Gas board.

[colly0410]

One called the other day & claimed it was about my BT broadband, we're not with BT. I pretended to work for BT & asked if I knew him & for his employee number: he soon hung up..

[BusyBee]

I have noticed lately that there has been an increase in the number of call where there does not seem to be anyone on the other end. Perhaps an automated scam service, but after a few seconds I just say hello, and if there is no immediate answer, I hang up. I suspect they have automated voice recognition. It's funny that these calls are often at lunchtime too.

Tracy

[dawson5]

A lot of these calls are now showing on the caller display as mobile numbers which you have to answer as it might be someone who is genuine.
If its to do with a sky maintenance scam or windows, energy etc then just tell them to p**s off and hang up.
Sometimes I just let them start then when they get to the first question tell them "I don't answer any questions on the telephone " and hang up.

[Refugee]

I just click the land line out of the master socket so that they get the out of service tone and again if they try to call back again after being cut off. I just plug it back in again after a few minutes later when they have had time to give up.

[Geordie McBoyne]

The worst time for receiving scam phone calls and charities begging for contributions was late 2016. The latter were seriously aggressive because the charities were employing firms that specialised in persuading members of the public to sign up or increase their present contributions.


Geordie McBoyne.

[Refugee]

Has anyone ever managed to stop a direct debit from one of those charities?
It took me two hours of dreadful music to stop one.

[Murphyv310]

Just cancel it from your bank.
Takes 10 seconds if you have online banking. You'll get the inevitable letter or call but I find it hassle free.

[Refugee]

Just cancel it from your bank.
Takes 10 seconds if you have online banking. You'll get the inevitable letter or call but I find it hassle free.

That would be so if it were on a currant account.
With a credit card it is a different matter altogether. They get quite disappointed if you set one up on anything other than a credit card.

[ppppenguin]

I would never set up a continuous credit card authority. Likewise on a debit card. Although you are now entitled to cancel via the card issuer it's much more of a hassle than stopping a DD. The MSE site gives lots of useful info:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/bankin...-payments/

DDs are no hassle. I've cancelled via the bank more than once where the payee has been troublesome. As Trevor says, it's trivial via online banking, a little more hassle by phone or branch.

[dawson5]

I once had something paid via a credit card and stopping was I agree a nightmare. It was for only a small amount and I eventually managed it but I will never do it again. Life is meant to be simple.