Discussion:
Minor delights
(too old to reply)
krw
2018-11-15 11:54:43 UTC
Permalink
As you get older you fall victim to these scams so I spent some time
this morning protecting such people.

A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.

In a new twist he asked if I was over 85 or not; I declined to answer
but it appears the scammers have decided that 85 is a magic break point
and everyone over that age needs a carer who has to give the
authorisation that he was seeking from me.

I felt I should point out that age was unimportant but that he should be
asking if there was any form of a power of attorney in place as that is
the legal defining element requiring to be ascertained, not an
individual's age. He did not seem to grasp the distinction but I
assured him I was the only person responsible in the house (well the
wofe has b******* off to Gran Canaria, I was supposed to go but am
grounded). He then asked me for the expiry date on my debit card. I lied.

At this point apparently he was insistent he had to pass me over to his
supervisor a very excited young man who was talking so quickly I did not
comprehend that he wanted £21.99 for this upgraded service, although he
promised me (repeatedly) that he would not charge me again in future
weeks, months or years (which I suppose was kind).

He was going so quickly and was so excitable that we had to go through
it again at a much slower pace (I told him that I was very old and just
could not keep up).

He then asked for the customer id numbers on my debit card below my name
- which he quoted to me and I quoted back something different to what
was on the card. I said that I was not in the habit of giving out
personal information and he told me that these numbers are not personal
information as they appear on bank statements, cheques and so on.

So I established the facts but he seemed to be a little wound up so I
had to ask him several times to stop shouting at me.

At this point I asked him to understand that he was offering me a
service and that whilst I was pleased I was not giving him the long card
number it was not possible for me to give him the numbers he had
requested. As he was providing a service I asked him to follow English
contractual law and to send me details of the service he was providing
and an invoice, or indeed an invoice with all of the details thereon.
Once received I would send a cheque.

He responded offering me a confirmation of the arrangement once he had
my £21.99 and I said that I needed full details and invoice and I would
happily send a cheque.

He seemed to think I was wasting his time and after a few more exchanges
he hung up on me.

Luckily I was a bit bored today. Normally I cannot be bothered. Little
things please ancient pensioners.
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-15 12:15:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
As you get older you fall victim to these scams so I spent some time
this morning protecting such people.
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
[rest of scam deleted. Well done for tying him up for a while - at least
he wasn't scamming others during that time.]

I am pretty certain that the TPS - despicable, misleading, and generally
deceptive though they are - do not call in this manner (certainly not
asking for money), so I'm pretty sure your caller was _not_ from the TPS
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Do ministers do more than lay people?
Mike
2018-11-15 13:03:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
As you get older you fall victim to these scams so I spent some time
this morning protecting such people.
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
In a new twist he asked if I was over 85 or not; I declined to answer
but it appears the scammers have decided that 85 is a magic break point
and everyone over that age needs a carer who has to give the
authorisation that he was seeking from me.
I felt I should point out that age was unimportant but that he should be
asking if there was any form of a power of attorney in place as that is
the legal defining element requiring to be ascertained, not an
individual's age. He did not seem to grasp the distinction but I
assured him I was the only person responsible in the house (well the
wofe has b******* off to Gran Canaria, I was supposed to go but am
grounded). He then asked me for the expiry date on my debit card. I lied.
At this point apparently he was insistent he had to pass me over to his
supervisor a very excited young man who was talking so quickly I did not
comprehend that he wanted £21.99 for this upgraded service, although he
promised me (repeatedly) that he would not charge me again in future
weeks, months or years (which I suppose was kind).
He was going so quickly and was so excitable that we had to go through
it again at a much slower pace (I told him that I was very old and just
could not keep up).
He then asked for the customer id numbers on my debit card below my name
- which he quoted to me and I quoted back something different to what
was on the card. I said that I was not in the habit of giving out
personal information and he told me that these numbers are not personal
information as they appear on bank statements, cheques and so on.
So I established the facts but he seemed to be a little wound up so I
had to ask him several times to stop shouting at me.
At this point I asked him to understand that he was offering me a
service and that whilst I was pleased I was not giving him the long card
number it was not possible for me to give him the numbers he had
requested. As he was providing a service I asked him to follow English
contractual law and to send me details of the service he was providing
and an invoice, or indeed an invoice with all of the details thereon.
Once received I would send a cheque.
He responded offering me a confirmation of the arrangement once he had
my £21.99 and I said that I needed full details and invoice and I would
happily send a cheque.
He seemed to think I was wasting his time and after a few more exchanges
he hung up on me.
Luckily I was a bit bored today. Normally I cannot be bothered. Little
things please ancient pensioners.
KRW, I’m not convinced you are really trying hard enough; you say that he
rang off, ok, fine but the minimum call duration for even a ‘tried hard’
accolade is 60 minutes - you need to keep them on the line considerably
longer than this for a ‘black belt’ standard. I commend you for trying but,
‘could do better’ comes to mind here.

Do you know about the ‘Time Wasters Exemplar’’ course I offer? For a mere
£39.99, I’ll send you the full kit including badly photocopied sheets of
‘translated from Chinese’ instructions plus a set of stickers that are only
tacky in the sense of poor graphics and low quality printing that does not
align with the background, some silly telephone handset warmers and a
statue of a cold caller pulling their hair out.

Study this material well and you could be eligible for the full advanced
course at a massive discount within just two weeks....
--
Toodle Pip
Chris J Dixon
2018-11-15 13:38:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
I had a similar one asking if I was still receiving unwanted
marketing calls, and responded that, since they were speaking to
me, this was evidently the case. I think they hung up.

I am getting quite a lot of recorded messages - usually the same
recording - from lots of spoofed numbers claiming that I am about
to be disconnected from the Internet.

Upon hitting "1", I then I generally hear an Asian voice with a
British sounding name claiming to be from BT. I have played along
with some of them for a while.

One wanted me to type "my 1p address" into Google search because
my “IP is being misused over the last couple of weeks” and that
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.

My ISP is Virgin. ;-)

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk
Plant amazing Acers.
Mike
2018-11-15 13:45:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by krw
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
I had a similar one asking if I was still receiving unwanted
marketing calls, and responded that, since they were speaking to
me, this was evidently the case. I think they hung up.
I am getting quite a lot of recorded messages - usually the same
recording - from lots of spoofed numbers claiming that I am about
to be disconnected from the Internet.
Upon hitting "1", I then I generally hear an Asian voice with a
British sounding name claiming to be from BT. I have played along
with some of them for a while.
One wanted me to type "my 1p address" into Google search because
my “IP is being misused over the last couple of weeks” and that
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
Is hacking similar to deflowering I wonder? ;-)
--
Toodle Pip
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-15 14:00:59 UTC
Permalink
[]
Post by Mike
Post by Chris J Dixon
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
Is hacking similar to deflowering I wonder? ;-)
Depends if you are wearing a hacking jacket to do it.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Apologies to [those] who may have been harmed by the scientific inaccuracies
in this post. - Roger Tilbury in UMRA, 2018-3-14
Mike
2018-11-15 14:20:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
[]
Post by Mike
Post by Chris J Dixon
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
Is hacking similar to deflowering I wonder? ;-)
Depends if you are wearing a hacking jacket to do it.
As against dead-heading of course.
--
Toodle Pip
SODAM
2018-11-15 19:00:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by krw
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
I had a similar one asking if I was still receiving unwanted
marketing calls, and responded that, since they were speaking to
me, this was evidently the case. I think they hung up.
I am getting quite a lot of recorded messages - usually the same
recording - from lots of spoofed numbers claiming that I am about
to be disconnected from the Internet.
Upon hitting "1", I then I generally hear an Asian voice with a
British sounding name claiming to be from BT. I have played along
with some of them for a while.
One wanted me to type "my 1p address" into Google search because
my “IP is being misused over the last couple of weeks” and that
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
I had a call this morning, purporting to be from a Talktalk employee , who
asked for me by name. I told the Asian lady that I wasn’t me- the lady of
that name had moved house some years ago. She repeated the question several
times, got the same reply and finally hung up.
Later in the day an Australian woman rang and told me my internet was about
to be disconnected. I replied, “Shall we just cut to the chase? I’ll let
you control my computer, give you my bank account details and you can empty
my bank account. Would that help?” She hung up.

Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
--
SODAM
The thinking umrat’s choice for editor
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-15 20:09:57 UTC
Permalink
In message
Post by SODAM
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by krw
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
I had a similar one asking if I was still receiving unwanted
marketing calls, and responded that, since they were speaking to
me, this was evidently the case. I think they hung up.
I am getting quite a lot of recorded messages - usually the same
recording - from lots of spoofed numbers claiming that I am about
to be disconnected from the Internet.
Upon hitting "1", I then I generally hear an Asian voice with a
British sounding name claiming to be from BT. I have played along
with some of them for a while.
One wanted me to type "my 1p address" into Google search because
my “IP is being misused over the last couple of weeks” and that
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
I had a call this morning, purporting to be from a Talktalk employee , who
asked for me by name. I told the Asian lady that I wasn’t me- the lady of
that name had moved house some years ago. She repeated the question several
times, got the same reply and finally hung up.
Later in the day an Australian woman rang and told me my internet was about
to be disconnected. I replied, “Shall we just cut to the chase? I’ll let
you control my computer, give you my bank account details and you can empty
my bank account. Would that help?” She hung up.
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Can a blue man sing the whites?
Penny
2018-11-15 23:41:03 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 15 Nov 2018 20:09:57 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it.
Oh, I think you should pretend to do that anyway - making sure the scammer
can hear you while you do ;)

I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Nick Odell
2018-11-16 00:39:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Thu, 15 Nov 2018 20:09:57 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it.
Oh, I think you should pretend to do that anyway - making sure the scammer
can hear you while you do ;)
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I don't think I'm on Call Protect. It's not something they would
automatically add to your services is it? The only add-on services I
know that I have are 1571 and Caller Display. I just don't ever get
scammers on the line: I put this down to never, ever picking up the
phone unless I recognise the number. I think the scammers have me listed
as one of those lines that only exist for the supply of broadband and
don't bother any more. If somebody calls from a number I don't recognise
and leaves a message I can always get back to them.

