Every year, over 1.5 billion people in the UK face the annoyance of malicious or nuisance calls, disrupting daily life. Whether it’s telemarketers, scammers, or identity thieves, these calls are a nuisance. If you have a landline, you’ve likely encountered this, and we understand how unpleasant it can be.
The good news is, you don’t have to tolerate unwanted calls. No matter the type, we’ve got a guide to help you put a stop to them. Let’s break down the common types of nuisance calls and how to prevent them.
Silent calls
‘Silent’ calls, where you pick up the phone and hear nothing, can be unsettling, especially if you’re alone. While most are harmless, stemming from predictive dialling machines, they can still be disruptive. Ofcom is working to reduce these calls, and you can register your number on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to avoid them. If you experience an unusual volume of silent calls, report them to your phone provider.
Phone scams
Two common phone scams aim to trick you into calling premium rate numbers or sharing personal data.
Premium rate phone scams: Scammers might claim you’ve won a prize but ask you to call a premium rate number to claim it. Ignore such messages and never dial premium rate numbers unless you’ve verified the offer’s legitimacy.
Voice phishing (vishing) phone scams: These scams use recorded messages to trick you into sharing personal data. Be cautious; legitimate institutions won’t ask for such details in unsolicited calls. If in doubt, contact the institution directly using the number from your account statement.
Malicious calls
The most alarming type of unwanted call involves abuse or threats. This is harassment and a criminal offense. If you receive such a call, hang up or leave the phone off the hook to deny the caller satisfaction. Notify your phone company, providing details for them to trace the call. In severe cases, contact your local police or call 999 if immediate danger is implied.
How Onebill can help
If you’re a Onebill customer, facing nuisance or malicious calls, contact our customer service team (0344 880 7777) for assistance. Onebill offers service packages to protect against unwanted calls:
- Call barring: Stop premium rate calls and block specific numbers.
- Anonymous call rejection: Block calls from withheld numbers.
- Choose to refuse: Block unwanted numbers.
Final checklist
- Register on TPS: Stop calls from unauthorised organisations.
- Ignore prize promises: Avoid calls requiring premium rate numbers.
- Protect personal information: Never share unsolicited requests.
- Deny satisfaction: Walk away or hang up on malicious callers.
- Contact your provider: Report nuisance or malicious calls.
- Emergency: Dial 999 if a call poses a direct threat.
To report a scam:
- For scams in general – Citizens Advice Tel: 08454 040506
- For investment scams – Financial Services Authority | Tel: 0845 606 1234 | Email to: scams@oft.gsi.gov.uk