A new way to block nuisance calls

You’ve just sat down to eat dinner in peace when all of a sudden the phone rings. You rush to the phone – only to realise it’s someone trying to sell you unwanted double glazing, loft insulation or PPI.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. For many people, nuisance calls can be an almost daily disruption, turning the sound of a ringing phone into a source of stress and anxiety.

Ofcom – the official communications watchdog – found that almost half of all adults with a landline received a silent call in 2012, 71% had a live marketing call and 63% had picked up to hear a recorded marketing message.¹ At BT we get over 50,000 calls to our Nuisance Calls Advice line every month.

What are ‘nuisance’ calls?

What makes nuisance calls so difficult to stop is that they come in many different forms.

Unwanted sales and marketing calls are probably the most well-known. These might be cold calls – like the double glazing call from a company you’ve never dealt with before. Others are follow-up calls based on something you’ve previously bought, ordered or enquired about. Some of these are legitimate – but many are not.

You might also have received recorded messages or silent calls. These can seem sinister but are usually caused by automatic dialling equipment in call centres.

Some unwanted calls are malicious and some are simply mistakes – but if someone is repeatedly misdialling your number and asking for someone you’ve never heard of, it can be just as disruptive.

How the BT6500 can help

Our new home phone – the BT6500 – helps you combat all these types of nuisance calls.

With just a few clicks through the menu on a BT6500 handset you can choose the calls you want to receive – and those you don’t.

1) If you’re getting unwanted sales calls, you can choose to block:

• Withheld numbers
• Anonymous calls (no caller ID)
• International numbers
• Payphones

The phone won’t ring and the call will go straight to answerphone – so if it’s someone you do want to hear from they can just leave you a message.

2) If there’s a specific company or person that’s hassling you, you can block up to 10 specific numbers – and you won’t get the call at all.

3) If you simply want some peace and quiet, you can switch on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode. The phone won’t ring or light up – but if you want key friends or family to get through to you, you can simply tag them as VIPs in the phone’s contact list.

This system blocks up to 80% of all nuisance and unwanted calls² – meaning you can get on with your life without wasting time constantly racing to the phone. For homeworkers, people with disabilities and the elderly, the chance to take back control is especially important.

For homeworkers, people with disabilities and the elderly, the chance to take back control is especially important. This system blocks up to 80% of all nuisance and unwanted calls² – meaning you can get on with your life without wasting time constantly racing to the phone.

Find out more

Help and advice

You can get more tips on stopping unwanted calls on our Help pages or at BT Including You, or by calling the BT Nuisance Call Advice Line on 0800 661 441.

¹ Ofcom Consumer Experience Report for 2012, published Jan 2013.
² Based on BT’s Nuisance Calls Advice line data for 2012 (up to 80% of international, withheld nuisance calls and specific UK numbers could be blocked).