Nick
Penny
2018-11-16 09:29:13 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 00:39:04 +0000, Nick Odell
Post by Nick Odell
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I don't think I'm on Call Protect. It's not something they would
automatically add to your services is it?
No, you have to opt in but, like caller display*, is free.

*Which plusnet used to charge for.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Flop
2018-11-16 09:56:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 00:39:04 +0000, Nick Odell
Post by Nick Odell
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I don't think I'm on Call Protect. It's not something they would
automatically add to your services is it?
No, you have to opt in but, like caller display*, is free.
*Which plusnet used to charge for.
As it is essential for broadband, all ISPs have to include Caller
Display in their monthly line rental cost (OFCOM).

Many ISPs describe it as free whilst putting up the monthly line rental
cost :-(
--
Flop

I find it ironic that the colours red, white, and blue stand for freedom
until they are flashing behind you
Mike Headon
2018-11-16 10:22:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by Flop
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 00:39:04 +0000, Nick Odell
Post by Nick Odell
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I don't think I'm on Call Protect. It's not something they would
automatically add to your services is it?
No, you have to opt in but, like caller display*, is free.
*Which plusnet used to charge for.
As it is essential for broadband, all ISPs have to include Caller
Display in their monthly line rental cost (OFCOM).
Many ISPs describe it as free whilst putting up the monthly line rental
cost :-(
We have a BT call-barring phone which asks unknown callers for their
name before putting them through. It requires caller-id, of course. It
has really worked for us - no more nuisance calls.
We can still see the attempts on the log, but even they have almost stopped.
--
Mike Headon
R69S R850R
IIIc IIIg FT FTn FT2 EOS450D
e-mail: mike dot headon at enn tee ell world dot com

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
Fenny
2018-11-16 22:36:26 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 00:39:04 +0000, Nick Odell
Post by Nick Odell
If somebody calls from a number I don't recognise
and leaves a message I can always get back to them.
It's the leaving a message bit they usually fail at. The window chap
who cancelled an appointment with me last month has been ringing my
mobile incessantly during work hours for a few weeks. I specifically
told their admin person that I don't answer calls from unknown numbers
[1] and unless I get a voicemail saying what the call is about, I
won't call back.

[1] I only know it's him because I know that number called to cancel
the appointment. But he's not in my contact list, so it could be
anyone playing with his phone!
--
Fenny
Nick Odell
2018-11-16 23:55:41 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 00:39:04 +0000, Nick Odell
Post by Nick Odell
If somebody calls from a number I don't recognise
and leaves a message I can always get back to them.
It's the leaving a message bit they usually fail at. The window chap
who cancelled an appointment with me last month has been ringing my
mobile incessantly during work hours for a few weeks. I specifically
told their admin person that I don't answer calls from unknown numbers
[1] and unless I get a voicemail saying what the call is about, I
won't call back.
[1] I only know it's him because I know that number called to cancel
the appointment. But he's not in my contact list, so it could be
anyone playing with his phone!
These days hardly anybody I know uses the landline to contact me so a
caller almost certainly wants me more than I want them. If they can't do
a simple little thing like leave a message...


Nick
Fenny
2018-11-17 14:24:51 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 23:55:41 +0000, Nick Odell
Post by Nick Odell
These days hardly anybody I know uses the landline to contact me so a
caller almost certainly wants me more than I want them. If they can't do
a simple little thing like leave a message...
Having been out late Thursday and tired after a long week on Friday, I
only just checked my home phone to see there were 3 messages on the
answering machine. All were from British Gas, left on Thursday and
Friday. The first was unintelligable and cut off mid sentence, the
second was blank and the third, at 5.50pm on Friday (while I was still
in the office [1]) was to say they can't make the appointment to
service my boiler on Tuesday morning, so they've rescheduled it for 23
January.

As they already cancelled my appointment in September while I was
sitting around having taken the afternoon off, and there's a 2 month
delay in booking appointments, I'd already complained, so the person
making the call could see I'd had a recent complaint and this was now
resolved (!). But, as I've just written in the email to the CS
manager who I spoke to previously, they have my mobile number, so
wouldn't it have been better to call me on that?

I suppose I *should* be grateful they contacted me in advance this
time and did actually manage to leave a message. But I'm very
seriously annoyed, as 23 January is after my service year ends and I'm
already minded to not bother renewing.

[1] Finishing off something that it would have taken longer to get
back into on Monday. They kick us out at 6pm on a Friday and the
caretaker was turning the lights off while I was still at the printer.
But I was home by 6.10, which is the main reason I like this job!
--
Fenny
Penny
2018-11-17 18:58:24 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 17 Nov 2018 14:24:51 +0000, Fenny <***@removethis.gmail.com>
scrawled in the dust...
Post by Fenny
Having been out late Thursday and tired after a long week on Friday, I
only just checked my home phone to see there were 3 messages on the
answering machine. All were from British Gas,
---8<--
Post by Fenny
I suppose I *should* be grateful they contacted me in advance this
time and did actually manage to leave a message. But I'm very
seriously annoyed, as 23 January is after my service year ends and I'm
already minded to not bother renewing.
If it helps you make you mind up, the chap who used to service my boiler
here (he's gone on to bigger things and no longer does domestic work) told
me he and his father had refused to take on the British Gas contract for
boiler services because they were expected to do 10 per day. They always
did a 'proper' service here, taking things apart and cleaning them before
reassembly. The first time he came it took him a lot of time to clean out
all the gunk which had accumulated in the condensation drain on a boiler
which had only ever been serviced by British Gas.

From my experience British Gas used to do a similar job but this gradually
diminished until they were just plugging something in and checking what
came out of the flue - hence the 10 boilers per day.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Fenny
2018-11-17 22:11:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...
Post by Fenny
Having been out late Thursday and tired after a long week on Friday, I
only just checked my home phone to see there were 3 messages on the
answering machine. All were from British Gas,
---8<--
Post by Fenny
I suppose I *should* be grateful they contacted me in advance this
time and did actually manage to leave a message. But I'm very
seriously annoyed, as 23 January is after my service year ends and I'm
already minded to not bother renewing.
If it helps you make you mind up, the chap who used to service my boiler
here (he's gone on to bigger things and no longer does domestic work) told
me he and his father had refused to take on the British Gas contract for
boiler services because they were expected to do 10 per day. They always
did a 'proper' service here, taking things apart and cleaning them before
reassembly. The first time he came it took him a lot of time to clean out
all the gunk which had accumulated in the condensation drain on a boiler
which had only ever been serviced by British Gas.
From my experience British Gas used to do a similar job but this gradually
diminished until they were just plugging something in and checking what
came out of the flue - hence the 10 boilers per day.
As my boiler is now more than 10 years old, they jacked up the annual
fee by £60 last year. I now pay somewhere in the region of £330/yr
for them to service my boiler once a year, but also it's effectively
an insurance policy. My view is that if all they're doing is a basic
service and the boiler doesn't break down, I might as well save the
£330 and GALMI to do a service. Every year it doesn't break down and
need replacing, I'll be somewhere in the region of £250 better off,
which will go towards the eventual cost of replacing the boiler. The
former Mrs End of the Block seems to know plenty of local trades
persons, who will no doubt come and do a basic service and more
complex repairs as necessary. And there's a local outpost of the
Jesus Army who do boiler replacements.

