Who to 'complain' to?

**cojak** · 7 February 2014, 08:16

Originally posted by mudskipper View Post

Last time I was at my mother's flat, she had a large box full of various vitamins (all unopened). She's 80, and gets easily confused.

It seems these people are calling her several times a week and doing a hard sell that has had her in tears.

The last woman was "Why won't you give me your credit card details? Don't you trust me?"

I've told her to tell them to sod off and hang up, but she's too polite. I'm intending to find out who the company are (apparently there are several different ones that ring her) and ask them politely to desist, but, if they don't, what other recourse is there?

I suspect the box I saw is the tip of the iceberg...

I'm not sure who you can complain to, but I suspect whoever it is it won't have much effect.

I guess all you can do is to spend a week with her and take her phone calls, find out who it is and tell them to feck off while you complain. Or arrange to get her phone number changed.

**d000hg** · 7 February 2014, 08:22

Sucky. Do they phone from a number she could have linked to "DON'T ANSWER" using caller ID, or you could get blocked? If it's a blocked number, you could turn on blocking of such calls with the phone provider?

**scooterscot** · 7 February 2014, 08:23

Have a similar problem with my mother up in Glasgow. I here the stories. At the distance I'm at it's near impossible to do anything about them.

I did check out one company that had sent her an invoice, with which she had paid before. Looked up companies house. The long and short of it, this prestigious business did not really exist and the address used I found to be a run down residential area of Manchester.

I'm aware scamming goes on, but it's the aggressiveness of them.

**cojak** · 7 February 2014, 08:23

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

Sucky. Do they phone from a number she could have linked to "DON'T ANSWER" using caller ID, or you could get blocked? If it's a blocked number, you could turn on blocking of such calls with the phone provider?

Ah, now that's a good idea.

**mudskipper** · 7 February 2014, 08:24

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

Sucky. Do they phone from a number she could have linked to "DON'T ANSWER" using caller ID, or you could get blocked? If it's a blocked number, you could turn on blocking of such calls with the phone provider?

I don't know if the provider can block numbers (it's Virgin Media) - probably worth asking.
Good idea.

**mudskipper** · 7 February 2014, 08:25

Looks like you can buy handsets that block certain numbers

How do I stop unwanted, nuisance, malicious or withheld-number calls?

Will look into it.

**d000hg** · 7 February 2014, 08:26

They rarely let you ask for specific numbers to be blocked, but I think "stop blocked-ID calls" is a common thing you can have for £0-5 per month.

If they do ring from a number you can see - and she has called ID - you could also buy her something like this, provided you can explain to her how it works. http://www.amazon.co.uk/CPR-Global-C.../dp/B004BTVQ5E

edit: also register with www.tpsonline.org.uk

**mudskipper** · 7 February 2014, 08:29

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

They rarely let you ask for specific numbers to be blocked, but I think "stop blocked-ID calls" is a common thing you can have for £0-5 per month.

If they do ring from a number you can see - and she has called ID - you could also buy her something like this, provided you can explain to her how it works. http://www.amazon.co.uk/CPR-Global-C.../dp/B004BTVQ5E

edit: also register with TPS

Yes, she's with the TPS.

Cheers - will look into it. No idea whether they're anonymous numbers - will find out.

Edit - that looks perfect - will order her one. I presume you can unblock numbers when she accidentally presses the button when I ring her!

**MicrosoftBob** · 7 February 2014, 08:35

Get a load of cheap rape alarms, and show her how to use them

Then when the scammers phone up make their ears bleed!

Who to 'complain' to?