yeah you gotta have land-line, it just wont be plugged in ,,,simple as that! and when FTTP arrives he wont have ANY phoneline

Thanks you for the wonderful and enlightening 'advice'.

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

I notice that our company almost invariable has to call customers on their mobile phone numbers which pushes up our phone bill considerably. This added costs is factored into the price of goods and services we provide.

I suspect your company has a poor service from your chosen communications provider.

When the likes of the NHS, DWP, and other government departments for years said "can't call mobiles as too expensive" that all changed about 5 years ago. My employer has removed all the desk phones from offices, we are mobile only.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Thanks you for the wonderful and enlightening 'advice'.

Your most welcome

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

I notice that our company almost invariable has to call customers on their mobile phone numbers which pushes up our phone bill considerably. This added costs is factored into the price of goods and services we provide.

I suspect your company has a poor service from your chosen communications provider.

When the likes of the NHS, DWP, and other government departments for years said "can't call mobiles as too expensive" that all changed about 5 years ago. My employer has removed all the desk phones from offices, we are mobile only.

Another good point!

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

In reply to a post by paulb100:

ok guys n gals

I've talked them in into ridding his house phones unlimited calls for £9 a month, and Three's 3-2-1 mobile at £5 a month n i will find PAYG monthly sims for £10 or less that gives unlimited minutes- saves money, saves mess on, a single device

so now i gotta find deals after finding which network is best for his Area (indoors and outdoors + his home is built with stoned walls)

cos I've never gotten a dodgy cold call on my mobile, and as it runs an OS it isn't a 'one-trick pony', theirs still TPS, and apps for call nuisance, and whitelists/blocklists directly on the fone

thanks guys

Your action of using mobile phones exclusively for voice traffic may save YOU lots of pennies but has consequences you may not appreciate that costs you more than you think.

I notice that our company almost invariable has to call customers on their mobile phone numbers which pushes up our phone bill considerably. This added costs is factored into the price of goods and services we provide.

No doubt other companies do the same and maybe using revenue sharing numbers which would be outside the call plan you have.

Beyond that, how exactly are you getting a broadband service?

I'm quite intrigued what company makes enough lengthly outbound calls for there to be any material impact. What type of company do you work for? It would have to be extremly high volume of outbound calls and super low margins for this to be a problem, surely.

After 20+ year in call centres it's the people that cost the coin, the call costs are totally minimal in comparison.

Or someone's mobile or landline has been compromised and their contacts lists harvested. I have two such sources of spam to my email service.