I'm also expecting that if BG don't send someone round to do the
service before my subscription ends, I'll be getting some (fairly
hefty) refund for the lack of performance of their end of the
contract. This is on top of the £50 they gave me as a "goodwill
gesture" after I complained about having to take an afternoon off and
then wait another 2 months for a service that required another half
day off work.
--
Fenny
Mike
2018-11-18 09:14:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fenny
Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...
Post by Fenny
Having been out late Thursday and tired after a long week on Friday, I
only just checked my home phone to see there were 3 messages on the
answering machine. All were from British Gas,
---8<--
Post by Fenny
I suppose I *should* be grateful they contacted me in advance this
time and did actually manage to leave a message. But I'm very
seriously annoyed, as 23 January is after my service year ends and I'm
already minded to not bother renewing.
If it helps you make you mind up, the chap who used to service my boiler
here (he's gone on to bigger things and no longer does domestic work) told
me he and his father had refused to take on the British Gas contract for
boiler services because they were expected to do 10 per day. They always
did a 'proper' service here, taking things apart and cleaning them before
reassembly. The first time he came it took him a lot of time to clean out
all the gunk which had accumulated in the condensation drain on a boiler
which had only ever been serviced by British Gas.
From my experience British Gas used to do a similar job but this gradually
diminished until they were just plugging something in and checking what
came out of the flue - hence the 10 boilers per day.
As my boiler is now more than 10 years old, they jacked up the annual
fee by £60 last year. I now pay somewhere in the region of £330/yr
for them to service my boiler once a year, but also it's effectively
an insurance policy. My view is that if all they're doing is a basic
service and the boiler doesn't break down, I might as well save the
£330 and GALMI to do a service. Every year it doesn't break down and
need replacing, I'll be somewhere in the region of £250 better off,
which will go towards the eventual cost of replacing the boiler. The
former Mrs End of the Block seems to know plenty of local trades
persons, who will no doubt come and do a basic service and more
complex repairs as necessary. And there's a local outpost of the
Jesus Army who do boiler replacements.
I'm also expecting that if BG don't send someone round to do the
service before my subscription ends, I'll be getting some (fairly
hefty) refund for the lack of performance of their end of the
contract. This is on top of the £50 they gave me as a "goodwill
gesture" after I complained about having to take an afternoon off and
then wait another 2 months for a service that required another half
day off work.
They seem better now I think, but, we went through a period of annual
services being every 18 months or so!
--
Toodle Pip
Mike
2018-11-18 09:11:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...
Post by Fenny
Having been out late Thursday and tired after a long week on Friday, I
only just checked my home phone to see there were 3 messages on the
answering machine. All were from British Gas,
---8<--
Post by Fenny
I suppose I *should* be grateful they contacted me in advance this
time and did actually manage to leave a message. But I'm very
seriously annoyed, as 23 January is after my service year ends and I'm
already minded to not bother renewing.
If it helps you make you mind up, the chap who used to service my boiler
here (he's gone on to bigger things and no longer does domestic work) told
me he and his father had refused to take on the British Gas contract for
boiler services because they were expected to do 10 per day. They always
did a 'proper' service here, taking things apart and cleaning them before
reassembly. The first time he came it took him a lot of time to clean out
all the gunk which had accumulated in the condensation drain on a boiler
which had only ever been serviced by British Gas.
From my experience British Gas used to do a similar job but this gradually
diminished until they were just plugging something in and checking what
came out of the flue - hence the 10 boilers per day.
Yes, our experience here; in fact I prod them into removing the components
of the sludge filter in the ch, they are reluctant, but I have had to
mention it more than once. This year’s service was rather zippy so must
make a point of insisting on filter clean next year; in fairness, there is
very little sludge to remove.
--
Toodle Pip
Flop
2018-11-18 10:53:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...
Post by Fenny
Having been out late Thursday and tired after a long week on Friday, I
only just checked my home phone to see there were 3 messages on the
answering machine. All were from British Gas,
---8<--
Post by Fenny
I suppose I *should* be grateful they contacted me in advance this
time and did actually manage to leave a message. But I'm very
seriously annoyed, as 23 January is after my service year ends and I'm
already minded to not bother renewing.
If it helps you make you mind up, the chap who used to service my boiler
here (he's gone on to bigger things and no longer does domestic work) told
me he and his father had refused to take on the British Gas contract for
boiler services because they were expected to do 10 per day. They always
did a 'proper' service here, taking things apart and cleaning them before
reassembly. The first time he came it took him a lot of time to clean out
all the gunk which had accumulated in the condensation drain on a boiler
which had only ever been serviced by British Gas.
From my experience British Gas used to do a similar job but this gradually
diminished until they were just plugging something in and checking what
came out of the flue - hence the 10 boilers per day.
Yes, our experience here; in fact I prod them into removing the components
of the sludge filter in the ch, they are reluctant, but I have had to
mention it more than once. This year’s service was rather zippy so must
make a point of insisting on filter clean next year; in fairness, there is
very little sludge to remove.
Use local CH engineers.

Rotate if possible. If an engineer does a poor service, he will do it
every year. It will also allow you to select the best.

However, they are often hard to find but start looking soon after the
service and contact an alternative after six months; booking them six
months in advance.

Every five years or so, get a service done by the boilers manufacturer
[or recommended engineer]. Usually expensive but frequently very good.
(Worcester Bosch charged about 50% more than a local man but replaced
everything which could wear).
--
Flop

I find it ironic that the colours red, white, and blue stand for freedom
until they are flashing behind you
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-16 01:41:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Thu, 15 Nov 2018 20:09:57 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it.
Oh, I think you should pretend to do that anyway - making sure the scammer
can hear you while you do ;)
I've used "hang on while I get the police on the other line", which gets
rid of them in short order, but I'd rather be able to really do so.
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I think I have that, and keep forgetting! Although I doubt it'd be very
effective, as I presume the spammers use fake CLIDs anyway, and not for
long.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"I hate the guys that criticize the enterprise of other guys whose enterprise
has made them rise above the guys who criticize!" (W9BRD, former editor of
"How's DX?" column in "QST")
Penny
2018-11-16 09:32:09 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:41:25 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I think I have that, and keep forgetting! Although I doubt it'd be very
effective, as I presume the spammers use fake CLIDs anyway, and not for
long.
It's pretty good just using their 'known number' list and I add numbers as
they occur - usually in batches over a week - often when I'm away from
home, it seems.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-16 15:09:09 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:41:25 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I think I have that, and keep forgetting! Although I doubt it'd be very
effective, as I presume the spammers use fake CLIDs anyway, and not for
long.
It's pretty good just using their 'known number' list and I add numbers as
I think my most recently has been four in one day, though I don't think
I've had any for a few days; they seem to come in waves.
Post by Penny
they occur - usually in batches over a week - often when I'm away from
home, it seems.
Can you remind me what to dial to add the last caller to the (my)
blacklist? Also, do they correlate the numbers people are adding, so
"popular" ones can be added to the global blacklist?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

User Error: Replace user, hit any key to continue.
Penny
2018-11-16 15:24:17 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 15:09:09 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:41:25 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I think I have that, and keep forgetting! Although I doubt it'd be very
effective, as I presume the spammers use fake CLIDs anyway, and not for
long.
It's pretty good just using their 'known number' list and I add numbers as
I think my most recently has been four in one day, though I don't think
I've had any for a few days; they seem to come in waves.
Post by Penny
they occur - usually in batches over a week - often when I'm away from
home, it seems.
Can you remind me what to dial to add the last caller to the (my)
blacklist? Also, do they correlate the numbers people are adding, so
"popular" ones can be added to the global blacklist?
1572
I don't know if they do anything with added numbers or when/how they update
the list they provide. I seem to recall meeting a report on my added
numbers somewhere - presumably on the website - with some record of the
number of times they had blocked the number recently.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-16 15:35:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 15:09:09 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:41:25 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I think I have that, and keep forgetting! Although I doubt it'd be very
effective, as I presume the spammers use fake CLIDs anyway, and not for
long.
It's pretty good just using their 'known number' list and I add numbers as
I think my most recently has been four in one day, though I don't think
I've had any for a few days; they seem to come in waves.
Post by Penny
they occur - usually in batches over a week - often when I'm away from
home, it seems.
Can you remind me what to dial to add the last caller to the (my)
blacklist? Also, do they correlate the numbers people are adding, so
"popular" ones can be added to the global blacklist?
1572
I don't know if they do anything with added numbers or when/how they update
the list they provide. I seem to recall meeting a report on my added
numbers somewhere - presumably on the website - with some record of the
number of times they had blocked the number recently.
Thanks.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

User Error: Replace user, hit any key to continue.
Mike
2018-11-16 15:51:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 15:09:09 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:41:25 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I think I have that, and keep forgetting! Although I doubt it'd be very
effective, as I presume the spammers use fake CLIDs anyway, and not for
long.
It's pretty good just using their 'known number' list and I add numbers as
I think my most recently has been four in one day, though I don't think
I've had any for a few days; they seem to come in waves.
Post by Penny
they occur - usually in batches over a week - often when I'm away from
home, it seems.
Can you remind me what to dial to add the last caller to the (my)
blacklist? Also, do they correlate the numbers people are adding, so
"popular" ones can be added to the global blacklist?
1572
I don't know if they do anything with added numbers or when/how they update
the list they provide. I seem to recall meeting a report on my added
numbers somewhere - presumably on the website - with some record of the
number of times they had blocked the number recently.
Thanks.
There was a lovely feature on R4 some months back featuring a chap who
really took revenge on a cold calling insurance salesman. He managed to
compose a number of non-specific replies to the hapless salesman,
repetition featured frequently in his answers and he made a point of
telling the salesman a long and involved story about having explained his
situation in great detail to a previous person who had rang. He also
feigned a poor memory and requested the caller’s details on numerous
occasions....
--
Toodle Pip
DavidK
2018-11-16 15:55:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 15:09:09 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:41:25 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
I have very few since I signed up to Call Protect (I think that's the right
name) a service offered free to both BT and Plusnet customers. If any still
get through it is simple to add them to the block list.
I think I have that, and keep forgetting! Although I doubt it'd be very
effective, as I presume the spammers use fake CLIDs anyway, and not for
long.
It's pretty good just using their 'known number' list and I add numbers as
I think my most recently has been four in one day, though I don't think
I've had any for a few days; they seem to come in waves.
Post by Penny
they occur - usually in batches over a week - often when I'm away from
home, it seems.
Can you remind me what to dial to add the last caller to the (my)
blacklist? Also, do they correlate the numbers people are adding, so
"popular" ones can be added to the global blacklist?
1572
I don't know if they do anything with added numbers or when/how they update
the list they provide. I seem to recall meeting a report on my added
numbers somewhere - presumably on the website - with some record of the
number of times they had blocked the number recently.
Thanks.
There was a lovely feature on R4 some months back featuring a chap who
really took revenge on a cold calling insurance salesman. He managed to
compose a number of non-specific replies to the hapless salesman,
repetition featured frequently in his answers and he made a point of
telling the salesman a long and involved story about having explained his
situation in great detail to a previous person who had rang. He also
feigned a poor memory and requested the caller’s details on numerous
occasions....
<https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=this+is+lenny>
steveski
2018-11-16 17:03:55 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 16 Nov 2018 15:55:29 +0000, DavidK wrote:

