Despite many rumours that we’ve become a compensation culture not all of us aren’t in the habit of having that many accidents. Often they’re our own fault anyway and even the ones that aren’t don’t necessarily send us rushing for the nearest ambulance chasing lawyer. Try telling all of this to those helpful little call centre elves (presumably there is such a thing) that work tirelessly overnight on our behalf. OFCOM, the UK’s regulatory body for telecoms, suggests that these little beneficial fairies make at least two unwanted calls to us every week. Many of us experience more than our fair share of that average and however sanguine, patient and generally calm we are in our day to day lives, they can leave us having an accident with the phone and the nearest plate glass window; one that is probably, technically at least, our own fault! However, if you are suffering from a ringing in the ears generated by a Call Centre in Cardiff, or a group of Madmen Marketing from Manchester, there are ways to deal with it.
You’ve Only Got Yourself to Blame
Sadly, we often only have ourselves to blame. There’s a small box on most forms, online and off, and it’s usually terribly well hidden amongst a lot of hard to read small print (presumably also generated by a bunch of little people). The box normally helpfully offers us the chance to opt in, or opt out, of future marketing messages, emails and calls. Once ticked it can be the devil’s own work to get it un-ticked. However the good news is that the fairy godmother of consumers – the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has regulations that allow you to request that your details are removed. It’s like magic – although like magic it doesn’t always work on the first attempt. If you ask to be removed from a call list back, it up with a letter to the company in question. This is slightly more practical magic and usually is more effective. The ICO doesn’t investigate specific cases but can fine companies that are repeat offenders. The fines range up to £500,000 which is not exactly the pot of gold marketing companies are chasing.
Is There Anybody There?
Many calls that we receive are mysteriously silent – as if generated from beyond the grave by well-wishing members of our families who have gone before. In actual fact there’s a slightly more down to earth explanation. These calls are generated by automated machines in call centres where a large number of those helpful little elves have flown the nest, assuming elves have nests. The centres simply don’t have enough staff to deal with the amount of calls generated. Thankfully, those nice people at the ICO have an app, or rather regulation, for this kind of thing. Automated systems must present call line identification and you can use a telephone call blocker to blacklist the number and/or contact the company and, again, ask to be removed from their lists.
Somewhere, Beyond the Sea
Unfortunately, some modern day cobblers, sorry call centre owners, don’t like to employ too many expensive UK based little helpers and prefer to use (some suggest exploit) cheaper call centres based abroad. In this case it may be harder to block the numbers – and the regulations may not apply. If the company generating the calls is based in the UK then they are covered by the regulations, so you can still call the magic wand wavers at the ICO. If not, things get a bit trickier. Ideally, a nuisance call blocker is probably a good option – these allow you to blacklist numbers by inputting them or by pressing an option to do so after the number has called. In some cases your phone company may well block international calls for you but this may be a chargeable option and you may want to receive some international calls. Other modern day, slightly less mythical options also include simple caller display units and answer phones which can certainly help you to manage unwanted calls from a whole range of monsters (in-laws included).
Whatever you choose, don’t forget you can take back control of your phone line and it doesn’t have to be a long, arduous quest to do so. With a little bit of knowledge and some technical gadgets, that not-so-magical ringing in your ears can be eliminated for good!
