Preventing unwanted or malicious calls
There are different types of unwanted calls – those that are known as marketing ‘cold’ calls from companies normally trying to sell you something or a malicious, indecent or grossly offensive call which is a criminal offence.
Marketing 'cold' calling
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) runs two free registration schemes designed to reduce the amount of unwanted phone calls and fax calls that you receive from sales and marketing organisations based in the UK.
By registering your telephone and/or fax line with them, the DMA can ensure that your number is no longer available to organisations, including charities and voluntary bodies, who might telephone you with offers and information you do not want to receive. Their contact details are as follows:
Telephone Preference Service (TPS)
Phone: 0345 070 0707
Email: tps@dma.org.uk
Website: www.tpsonline.org.uk
Facsimile Preference Service (FPS)
Phone: 0345 070 0702
Email: fps@dma.org.uk
Website: www.fpsonline.org.uk
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) www.dma.org.uk is also a source of useful information.
Still getting calls?
For more information as to why you may still be getting even though you are registered with TPS, please visit their website http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/stillgetcalls.html.
Further information, including details of how to complain about unwanted sales calls, is available.
Write to
Data Protection Office
PO Box 642
Frances House
Sir William Place
St Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 3JE
Call
+44(0)1481 742074
Email
dataprotection@gov.gg
Website www.dataprotection.gov.gg
Calls from Sure
We value your opinion and from time to time we may call valued customers for a quick feedback survey to help up to improve our services in the future. If someone from Sure is calling, they will introduce themselves and say that they are calling from Sure. If you are unsure of someone's identity, it is usually best to refrain from giving out any personal details over the phone.
Malicious, indecent or grossly offensive calls
Making a malicious, indecent or grossly offensive call is a criminal offence. Although rare, if you are a victim, please read the information below or call us on 01481 700700 where we will do all we can to help you.
There are some basic initial precautions you can take that may be of help:
1.If you are in doubt about the caller, do not give your name, address or telephone number. This will help deter nuisance callers - who sometimes dial at random - from calling you again.
2. If the phone rings again immediately after you have ended your call, do not speak first. A genuine caller will be quite willing to speak first and to give you details about themselves.
3. If you have an answering machine, be sure not to leave your name or telephone number in the answer message.
4. If you suffer from malicious calls, we can arrange a change of number. Please call the Customer Support Centre to arrange this.
5. Malicious, abusive or threatening calls, whether from people you know or from strangers, are a criminal offence.
6. If the caller is making direct threats to you or your family and you believe those threats to be real and immediate, call 999 straight away.
7. If you believe that the threats are not immediate, then you should call the police on their non-emergency number.
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