[]
Post by Mike
There was a lovely feature on R4 some months back featuring a chap who
really took revenge on a cold calling insurance salesman. He managed to
compose a number of non-specific replies to the hapless salesman,
repetition featured frequently in his answers and he made a point of
telling the salesman a long and involved story about having explained
his situation in great detail to a previous person who had rang. He
also feigned a poor memory and requested the caller’s details on
numerous occasions....
<https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=this+is+lenny>
I loved the bit with the duck :-)
--
Steveski
SODAM
2018-11-16 10:21:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
In message
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
I have the number (apparently UK) from which the Asian lady rang me but it
is no good. I rang it and it rang for ten minutes. No reply. The TPS are no
use, I’ve found in the past, and it’s hardly something to bother our
skeleton police service about. The Australian had an international number.
--
SODAM
The thinking umrat’s choice for editor
Nick Odell
2018-11-16 11:16:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by SODAM
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
In message
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
I have the number (apparently UK) from which the Asian lady rang me but it
is no good. I rang it and it rang for ten minutes. No reply. The TPS are no
use, I’ve found in the past, and it’s hardly something to bother our
skeleton police service about. The Australian had an international number.
I gather that, if you are that way inclined, it is trivially easy to
make your call appear on Caller Display as if it is coming from another,
legitimate, number. I suspect you need thousands of pounds worth of
expertise to trace that sort of thing back to source so I presume they
are only willing to splash out on special occasions.

Nick
Mike
2018-11-16 11:31:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
Post by SODAM
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
In message
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
I have the number (apparently UK) from which the Asian lady rang me but it
is no good. I rang it and it rang for ten minutes. No reply. The TPS are no
use, I’ve found in the past, and it’s hardly something to bother our
skeleton police service about. The Australian had an international number.
I gather that, if you are that way inclined, it is trivially easy to
make your call appear on Caller Display as if it is coming from another,
legitimate, number. I suspect you need thousands of pounds worth of
expertise to trace that sort of thing back to source so I presume they
are only willing to splash out on special occasions.
Nick
Calling Mr. Clinton....
--
Toodle Pip
Chris J Dixon
2018-11-16 12:35:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
I gather that, if you are that way inclined, it is trivially easy to
make your call appear on Caller Display as if it is coming from another,
legitimate, number.
Indeed so. I get quite a lot of calls where they have clearly
spoofed a number on a local exchange, so at first glance it
appears plausible.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk
Plant amazing Acers.
Phil
2018-11-16 14:12:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
I gather that, if you are that way inclined, it is trivially easy to
make your call appear on Caller Display as if it is coming from another,
legitimate, number. I suspect you need thousands of pounds worth of
expertise to trace that sort of thing back to source so I presume they
are only willing to splash out on special occasions.
Pleasing as it is to have my expertise measured at "thousands of pounds
worth", I have to own up and say it was just a quick click of the mouse
to find out where a call came from.

A telecoms company that didn't know where to send the bill for a call
wouldn't last very long!
--
Phil
Liverpool, UK
Nick Odell
2018-11-16 14:46:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Phil
Post by Nick Odell
I gather that, if you are that way inclined, it is trivially easy to
make your call appear on Caller Display as if it is coming from
another, legitimate, number. I suspect you need thousands of pounds
worth of expertise to trace that sort of thing back to source so I
presume they are only willing to splash out on special occasions.
Pleasing as it is to have my expertise measured at "thousands of pounds
worth", I have to own up and say it was just a quick click of the mouse
to find out where a call came from.
A telecoms company that didn't know where to send the bill for a call
wouldn't last very long!
Gosh! So is that something I could do then? A call comes through on my
home phone and Caller ID tells me it's from my own number (I've had at
least one of those before I "trained" it all to go quiet.) So what do I
(or, if it's too complicated for me, what do you) do next?

Nick
Phil
2018-11-16 16:53:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by Phil
Post by Nick Odell
I gather that, if you are that way inclined, it is trivially easy to
make your call appear on Caller Display as if it is coming from
another, legitimate, number. I suspect you need thousands of pounds
worth of expertise to trace that sort of thing back to source so I
presume they are only willing to splash out on special occasions.
Pleasing as it is to have my expertise measured at "thousands of
pounds worth", I have to own up and say it was just a quick click of
the mouse to find out where a call came from.
A telecoms company that didn't know where to send the bill for a call
wouldn't last very long!
Gosh! So is that something I could do then?  A call comes through on my
home phone and Caller ID tells me it's from my own number (I've had at
least one of those before I "trained" it all to go quiet.) So what do I
(or, if it's too complicated for me, what do you) do next?
Nick
Sadly, no, unless you are employed in an appropriate role by a telecoms
company. We were not allowed to give this information out, even to the
police, without the appropriate paperwork.
--
Phil
Liverpool, UK
BrritSki
2018-11-16 15:31:10 UTC
Permalink
... I presume they are only willing to splash out on special occasions.
and that's extra luv.
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-16 15:00:14 UTC
Permalink
In message
Post by SODAM
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
In message
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
I have the number (apparently UK) from which the Asian lady rang me but it
is no good. I rang it and it rang for ten minutes. No reply. The TPS are no
use, I’ve found in the past, and it’s hardly something to bother our
skeleton police service about. The Australian had an international number.
They spoof the CLI as often as not. That (which also would be what's
logged; the telcos only log _outgoing_ calls for billing purposes) is
why I want something that can be done while they're actually on the
line. Yes, we have discussed it before. It needs action by OfCom to
clamp down on the TelCos for relaying calls with incorrect CLIs, which
would kill most of these schemes - the telcos are not going to do it
unless forced, as there's no incentive for them to do so. (And yes, I've
mentioned that before too.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

User Error: Replace user, hit any key to continue.
Phil
2018-11-16 17:03:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
They spoof the CLI as often as not. That (which also would be what's
logged; the telcos only log _outgoing_ calls for billing purposes)
On the contrary, ALL calls are logged. You don't think your telecom
company delivers calls incoming to you for free? Someone has to pay,
which will be the originator OR the telcom company who passed the call on.

is
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
why I want something that can be done while they're actually on the
line. Yes, we have discussed it before. It needs action by OfCom to
clamp down on the TelCos for relaying calls with incorrect CLIs, which
would kill most of these schemes - the telcos are not going to do it
unless forced, as there's no incentive for them to do so. (And yes, I've
mentioned that before too.)
Now there you're entirely correct. In my opinion OFCOM have always been
in the pockets of the industry and have served them rather than the
consumers.

When I was employed in the industry I had a "test line" for which I
could set up any CLI I wanted. Now that I get my VOIP service from a
provider as a mere customer, they are quite strict and I had to supply a
copy of a bill in order to be allowed to present my landline number.
--
Phil
Liverpool, UK
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-17 00:08:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Phil
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
They spoof the CLI as often as not. That (which also would be what's
logged; the telcos only log _outgoing_ calls for billing purposes)
On the contrary, ALL calls are logged. You don't think your telecom
company delivers calls incoming to you for free? Someone has to pay,
which will be the originator OR the telcom company who passed the call on.
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Post by Phil
is
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
why I want something that can be done while they're actually on the
line. Yes, we have discussed it before. It needs action by OfCom to
clamp down on the TelCos for relaying calls with incorrect CLIs, which
would kill most of these schemes - the telcos are not going to do it
unless forced, as there's no incentive for them to do so. (And yes,
I've mentioned that before too.)
Now there you're entirely correct. In my opinion OFCOM have always
been in the pockets of the industry and have served them rather than
the consumers.
I have had correspondence with OfCom on radio spectrum (and similar)
matters, and certainly I get the impression that, if not actually in the
pockets of the industry, they certainly don't protect the weak majority,
but instead respond only to those able to speak their language. They
certainly - at least as far as I can see - do _not_ protect, for
example, those who have no idea what OfCom is or even that it exists.
Which is a large proportion of the public (with a slight bias towards
the elderly). [I haven't said a majority, though I suspect it is in many
areas.]
Post by Phil
When I was employed in the industry I had a "test line" for which I
could set up any CLI I wanted. Now that I get my VOIP service from a
provider as a mere customer, they are quite strict and I had to supply
a copy of a bill in order to be allowed to present my landline number.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If you are afraid of being lonely, don't try to be right. - Jules Renard,
writer (1864-1910)
Phil
2018-11-17 07:49:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
They spoof the CLI as often as not. That (which also would be what's
logged; the telcos only log _outgoing_ calls for billing purposes)
On the contrary, ALL calls are logged.  You don't think your telecom
company delivers calls incoming to you for free?  Someone has to pay,
which will be the originator OR the telcom company who passed the call on.
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Me neither! I was merely correcting your statement that "telcos only
log _outgoing_ calls". All calls are logged so, should someone in
authority actually want to put in the effort, the true source of the
call could be determined, after the fact.
--
Phil
Liverpool, UK
Fenny
2018-11-17 14:30:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Phil
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Me neither! I was merely correcting your statement that "telcos only
log _outgoing_ calls". All calls are logged so, should someone in
authority actually want to put in the effort, the true source of the
call could be determined, after the fact.
I suppose the cost of international VOIP calls is so low these days
[1], and labour costs in large parts of the world are similarly low,
that if they get even one person to take up whatever scam they're
pedalling, it's worth while. But it still bugs me that nobody here is
sufficiently bothered to actually put anything in place to actively
prevent the calls.

