Its Consumerline spokesman estimated the cost to people acros the North computes to £100 million. But, it’s not only scam calls that are causing panic, it’s calls in general from people the householders doesn’t or isn’t expecting – and it’s always personal details they are looking for which can then be ‘sold’ on. Elderly people are receiving, on average, 60 of these unwanted calls a month, and one 91-year old woman has told how she was bombarded with calls,’14 and 15 times a day’. In the end, Dorothy Smith who is unable to walk, gave up answering her phone. In her case, it was her only link with the outside world.

 

A Derrygonnelly woman, who asked not to be named, was driven to such distraction that she had her phone taken out of service and replaced with a ‘blocker’ phone. “I used to answer these cold calls in case it was someone in need of help and, when I then discovered it was someone selling insurance or window blinds, I found that very distressing. I was getting them every day at some hour in the day, and it got so bad I had to get a ‘blocker’ phone.” This works on the system that, when a nuisance call comes in, the caller has to give their name. “If I want to speak to them, I press “1” and if I don’t, I press “3”. It has worked out great, wonderful.”

 

A Channel 4 undercover reporter discovered that ‘sales’ were conducted by the firm under the guise of carrying out a survey. According to Trading Standards, that constitutes a breach of the law. Its spokesman explained: “The fact is, if they obtain your details and they then resell or use them for a marketing campaign, they are breaking the law.” The undercover journalist said the questions he was trained to ask focused on personal finance matters, like insurance, bank accounts, occupation and salary. “From the information gathered, the computer system worked out what products could be sold.”

 

The spokesman for Trading Standards (NI) said if consumers register their telephone number with the Telephone Preference Service (www.tpsonline.org.uk), this may help. “However, calls from overseas and calls from companies that a person has agreed to receive will still get through. Likewise, registration with the Mail Preference Service (www.mpsonline.org.uk) may stop unwanted mail getting through.”