Phone number to prevent cold calls please?

[fastfences]

Hi all, I know there is a number to contact to prevent cold marketing calls. Does someone have it please? Perhaps I'll start 'Googling' also!
cheers, Nigel

[Sarah-Ink Promotions]

Telephone preference - 0845 070 0707

Hope thats the right one!

Sarah :)

[fastfences]

Wow. You're 'faster' than me. Thanks Sarah, it was right and I'm now registered. I hope it makes a difference.

I did read in a sunday paper recently about the guy fronting the organisation being on about £70K per year and not having made a prosecution in the whole time of the operation!

I just hope it helps reduce all the phone scams I'm getting.
Cheers again, Nigel

[annethedonn]

It takes 28 days for it to take effect. Doesn't always stop all the calls so you have to remind the callers you're subscribed. Plus you still get international calls sometimes.

[Sarah-Ink Promotions]

It worked for me and I also have the fax preference as well to stop used car adverts and ringtone ads coming through - was costing me a fortune in ink cartridges!!

:)

[cjd]

It gives you the licence to be extremly rude to any calls you still get as they're breaking the law.

It also tells you something about the business practices of those that still call - Everest double glazing called me this morning for example.....

(Actually, after trying several techniques I just put the phone down without saying anything except hello.)

[annethedonn]

Plus you'll get those who say it's not a sales call lol! But telling them you're registered usually does the trick!

[Jayne]

I usually say.. How did you get my number as i'm registered not to get nuisance calls and want to report you and the company who gave you it :lol:

Works every time and it's fun.

Jayne

[MinuWeb]

I just ask them to hold on, then leave them paying for the phone call whilst they get bored.

[Jayne]

Oh that's a good one Tony, i'll try that :lol:

[fastfences]

We used to have a member who acted as a sort of 'broker' to find the best utilities deal. anyone remember him/her?
I checked FSB rates today and I'm tempted to change; but I'd best check the pool first.
Cheers, N

[annethedonn]

www.moneysupermarket.com

www.u-switch.com

http://www.energyhelpline.com/energy/rg_home.aspx?aid=107

Anne

[LindseyMHC]

I've never used them, but I've met a couple of their reps at various networking events ... Utility Warehouse (Discount Club).

I only have contact details for someone who works in Sussex, but if you're interested I'll PM them to you.

Lindsey.

[KM-Tiger]

We used to have a member who acted as a sort of 'broker' to find the best utilities deal. anyone remember him/her?

No, but I've found these people to be quite good:-

http://www.utilityoptions.co.uk/

[Plastics Dave]

I am registered with the TPS and it has stopped a lot of the nuisance calls but I have a bit of an issue with this.
I machine parts from plastics, prototypes and small batches that sort of thing, we are a niche market business with a limited number of potential customers. Every so often if work has gone quiet I will look through a trade directory and try to identify potential customers, when I have done this I will draft up an introductory fax and send it through to them, I don't phone because I don't want to waste anybody's time and this leaves them the option to get back to me if they are interested without being harrased. I have now been threatened with the TPS on 3 occasions for doing this. Now, we are a small company, do not have a salesman, these people advertise in Yellow pages or Kelly's or similar, if they advertise thier phone number why I am I in th the wrong to use it ?

[clairemackaness]

We used to have a member who acted as a sort of 'broker' to find the best utilities deal. anyone remember him/her?
I checked FSB rates today and I'm tempted to change; but I'd best check the pool first.
Cheers, N

Hi Nigel,

It was Utility Warehouse. I have been a member of the UClub for just over 5 months and they are excellent. On average I save over £40 per month on my bills and their customer service is brilliant. Theres none of this press 1 for sales, press 2 for accounts etc, you just get straight through and they sort out your problem straight away. I have my gas, Elec, Phone and Internet with them and it's great to only get one bill each month.

Track the guy down, it's well worth it.

[visagephoto]

I am registered with the TPS and it has stopped a lot of the nuisance calls but I have a bit of an issue with this.
I machine parts from plastics, prototypes and small batches that sort of thing, we are a niche market business with a limited number of potential customers. Every so often if work has gone quiet I will look through a trade directory and try to identify potential customers, when I have done this I will draft up an introductory fax and send it through to them, I don't phone because I don't want to waste anybody's time and this leaves them the option to get back to me if they are interested without being harrased. I have now been threatened with the TPS on 3 occasions for doing this. Now, we are a small company, do not have a salesman, these people advertise in Yellow pages or Kelly's or similar, if they advertise thier phone number why I am I in th the wrong to use it ?

Dave

It seems a bit of a contradiction that someone who feels the need to register with the TPS, should feel they are being unjustly restricted by the same legislation they subscribe to.

I pay £600+ to advertise Yellow pages for my benefit, so that anyone interested in my services can contact me. If I want other peoples services & products, I will seek them out, I dont expect them to contact me

Why not post the introductory letter instead of faxing it, that way it's not costing the recipient to print out your fax, if they are recieving more than one of these a day from different sources it can be both costly & annoying.

[Plastics Dave]

I agree with you Alan and I changed the way I do this some time ago following a similar session on another forum where I was educated into both sides of this argument, my point is this: I possibly identify up to 10 new potential customers a year so at most I used to send out 10 specifically targeted mails not 1000's. I was surprised to be threatened by the TPS under those circumstances. What it means is I cannot take the risk of sending a fax to anyone who I have not communicated with in the first place and I am not allowed to phone them either to establish that contact...daft realy innit. Now lets be realistic, if I can genuinely save you serious money you would be gratefull for my fax sent to your yellow pages advert that you have for your benefit. What none of us want are the Cars, lotto, double glazing mass mailings.
Regards to all, I think this is great forum thanks Nigel.
Dave

[visagephoto]

dave

Yes I agree, the TPS, FPS etc were all put in place to stop the constant harrasment by some of the less desireable companies which you mentioned.

I don't mind receiving calls etc, from companies with offers or services which are relevant to my business i.e. photography or wedding supplies & accessories. But I don't want a new car, double glazing, a conservatory, a website, WSO, viagra?, or a complimentary bottle of wine if I book three nights in a hotel in Pitlochry, etc, etc, etc.

But I suppose as the law has to be applied equally to everyone, reputable companies, with genuine offers like your own :) have to suffer as a result.

[fastfences]

Did I ask a question on this thread? Oh yeah, thanks Claire and Lindsey, that's the one. I'll suss it out and thanks for your personal recommendation, Claire.

Thanks also to Alan and Dave for enlightening me on the intricacies of phone and fax marketing. I just love 'bonus' info :wink: .
Cheers, Nigel

[visagephoto]

Yeah Sorry Nigel

Thought your original post had reached a conclusion, then Dave posted a question on the same subject. . . And I Just felt compelled to respond. :oops: :wink: :)