[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
[2] Probably more than 5 years ago and technology has moved on
significantly since then.
--
Fenny
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-17 16:55:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fenny
Post by Phil
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Me neither! I was merely correcting your statement that "telcos only
log _outgoing_ calls". All calls are logged so, should someone in
authority actually want to put in the effort, the true source of the
call could be determined, after the fact.
I suppose the cost of international VOIP calls is so low these days
[1], and labour costs in large parts of the world are similarly low,
that if they get even one person to take up whatever scam they're
I suspect their labour costs - however low - still exceed their call
costs.
Post by Fenny
pedalling, it's worth while. But it still bugs me that nobody here is
Peddling (-:. Though I'm sure they'd have their employees pedalling to
power the equipment if they could!
Post by Fenny
sufficiently bothered to actually put anything in place to actively
prevent the calls.
Indeed - and that they even have the cheek to recommend that _we_ pay
for blocking services/'phones. (OK, I know 1572 is free.)
Post by Fenny
[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
Cheaper than a daytime landline call within UK on my tariff!
Post by Fenny
[2] Probably more than 5 years ago and technology has moved on
significantly since then.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

I've never really "got" sport or physical exercise. The only muscle I've ever
enjoyed exercising is the one between my ears. - Beryl Hales, Radio Times
24-30 March 2012
Nick Odell
2018-11-17 17:30:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fenny
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Me neither!  I was merely correcting your statement that "telcos only
log _outgoing_ calls".  All calls are logged so, should someone in
authority actually want to put in the effort, the true source of the
call could be determined, after the fact.
I suppose the cost of international VOIP calls is so low these days
[1], and labour costs in large parts of the world are similarly low,
that if they get even one person to take up whatever scam they're
I suspect their labour costs - however low - still exceed their call costs.
Post by Fenny
pedalling, it's worth while.  But it still bugs me that nobody here is
Peddling (-:. Though I'm sure they'd have their employees pedalling to
power the equipment if they could!
Post by Fenny
sufficiently bothered to actually put anything in place to actively
prevent the calls.
Indeed - and that they even have the cheek to recommend that _we_ pay
for blocking services/'phones. (OK, I know 1572 is free.)
Post by Fenny
[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
Cheaper than a daytime landline call within UK on my tariff!
If it is any consolation, John, it is usually cheaper to Skype the US
from the UK than to Skype the UK from the UK. This is because Skype
charges according to the destination country, not the originating one.
The US is typically less than 2p per minute while the UK is about 3p.
Still cheaper than BT. It will cost more to call a mobile number and can
cost less if you buy a Skype "plan."

<snip>

Nick
BrritSki
2018-11-17 17:37:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
Post by Fenny
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Me neither!  I was merely correcting your statement that "telcos only
log _outgoing_ calls".  All calls are logged so, should someone in
authority actually want to put in the effort, the true source of the
call could be determined, after the fact.
I suppose the cost of international VOIP calls is so low these days
[1], and labour costs in large parts of the world are similarly low,
that if they get even one person to take up whatever scam they're
I suspect their labour costs - however low - still exceed their call costs.
Post by Fenny
pedalling, it's worth while.  But it still bugs me that nobody here is
Peddling (-:. Though I'm sure they'd have their employees pedalling to
power the equipment if they could!
Post by Fenny
sufficiently bothered to actually put anything in place to actively
prevent the calls.
Indeed - and that they even have the cheek to recommend that _we_ pay
for blocking services/'phones. (OK, I know 1572 is free.)
Post by Fenny
[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
Cheaper than a daytime landline call within UK on my tariff!
If it is any consolation, John, it is usually cheaper to Skype the US
from the UK than to Skype the UK from the UK. This is because Skype
charges according to the destination country, not the originating one.
The US is typically less than 2p per minute while the UK is about 3p.
Still cheaper than BT. It will cost more to call a mobile number and can
cost less if you buy a Skype "plan."
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
steveski
2018-11-17 18:23:47 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 17 Nov 2018 17:37:20 +0000, BrritSki wrote:

[call blocking and Skype]
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
--
Steveski
Mike
2018-11-18 09:05:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Mrs. Toodles regularly ‘Facetimes’ to the USA and China.
--
Toodle Pip
Sam Plusnet
2018-11-29 20:27:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Three way family favourites?
--
Sam Plusnet
steveski
2018-11-29 23:43:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sam Plusnet
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Three way family favourites?
Two way, I'm afraid - no BFPO :-) (The Irish number is a friend).
--
Steveski
Mike
2018-11-30 08:46:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by steveski
Post by Sam Plusnet
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Three way family favourites?
Two way, I'm afraid - no BFPO :-) (The Irish number is a friend).
As long as you still make the call with a song in your heart.;-)
--
Toodle Pip
John Ashby
2018-11-30 11:29:30 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by steveski
Post by Sam Plusnet
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Three way family favourites?
Two way, I'm afraid - no BFPO :-) (The Irish number is a friend).
As long as you still make the call with a song in your heart.;-)
Chalming!

john
Mike
2018-11-30 12:08:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by John Ashby
Post by Mike
Post by steveski
Post by Sam Plusnet
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Three way family favourites?
Two way, I'm afraid - no BFPO :-) (The Irish number is a friend).
As long as you still make the call with a song in your heart.;-)
Chalming!
john
Oh Hello Judith, I didn’t see you there! (Mini-kf, I did some recording
work with Judith some years back, [35 or more years ago] we were making
recordings for a hand-held record player used in schools by individual
pupils.)
--
Toodle Pip
Mike
2018-11-30 13:13:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by John Ashby
Post by Mike
Post by steveski
Post by Sam Plusnet
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Three way family favourites?
Two way, I'm afraid - no BFPO :-) (The Irish number is a friend).
As long as you still make the call with a song in your heart.;-)
Chalming!
john
Oh Hello Judith, I didn’t see you there! (Mini-kf, I did some recording
work with Judith some years back, [35 or more years ago] we were making
recordings for a hand-held record player used in schools by individual
pupils.)
Ooooops! Wrong J.C., Misremembering there, it was Jean Challice I was
thinking of.
--
Toodle Pip
Sid Nuncius
2018-11-30 18:23:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by John Ashby
Post by Mike
Post by steveski
Post by Sam Plusnet
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ?   We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Three way family favourites?
Two way, I'm afraid - no BFPO :-) (The Irish number is a friend).
As long as you still make the call with a song in your heart.;-)
Chalming!
Has she put Aspel on you?
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Mike
2018-11-30 18:33:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by John Ashby
Post by Mike
Post by steveski
Post by Sam Plusnet
Post by steveski
[call blocking and Skype]
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ?   We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I do UK to Norway and Ireland.
Three way family favourites?
Two way, I'm afraid - no BFPO :-) (The Irish number is a friend).
As long as you still make the call with a song in your heart.;-)
Chalming!
Has she put Aspel on you?
That’l be my-call then.
--
Toodle Pip
LFS
2018-11-17 18:53:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
Post by Fenny
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Me neither!  I was merely correcting your statement that "telcos only
log _outgoing_ calls".  All calls are logged so, should someone in
authority actually want to put in the effort, the true source of the
call could be determined, after the fact.
I suppose the cost of international VOIP calls is so low these days
[1], and labour costs in large parts of the world are similarly low,
that if they get even one person to take up whatever scam they're
I suspect their labour costs - however low - still exceed their call costs.
Post by Fenny
pedalling, it's worth while.  But it still bugs me that nobody here is
Peddling (-:. Though I'm sure they'd have their employees pedalling
to power the equipment if they could!
Post by Fenny
sufficiently bothered to actually put anything in place to actively
prevent the calls.
Indeed - and that they even have the cheek to recommend that _we_ pay
for blocking services/'phones. (OK, I know 1572 is free.)
Post by Fenny
[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
Cheaper than a daytime landline call within UK on my tariff!
If it is any consolation, John, it is usually cheaper to Skype the US
from the UK than to Skype the UK from the UK. This is because Skype
charges according to the destination country, not the originating one.
The US is typically less than 2p per minute while the UK is about 3p.
Still cheaper than BT. It will cost more to call a mobile number and
can cost less if you buy a Skype "plan."
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ?   We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I use Facetime to talk to people in the US and that costs nothing,
although you do need Apple kit.

