Kitz Forum

Chat => Tech Chat => Topic started by: snadge on August 30, 2021, 12:39:47 PM

Title: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: snadge on August 30, 2021, 12:39:47 PM
Hi All

Im asking on behalf of my father who says he gets many several nuisance & scam calls per day even though he is on TPS (obviously scammers dont adhere to that) - he is moving ISP soon (as he has done every 18 months) and is not only wanting advice on other ISPs at 40/10 other than NOW and PLUSNET as he's tried them and wants to try something new, but reliable.

Anyway, his main concern was preventing the nuisance calls, BT (as a phone service) claim they can stop 100% of nuisance calls, but the reviewer said their other stuff left a lot to be desired (crap), and recommended the Panasonic KX-TGH260 or, even better, the Gigaset C570A handsets.

do any of our users have this problem and what is your fix?

thanks in advance :)
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: maxheadroom on August 30, 2021, 12:51:01 PM
I am with Talk Talk on their FTTC Fibre 65 80/20 package and their free Call Safe is brilliant, we never get scam or nuisance calls any more -

They also offer a Fibre 35 FTTC 38Mbps package - https://new.talktalk.co.uk/broadband/fibre



Every time you get a call, CallSafe will automatically check the number to make sure it’s someone you want to hear from. Regularly dialed numbers like friends and family, will be put straight through. For any new callers, CallSafe will:

1. Check to see if the number is on a list of unwanted callers. If so, it’s automatically blocked and your home phone never rings.

2. Manage any other callers with an extra step. It will ask the caller to record a short introduction before your phone rings. You’ll hear this message when you pick up your home phone and have the choice to either answer, ignore, or block the call.

CallSafe needs no extra kit, simply dial 1472 to turn it on and leave the rest to us. If you want, you can view and manage your approved and blocked callers through My Account or by calling 1472. Or you can let CallSafe manage it, giving you one less thing to worry about.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: chenks on August 30, 2021, 12:52:32 PM
BT (as a phone service) claim they can stop 100% of nuisance calls,

i'd be surprised if that's what they actually said, as it would be impossiblle to stop 100% of them, much in the same way that cleaning product can't say they kill 100% of germs.

as above, the only way to block every scam call is to block any call that isn't on your approved list, which could also block non scam calls (ie legitimate calls from doctors, banks who can call from withheld numbers or non geographical number etc who won't "leave a message" due to security)
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: maxheadroom on August 30, 2021, 01:40:47 PM
If you want to stay with your current ISP you could buy a true call box see video below.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224590202156?hash=item344a9e852c:g:URAAAOSw1f1hECsM

https://youtu.be/s7TtnfVLNFI
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: maxheadroom on August 30, 2021, 01:47:59 PM
I have just edited my earlier post to add -

I am with Talk Talk on their FTTC Fibre 65 80/20 package and their free Call Safe is brilliant, we never get scam or nuisance calls any more -

They also offer a Fibre 35 FTTC 38Mbps package - https://new.talktalk.co.uk/broadband/fibre
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: licquorice on August 30, 2021, 03:09:44 PM
No service provider can block calls reliably by blacklisting the only way is whitelisting via a call blocking system or phone such as described by @maxheadroom which only allows whitelisted numbers through without being interrogated.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: broadstairs on August 30, 2021, 03:16:25 PM
That's fine while you are on FTTC but once on FTTP with TT there is no phone and no call safe as they do not do VOIP so you need another method.

Stuart
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: jelv on August 30, 2021, 04:24:36 PM
... but once on FTTP with TT there is no phone and no call safe as they do not do VOIP...

Yet!

If they don't provide a way for people to have a phone without using another supplier they will lose a lot of custom to ISPs that do offer VoIP.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: j0hn on August 30, 2021, 04:29:07 PM
Yet!

If they don't provide a way for people to have a phone without using another supplier they will lose a lot of custom to ISPs that do offer VoIP.

Still yet to trial a VOIP service and none of their CPE supports it.
I don't think they are in any rush or seem too worried about it.

I had to agree that I had sufficient mobile coverage in the event of an emergency etc.
It's very much the minority who use a landline now.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: broadstairs on August 30, 2021, 05:10:35 PM
I must admit that no landline would not bother me as we have reasonable mobile coverage but 'she who must be obeyed' is adamant about the house phone which does get used.

Stuart
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: meritez on August 30, 2021, 07:15:36 PM
That's fine while you are on FTTC but once on FTTP with TT there is no phone and no call safe as they do not do VOIP so you need another method.

Stuart

https://www.comms-dealer.com/industry-news/talktalk-business-acquires-tipicall-and-disrupts-market-free-sip-offer

Quote
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 - 09:18
TalkTalk Business is on a mission to shake-up the wholesale SIP market with a free offer following the acquisition of SIP and hosted carrier tIPicall.

They do VoIP, just need to get hold of Guy Miller, Director of Next Generation Voice Services at TalkTalk Business.

If he still works there of course.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: jelv on August 30, 2021, 09:12:53 PM
It's very much the minority who use a landline now.
Have you figures to back up that assertion?

While all outgoing calls my wife and I make are using our mobiles, more of our incoming calls are to our landline than our mobiles. That's because we don't have any calls package and only pay basic line rental and use the free calls included with the data allowance on our mobiles. When family call they are happy to speak to either my wife or I so it makes more sense for them to call the landline. I know a number of people who do the same.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: benji09 on August 30, 2021, 10:26:42 PM

  I am getting a morning scam call from India every day on my old BT/Sky phone line. The only thing that stops the problem is an answering machine set to answer after one ring. As I have mentioned before in the past, I never get a scam on my Sipgate V.O.I.P line.....
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: Alex Atkin UK on August 30, 2021, 10:56:20 PM
I never get calls on my SIPgate lines at all, lol.  I'm really surprised they didn't terminate my accounts as I left them unused for years and only recently have them permanently logged in.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: jelv on August 30, 2021, 11:42:13 PM
Ditto.