IoS 12 apparently allows group Facetime with up to 32 people
simultaneously which sounds a bit confusing.
--
Laura (emulate St George for email)
krw
2018-11-17 20:43:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by LFS
IoS 12 apparently allows group Facetime with up to 32 people
simultaneously which sounds a bit confusing.
it probably helps that the voices do not sound similar unless you are
talking to the male characters in The Archers.
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
Chris McMillan
2018-11-19 10:50:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by LFS
Post by Nick Odell
Post by Fenny
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Me neither!  I was merely correcting your statement that "telcos only
log _outgoing_ calls".  All calls are logged so, should someone in
authority actually want to put in the effort, the true source of the
call could be determined, after the fact.
I suppose the cost of international VOIP calls is so low these days
[1], and labour costs in large parts of the world are similarly low,
that if they get even one person to take up whatever scam they're
I suspect their labour costs - however low - still exceed their call costs.
Post by Fenny
pedalling, it's worth while.  But it still bugs me that nobody here is
Peddling (-:. Though I'm sure they'd have their employees pedalling
to power the equipment if they could!
Post by Fenny
sufficiently bothered to actually put anything in place to actively
prevent the calls.
Indeed - and that they even have the cheek to recommend that _we_ pay
for blocking services/'phones. (OK, I know 1572 is free.)
Post by Fenny
[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
Cheaper than a daytime landline call within UK on my tariff!
If it is any consolation, John, it is usually cheaper to Skype the US
from the UK than to Skype the UK from the UK. This is because Skype
charges according to the destination country, not the originating one.
The US is typically less than 2p per minute while the UK is about 3p.
Still cheaper than BT. It will cost more to call a mobile number and
can cost less if you buy a Skype "plan."
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ?   We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
I use Facetime to talk to people in the US and that costs nothing,
although you do need Apple kit.
IoS 12 apparently allows group Facetime with up to 32 people
simultaneously which sounds a bit confusing.
I used to group call with skype when it was free. I must get my act
together and group call via FaceTime, but it’ll be UK based. Facetime to
China actually works way better than skype to remoter provincial cities.

Sincerely Chris
Fenny
2018-11-17 22:16:56 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 17 Nov 2018 17:37:20 +0000, BrritSki
Post by BrritSki
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ? We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
It may not cost anything, but it's still owned by FB. I prefer not to
have my personal details handed out to all and sundry.

There are plenty of other ways of contacting people in other countries
that don't rely on interacting with FB related organisations.
--
Fenny
Nick Odell
2018-11-17 23:25:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
Post by Fenny
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Well, it isn't _me_ that's paying for _incoming_ calls. So my telecomm.
company must be charging the telecomm. company that passed the call to
them. And so on back down the line. I don't see any incentive to check
for correct CLI in that system.
Me neither!  I was merely correcting your statement that "telcos only
log _outgoing_ calls".  All calls are logged so, should someone in
authority actually want to put in the effort, the true source of the
call could be determined, after the fact.
I suppose the cost of international VOIP calls is so low these days
[1], and labour costs in large parts of the world are similarly low,
that if they get even one person to take up whatever scam they're
I suspect their labour costs - however low - still exceed their call costs.
Post by Fenny
pedalling, it's worth while.  But it still bugs me that nobody here is
Peddling (-:. Though I'm sure they'd have their employees pedalling
to power the equipment if they could!
Post by Fenny
sufficiently bothered to actually put anything in place to actively
prevent the calls.
Indeed - and that they even have the cheek to recommend that _we_ pay
for blocking services/'phones. (OK, I know 1572 is free.)
Post by Fenny
[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
Cheaper than a daytime landline call within UK on my tariff!
If it is any consolation, John, it is usually cheaper to Skype the US
from the UK than to Skype the UK from the UK. This is because Skype
charges according to the destination country, not the originating one.
The US is typically less than 2p per minute while the UK is about 3p.
Still cheaper than BT. It will cost more to call a mobile number and
can cost less if you buy a Skype "plan."
Can you WhatsApp call to the US ?   We certainly did so between UKand
Italy and that costs nuffin'.
That's WhatsApp to WhatsApp (the fact that it identifies as a phone
number is only a distraction here since it runs on IP. I presume if you
wanted to call a "real" phone there would charges from WhatsApp too.
Skype to Skype calls via the internet are free.

Nick
Fenny
2018-11-17 22:14:44 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 17 Nov 2018 16:55:47 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Fenny
[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
Cheaper than a daytime landline call within UK on my tariff!
Yes, and even evening calls. Which is why I pay the £8/month for
unlimited any time landline calls. Although I have a decent number of
inclusive calls on my mobile, I still prefer to make quite a lot of
calls via the landline [1] and it's actually cheaper to just have the
unlimited package than worry about what the rate is for the calls I'm
making.

[1] If nothing else, I don't want all and sundry having my mobile
number.
--
Fenny
Sam Plusnet
2018-11-29 20:37:41 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fenny
On Sat, 17 Nov 2018 16:55:47 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Fenny
[1] Last time I made a Skype call to a landline in Leftpondia [2] it
cost me less than 2p a minute.
Cheaper than a daytime landline call within UK on my tariff!
Yes, and even evening calls. Which is why I pay the £8/month for
unlimited any time landline calls. Although I have a decent number of
inclusive calls on my mobile, I still prefer to make quite a lot of
calls via the landline [1] and it's actually cheaper to just have the
unlimited package than worry about what the rate is for the calls I'm
making.
[1] If nothing else, I don't want all and sundry having my mobile
number.
I only have the "Evening & Weekends" package, but Plusnet charge me for
(UK) calls outside those times at 22p + 13.50p per minute.
My PAYG mobile charges just 3p per minute.

Fortunately, we don't make many calls, but I cannot wean Wofe from using
the landline on these occasions.

This is rather odd since she is the one who normally tries to spend both
sides of every coin.
--
Sam Plusnet
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-30 01:28:41 UTC
Permalink
In message <***@brightview.co.uk>, Sam
Plusnet <***@home.com> writes:
[]
Post by Sam Plusnet
This is rather odd since she is the one who normally tries to spend
both sides of every coin.
I haven't come across that expression before; I find it rather pleasing!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

science is not intended to be foolproof. Science is about crawling toward the
truth over time. - Scott Adams, 2015-2-2
Sally Thompson
2018-11-16 11:22:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
In message
Post by SODAM
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by krw
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
I had a similar one asking if I was still receiving unwanted
marketing calls, and responded that, since they were speaking to
me, this was evidently the case. I think they hung up.
I am getting quite a lot of recorded messages - usually the same
recording - from lots of spoofed numbers claiming that I am about
to be disconnected from the Internet.
Upon hitting "1", I then I generally hear an Asian voice with a
British sounding name claiming to be from BT. I have played along
with some of them for a while.
One wanted me to type "my 1p address" into Google search because
my “IP is being misused over the last couple of weeks” and that
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
I had a call this morning, purporting to be from a Talktalk employee , who
asked for me by name. I told the Asian lady that I wasn’t me- the lady of
that name had moved house some years ago. She repeated the question several
times, got the same reply and finally hung up.
Later in the day an Australian woman rang and told me my internet was about
to be disconnected. I replied, “Shall we just cut to the chase? I’ll let
you control my computer, give you my bank account details and you can empty
my bank account. Would that help?” She hung up.
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
Maybe shouting out in a loud voice, apparently to someone else in the room,
"Tony, can you put a trace on this call?" would be satisfying.
--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Mike
2018-11-16 11:36:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sally Thompson
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
In message
Post by SODAM
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by krw
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
I had a similar one asking if I was still receiving unwanted
marketing calls, and responded that, since they were speaking to
me, this was evidently the case. I think they hung up.
I am getting quite a lot of recorded messages - usually the same
recording - from lots of spoofed numbers claiming that I am about
to be disconnected from the Internet.
Upon hitting "1", I then I generally hear an Asian voice with a
British sounding name claiming to be from BT. I have played along
with some of them for a while.
One wanted me to type "my 1p address" into Google search because
my “IP is being misused over the last couple of weeks” and that
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
I had a call this morning, purporting to be from a Talktalk employee , who
asked for me by name. I told the Asian lady that I wasn’t me- the lady of
that name had moved house some years ago. She repeated the question several
times, got the same reply and finally hung up.
Later in the day an Australian woman rang and told me my internet was about
to be disconnected. I replied, “Shall we just cut to the chase? I’ll let
you control my computer, give you my bank account details and you can empty
my bank account. Would that help?” She hung up.
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
Maybe shouting out in a loud voice, apparently to someone else in the room,
"Tony, can you put a trace on this call?" would be satisfying.
Or perhaps the name should be Hal...
--
Toodle Pip
krw
2018-11-16 14:39:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Sally Thompson
Maybe shouting out in a loud voice, apparently to someone else in the room,
"Tony, can you put a trace on this call?" would be satisfying.
Or perhaps the name should be Hal...
Does Alexa work?
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
Mike
2018-11-16 15:06:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by Mike
Post by Sally Thompson
Maybe shouting out in a loud voice, apparently to someone else in the room,
"Tony, can you put a trace on this call?" would be satisfying.
Or perhaps the name should be Hal...
Does Alexa work?
Shss, she’s listening!
--
Toodle Pip
SODAM
2018-11-16 13:04:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sally Thompson
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
In message
Post by SODAM
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by krw
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
I had a similar one asking if I was still receiving unwanted
marketing calls, and responded that, since they were speaking to
me, this was evidently the case. I think they hung up.
I am getting quite a lot of recorded messages - usually the same
recording - from lots of spoofed numbers claiming that I am about
to be disconnected from the Internet.
Upon hitting "1", I then I generally hear an Asian voice with a
British sounding name claiming to be from BT. I have played along
with some of them for a while.
One wanted me to type "my 1p address" into Google search because
my “IP is being misused over the last couple of weeks” and that
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
I had a call this morning, purporting to be from a Talktalk employee , who
asked for me by name. I told the Asian lady that I wasn’t me- the lady of
that name had moved house some years ago. She repeated the question several
times, got the same reply and finally hung up.
Later in the day an Australian woman rang and told me my internet was about
to be disconnected. I replied, “Shall we just cut to the chase? I’ll let
you control my computer, give you my bank account details and you can empty
my bank account. Would that help?” She hung up.
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
Maybe shouting out in a loud voice, apparently to someone else in the room,
"Tony, can you put a trace on this call?" would be satisfying.
:-)) I like that one. Thank you, Sally. I’ll use that next time.
--
SODAM
The thinking umrat’s choice for editor
Sally Thompson
2018-11-16 14:39:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by SODAM
Post by Sally Thompson
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
In message
Post by SODAM
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by krw
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
I had a similar one asking if I was still receiving unwanted
marketing calls, and responded that, since they were speaking to
me, this was evidently the case. I think they hung up.
I am getting quite a lot of recorded messages - usually the same
recording - from lots of spoofed numbers claiming that I am about
to be disconnected from the Internet.
Upon hitting "1", I then I generally hear an Asian voice with a
British sounding name claiming to be from BT. I have played along
with some of them for a while.
One wanted me to type "my 1p address" into Google search because
my “IP is being misused over the last couple of weeks” and that
their BT Servers had detected this. They claimed that, since it
didn't show my actual information, it was because I had been
hacked. I disbelieved them, and asked them for evidence that they
were from BT. This is generally the point they hang up.
My ISP is Virgin. ;-)
Chris
I had a call this morning, purporting to be from a Talktalk employee , who
asked for me by name. I told the Asian lady that I wasn’t me- the lady of
that name had moved house some years ago. She repeated the question several
times, got the same reply and finally hung up.
Later in the day an Australian woman rang and told me my internet was about
to be disconnected. I replied, “Shall we just cut to the chase? I’ll let
you control my computer, give you my bank account details and you can empty
my bank account. Would that help?” She hung up.
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
Maybe shouting out in a loud voice, apparently to someone else in the room,
"Tony, can you put a trace on this call?" would be satisfying.
:-)) I like that one. Thank you, Sally. I’ll use that next time.
I also have a bosun's whistle by the phone and have been known to blow it
very loudly down the phone. Deeply satisfying.
--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2018-11-16 15:05:07 UTC
Permalink
In message <***@mid.individual.net>, Sally Thompson
<***@gmail.com.invalid> writes:
[]
Post by Sally Thompson
I also have a bosun's whistle by the phone and have been known to blow it
very loudly down the phone. Deeply satisfying.
But that only affects the poor sod in the scammer's call centre, who -
especially if in India etc. - is probably on pennies a day. Yes, my
sympathy for such a person is decidedly limited, but how many of us can
_honestly_ say we wouldn't take such a job if we were living in the
poverty common in some of these countries. (It's cognate with
collaborators in occupied places [like the Channel Islands during the
war]: IMO, no-one who wasn't _there_ should condemn.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

User Error: Replace user, hit any key to continue.
Phil
2018-11-16 13:56:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
I _really_ feel there ought to be a number one can call - on one's
mobile (or landline, depending which the call came in on) - to say "I've
got a scammer on my line", so they could trace it. I know many of them
are from abroad, but I'd have thought enough (even 2-3%, and I think
it'd be more than that) could be traced by this means that it'd be
worthwhile.
The nonsense of only being able to trace the call while it continues, so
beloved of TV drama writers, went out years ago. Nowadays, all
exchanges keep records of all calls, so that the company knows who is
going to pay.

I think we've covered this before.
--
Phil
Liverpool, UK
krw
2018-11-15 21:23:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by SODAM
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
it out on someone. If I am wasting their time then they are not
scamming the less able (although they seem not to want to scam those
over 85 for some reason).

I assume at some point they will stop earning enough money to make it
worthwhile.
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
Vicky Ayech
2018-11-15 22:07:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by SODAM
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
Gosh, that's very modern. Is it like the Louis Theroux documentary?
There were throuples in that. And for umra tv club, I didn't think it
was a good documentary really. It wanted to find sexual details for
thrills and to show the people in those life styles as in some way
unhappy or damaged.
Post by krw
it out on someone. If I am wasting their time then they are not
scamming the less able (although they seem not to want to scam those
over 85 for some reason).
I assume at some point they will stop earning enough money to make it
worthwhile.
steveski
2018-11-16 00:33:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by Vicky Ayech
Post by krw
Post by SODAM
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
Gosh, that's very modern. Is it like the Louis Theroux documentary?
There were throuples in that. And for umra tv club, I didn't think it
was a good documentary really. It wanted to find sexual details for
thrills and to show the people in those life styles as in some way
unhappy or damaged.
Is this Lynda and Lee misunderstanding stuff?
--
Steveski
krw
2018-11-16 08:56:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by Vicky Ayech
Post by krw
Post by SODAM
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
Gosh, that's very modern. Is it like the Louis Theroux documentary?
There were throuples in that. And for umra tv club, I didn't think it
was a good documentary really. It wanted to find sexual details for
thrills and to show the people in those life styles as in some way
unhappy or damaged.
For clarification the replacement husband type person is called Lorraine
and has had a hard old year, divorce, moving, builders (not entirely
reliable type) and was the first person available of those asked if they
felt like being a substitute who was able to say yes as they had no
conflicting appointments. If I had been told a couple of weeks earlier
that you needed four weeks between operation and flying we could have
cancelled the trip with only a partial loss of money, but by the time it
was mentioned it was a case of losing everything and much better someone
went with wofe than no-one at all.
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
agsmith578688@gmail.com Tony Smith Prestbury Glos.
2018-11-16 09:09:50 UTC
Permalink
Best wishes to all three of you.
Chris McMillan
2018-11-16 09:19:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by krw
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
For clarification the replacement husband type person is called Lorraine
and has had a hard old year, divorce, moving, builders (not entirely
reliable type) and was the first person available of those asked if they
felt like being a substitute who was able to say yes as they had no
conflicting appointments. If I had been told a couple of weeks earlier
that you needed four weeks between operation and flying we could have
cancelled the trip with only a partial loss of money, but by the time it
was mentioned it was a case of losing everything and much better someone
went with wofe than no-one at all.
How galling!

Sincerely Chris
krw
2018-11-16 09:22:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris McMillan
Post by krw
Post by krw
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
For clarification the replacement husband type person is called Lorraine
and has had a hard old year, divorce, moving, builders (not entirely
reliable type) and was the first person available of those asked if they
felt like being a substitute who was able to say yes as they had no
conflicting appointments. If I had been told a couple of weeks earlier
that you needed four weeks between operation and flying we could have
cancelled the trip with only a partial loss of money, but by the time it
was mentioned it was a case of losing everything and much better someone
went with wofe than no-one at all.
How galling!
Sincerely Chris
Good grief - are you sure that is not Mike in disguise?
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
Chris McMillan
2018-11-16 15:48:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by Chris McMillan
Post by krw
Post by krw
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
For clarification the replacement husband type person is called Lorraine
and has had a hard old year, divorce, moving, builders (not entirely
reliable type) and was the first person available of those asked if they
felt like being a substitute who was able to say yes as they had no
conflicting appointments. If I had been told a couple of weeks earlier
that you needed four weeks between operation and flying we could have
cancelled the trip with only a partial loss of money, but by the time it
was mentioned it was a case of losing everything and much better someone
went with wofe than no-one at all.
How galling!
Sincerely Chris
Good grief - are you sure that is not Mike in disguise?
Nope, all my own work.

Sincerely Chris
Nick Odell
2018-11-16 09:24:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by Vicky Ayech
Post by krw
Post by SODAM
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
Gosh, that's very modern. Is it like the Louis Theroux documentary?
There were throuples in that.  And for umra tv club, I didn't think it
was a good documentary really. It wanted to find sexual details for
thrills and to show the people in those life styles as in some way
unhappy or damaged.
For clarification the replacement husband type person is called Lorraine
and has had a hard old year, divorce, moving, builders (not entirely
reliable type) and was the first person available of those asked if they
felt like being a substitute who was able to say yes as they had no
conflicting appointments.  If I had been told a couple of weeks earlier
that you needed four weeks between operation and flying we could have
cancelled the trip with only a partial loss of money, but by the time it
was mentioned it was a case of losing everything and much better someone
went with wofe than no-one at all.
Look: just don't tell my friend that your wife has flown off with
another woman. His wife has just flown off with another woman and he's a
bit sensitive about it.

Nick
Vicky Ayech
2018-11-16 10:11:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by Vicky Ayech
Post by krw
Post by SODAM
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
Gosh, that's very modern. Is it like the Louis Theroux documentary?
There were throuples in that. And for umra tv club, I didn't think it
was a good documentary really. It wanted to find sexual details for
thrills and to show the people in those life styles as in some way
unhappy or damaged.
For clarification the replacement husband type person is called Lorraine
and has had a hard old year, divorce, moving, builders (not entirely
reliable type) and was the first person available of those asked if they
felt like being a substitute who was able to say yes as they had no
conflicting appointments. If I had been told a couple of weeks earlier
that you needed four weeks between operation and flying we could have
cancelled the trip with only a partial loss of money, but by the time it
was mentioned it was a case of losing everything and much better someone
went with wofe than no-one at all.
Well, the replacement being female would still make a throuple for
some people, although Theroux only covered m/f as far as a forgetful
OAP can recall. He kept going into bedrooms! It was icky.

Anyway I hope Wofe and Lorraine have a lovely holiday and that the
latter can unwind and feel better. Did you say where they are? And you
are not :( . Could you have a treat day here instead?
krw
2018-11-16 10:28:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Vicky Ayech
Did you say where they are? And you
are not:( . Could you have a treat day here instead?
They are in Gran Canaria and fb (spit) shows that it is sunny.