I had a Sipgate line for business use, but haven't used it since I retired. When I saw that the Zen supplied Fritz box could be used along with a standard wired handset I thought what the ****, and set it up.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: j0hn on August 31, 2021, 09:54:38 AM
https://www.comms-dealer.com/industry-news/talktalk-business-acquires-tipicall-and-disrupts-market-free-sip-offer

They do VoIP, just need to get hold of Guy Miller, Director of Next Generation Voice Services at TalkTalk Business.

Talktalk Business do indeed do VOIP. You don't need to get hold of anyone special to order it.
We were discussing Talktalk residential.

Talktalk residential only offer OpenReach FTTP as data only.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: Chrysalis on September 02, 2021, 06:55:22 AM
No service provider can block calls reliably by blacklisting the only way is whitelisting via a call blocking system or phone such as described by @maxheadroom which only allows whitelisted numbers through without being interrogated.

Indeed.

I have a phone I got from BT which seemed to work quite well, its a BT 8600, any number not in the contact list has to leave a message after also a short wait it only then rings, I found places like my GP were happy enough to do that, and I went through a long period with no ringing from scammers.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: snadge on September 04, 2021, 05:31:20 PM
I never get calls on my SIPgate lines at all, lol.  I'm really surprised they didn't terminate my accounts as I left them unused for years and only recently have them permanently logged in.

thanks for the replies everyone, im sure my dads had a look, I've mentioned the 'call-box' thing, and advised a whitelist - but (as mentioned) this would stop GP's, banks etc and any official business that withholds numbers, i NEVER answer withheld numbers myself - i go out on the basis if they have something to hide, then so do I - tata...

thanks

EDIT: I forgot to ask.. what is  SIPgate line?
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: g3uiss on September 04, 2021, 05:37:48 PM
Sipgate. VOIP provider https://www.sipgate.co.uk/

Basic and easy to setup. I have a single number here using a Cisco ATA box. Very simple
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: snadge on September 05, 2021, 11:14:08 AM
If you want to stay with your current ISP you could buy a true call box see video below.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224590202156?hash=item344a9e852c:g:URAAAOSw1f1hECsM

https://youtu.be/s7TtnfVLNFI

my dad is thinking of getting this, does it have any affect on yer internet, he is on 40/10 with plenty overheads
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: maxheadroom on September 05, 2021, 12:30:08 PM
Quote
my dad is thinking of getting this, does it have any affect on yer internet, he is on 40/10 with plenty overheads

I honestly don't see how it would effect it its just a box between the master socket and phone, i am sure other members with much more knowledge will advise.

Have a look through the reviews here most are 5* so i don't think it can be a problem -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TrueCall-The-Nuisance-Call-Blocker-White-Silver/product-reviews/B002GP7HQM?reviewerType=all_reviews
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: snadge on September 07, 2021, 06:10:54 PM
ok guys n gals

I've talked them in into ridding his house phones unlimited calls for £9 a month, and Three's 3-2-1 mobile at £5 a month n i will find PAYG monthly sims for £10 or less that gives unlimited minutes- saves money, saves mess on, a single device

so now i gotta find deals after finding which network is best for his Area (indoors and outdoors + his home is built with stoned walls)

cos I've never gotten a dodgy cold call on my mobile, and as it runs an OS it isn't a one-trick pony, their TPS and apps for call nuisance, and whitelisst/blocklists directly on the fone

thanks guys
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: Alex Atkin UK on September 08, 2021, 01:26:18 AM
cos I've never gotten a dodgy cold call on my mobile

I've had a fair few, but then I kept my mobile number since the dumb phone days so its had plenty of time to circulate in dodgy databases.

I will agree its far more common on the landline though.

Good job as I ended up removing truecaller from my mobile as it got very advert heavy and they seemed to be trying to turn it into some sort of social network, not what I originally installed it for.  Plus it never seemed to work properly since Android 10.

Not sure you can do call screening on Android now though, what an app is allowed to do seems to have been pulled back for security reasons and call recording seemed to be one of those things no longer exposed to apps.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: adrianw on September 11, 2021, 03:21:09 AM
my dad is thinking of getting this, does it have any affect on yer internet, he is on 40/10 with plenty overheads
The TrueCall box does not access the internet.
It does sometimes "call home" (about 30 seconds) on the line to synchronise settings with the optional, and useful, web interface.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: 4candles on September 11, 2021, 05:55:05 AM
...i NEVER answer withheld numbers myself - i go out on the basis if they have something to hide, then so do I...

IME over the last several years the only withheld calls are from the hospital, GP, dentist etc. All the scams and spam use a spoofed number.
Title: Re: Nuisance call protection...what is the best?
Post by: Ixel on September 12, 2021, 08:49:25 AM
I use a simple IVR menu on my phone number, with just one choice. The message basically tells them to press '1' if they aren't a cold caller or telemarketer, if they don't press '1' then they won't get through to me. However, this kind of setup would either require your own PBX server (e.g. FreePBX or something like it) or alternatively a service like Flextel. It's not something for novices to setup.

Truecall or BT's handsets with this kind of technology built-in I'd say are the best choices generally, especially for a novice.