I was planning to go to the theatre but the guards are (rightly as I
support having two properly safety trained people on trains) on strike
tomorrow. I may go on Tuesday.

In the meantime I am listening to some old recordings (listening in the
sense of it is on in the background) of umrat Mike Brown from his
Redruth Radio days and when I get back later I may well listen to his
broadcast from CHBN this afternoon. He is doing live requests from
15:00 so I may ask for something a little unusual!
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
agsmith578688@gmail.com Tony Smith Prestbury Glos.
2018-11-16 11:06:12 UTC
Permalink
t

<snipped>
Post by krw
They are in Gran Canaria and fb (spit) shows that it is sunny.
It always (twice out of two) rains on The Mountains of the Interior of Grand Canary. Avoid that excursion.

We have been to GC a few times. One year Jill stayed in Puerto de Mogan village for the Saturday Market (she found it was rubbish) and I took a sequence of buses to Las Palmas. It too was not worth the effort. I saw the anthropological museum (Pitt Rivers in Oxford is better) and the cathedral (Gloucester is better). Both were near the bus-station and open all day, but then the shops (incuding a big bookshop) were closing for a full spanish-style siesta. The village shops had been staying open.

Another year we both went to both the market and capital city and confirmed one another's impressions.
krw
2018-11-16 14:41:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by ***@gmail.com Tony Smith Prestbury Glos.
stayed in Puerto de Mogan village
We have previously stayed in that destination (but not for the market)
and had a very nice week; it was June and therefore out of "season" so
was relatively quiet with a good proportion of the restaurants closed
down. All rather nice.
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
agsmith578688@gmail.com Tony Smith Prestbury Glos.
2018-11-16 16:24:00 UTC
Permalink
Yes, we like P de M.
Nick Odell
2018-11-16 11:18:41 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by Vicky Ayech
Did you say where they are? And you
are not:(  . Could you have a treat day here instead?
They are in Gran Canaria and fb (spit) shows that it is sunny.
I was planning to go to the theatre but the guards are (rightly as I
support having two properly safety trained people on trains) on strike
tomorrow.  I may go on Tuesday.
In the meantime I am listening to some old recordings (listening in the
sense of it is on in the background) of umrat Mike Brown from his
Redruth Radio days and when I get back later I may well listen to his
broadcast from CHBN this afternoon.  He is doing live requests from
15:00 so I may ask for something a little unusual!
Given that you are coping at home on your own, how about "Dimming of the
Day"?

(This old house is falling down around my ears.....)

Nick
Chris J Dixon
2018-11-16 12:46:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
Given that you are coping at home on your own, how about "Dimming of the
Day"?
(This old house is falling down around my ears.....)
I have 7 different recording of that track on my system, but it's
not exactly uplifting is it?

It is hard to imagine how the pair of them actually managed to
get through the Shoot Out the Lights tour, the flavour of which
is conveyed by this:

“Linda kicked Richard in the shins during a guitar solo in
Providence and threw a bottle at him in the Buffalo airport, but
sang with an intensity I’d never heard before. Gone was the
hesitant tone; the heartbreaking ballads poured out of her and
mesmerized audiences. The band, meanwhile, kept their heads down
and amazed the Yanks with their precision and power. Richard was
his usual genius self, only more so.”

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk
Plant amazing Acers.
krw
2018-11-16 14:43:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
Post by krw
Post by Vicky Ayech
Did you say where they are? And you
are not:(  . Could you have a treat day here instead?
They are in Gran Canaria and fb (spit) shows that it is sunny.
I was planning to go to the theatre but the guards are (rightly as I
support having two properly safety trained people on trains) on strike
tomorrow.  I may go on Tuesday.
In the meantime I am listening to some old recordings (listening in
the sense of it is on in the background) of umrat Mike Brown from his
Redruth Radio days and when I get back later I may well listen to his
broadcast from CHBN this afternoon.  He is doing live requests from
15:00 so I may ask for something a little unusual!
Given that you are coping at home on your own, how about "Dimming of the
Day"?
(This old house is falling down around my ears.....)
Nick
If you are listening I have actually asked for either Joan Baez or
Emmylou Harris so you know where to go to hear if I have been successful.
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
Chris McMillan
2018-11-16 15:51:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by Vicky Ayech
Did you say where they are? And you
are not:( . Could you have a treat day here instead?
They are in Gran Canaria and fb (spit) shows that it is sunny.
I was planning to go to the theatre but the guards are (rightly as I
support having two properly safety trained people on trains) on strike
tomorrow. I may go on Tuesday.
In the meantime I am listening to some old recordings (listening in the
sense of it is on in the background) of umrat Mike Brown from his
Redruth Radio days and when I get back later I may well listen to his
broadcast from CHBN this afternoon. He is doing live requests from
15:00 so I may ask for something a little unusual!
Good on you!

Sincerely Chris
Flop
2018-11-16 16:16:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by Vicky Ayech
Post by krw
Post by Vicky Ayech
Post by krw
Post by SODAM
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
Gosh, that's very modern. Is it like the Louis Theroux documentary?
There were throuples in that. And for umra tv club, I didn't think it
was a good documentary really. It wanted to find sexual details for
thrills and to show the people in those life styles as in some way
unhappy or damaged.
For clarification the replacement husband type person is called Lorraine
and has had a hard old year, divorce, moving, builders (not entirely
reliable type) and was the first person available of those asked if they
felt like being a substitute who was able to say yes as they had no
conflicting appointments. If I had been told a couple of weeks earlier
that you needed four weeks between operation and flying we could have
cancelled the trip with only a partial loss of money, but by the time it
was mentioned it was a case of losing everything and much better someone
went with wofe than no-one at all.
Well, the replacement being female would still make a throuple for
some people, although Theroux only covered m/f as far as a forgetful
OAP can recall. He kept going into bedrooms! It was icky.
Anyway I hope Wofe and Lorraine have a lovely holiday and that the
latter can unwind and feel better. Did you say where they are? And you
are not :( . Could you have a treat day here instead?
If I am busy, I usually deter callers by asking for a UK address and
phone number.

This is effective 95% of the time.

On only one occasion have I been supplied with both a number and address
[by an Indian Microsoft engineer] which, when I checked later, were genuine.

That of TPS :-)
--
Flop

I find it ironic that the colours red, white, and blue stand for freedom
until they are flashing behind you
Chris McMillan
2018-11-16 09:19:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
Post by SODAM
Sometimes one feels like playing but often times it is an annoying
interruption.
I rarely play along but having been up at 5:30 to deliver wofe and
replacement husband type person to the airport this morning to go on my
planned holiday I was feeling somewhat out of sorts and needed to take
it out on someone. If I am wasting their time then they are not
scamming the less able (although they seem not to want to scam those
over 85 for some reason).
I assume at some point they will stop earning enough money to make it
worthwhile.
I suspect they go on to scam the ‘carer’, though stepma was seeing off
phone and door scammers till last year.

I disconnected her handset when she moved as the answerphone is embedded in
it. I wonder what scammers are doing now (not).

Sincerely Chris
Chris McMillan
2018-11-16 09:19:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by krw
As you get older you fall victim to these scams so I spent some time
this morning protecting such people.
A caller from the Telephone Preference Management team called to offer
me an upgrade to block all nuisance calls including International ones.
I said that was kind of him.
In a new twist he asked if I was over 85 or not; I declined to answer
but it appears the scammers have decided that 85 is a magic break point
and everyone over that age needs a carer who has to give the
authorisation that he was seeking from me.
I felt I should point out that age was unimportant but that he should be
asking if there was any form of a power of attorney in place as that is
the legal defining element requiring to be ascertained, not an
individual's age. He did not seem to grasp the distinction but I
assured him I was the only person responsible in the house (well the
wofe has b******* off to Gran Canaria, I was supposed to go but am
grounded). He then asked me for the expiry date on my debit card. I lied.
At this point apparently he was insistent he had to pass me over to his
supervisor a very excited young man who was talking so quickly I did not
comprehend that he wanted £21.99 for this upgraded service, although he
promised me (repeatedly) that he would not charge me again in future
weeks, months or years (which I suppose was kind).
He was going so quickly and was so excitable that we had to go through
it again at a much slower pace (I told him that I was very old and just
could not keep up).
He then asked for the customer id numbers on my debit card below my name
- which he quoted to me and I quoted back something different to what
was on the card. I said that I was not in the habit of giving out
personal information and he told me that these numbers are not personal
information as they appear on bank statements, cheques and so on.
So I established the facts but he seemed to be a little wound up so I
had to ask him several times to stop shouting at me.
At this point I asked him to understand that he was offering me a
service and that whilst I was pleased I was not giving him the long card
number it was not possible for me to give him the numbers he had
requested. As he was providing a service I asked him to follow English
contractual law and to send me details of the service he was providing
and an invoice, or indeed an invoice with all of the details thereon.
Once received I would send a cheque.
He responded offering me a confirmation of the arrangement once he had
my £21.99 and I said that I needed full details and invoice and I would
happily send a cheque.
He seemed to think I was wasting his time and after a few more exchanges
he hung up on me.
Luckily I was a bit bored today. Normally I cannot be bothered. Little
things please ancient pensioners.
Guaranteed Telephone? Their monthly spam charge being that for which
stepma fell for, and appeared on RipOff Britain the other week.

Nice one K.rW, sorry you had to stsy in the damp and wet.

Sincerely Chris

Sincerely Chris
Loading...