Stop Unwanted Contacts
How can I stop companies contacting me by phone, post or email?
Cold calling, leaflet drops and door-to-door selling can be a great way for local traders to make people aware of their goods and services, but they can sometimes be a nuisance. These methods can also be exploited by rogue traders and scammers, so protect yourself by following a few basic tips.
Doorstep sales
- No means no!
If you're not interested say so firmly and politely. Doorstep sales people are committing an offence if they refuse to take no for an answer. - Don't let them in.
Some scammers may try to keep you distracted at the front door while an accomplice slips into your home through another door or an open window. Be suspicious of anyone who seems anxious or wants to keep you talking.
If you're fed up of people knocking at your front door trying to sell you goods or services, download and print off our poster.
Cold Calls
- Don't suffer in silence
Companies use automated systems to make outgoing calls, and when there isn't an operator available you may get a 'silent call'. Guidance says that in this case companies should play an information message. Silent calls should be reported to Ofcom as nuisance calls. - Contact your provider
Your telephone provider may be able to offer help to minimise nuisance calls, such as call blocking and anonymous call rejection.
You can register with the Telephone Preference Service to block unwanted calls. This is a free service, and there is a legal duty on all organisations that they do not make unsolicited calls to registered numbers.
Junk Mail
- Cut the clutter #1
The amount of unsolicited post that is addressed to us often swamps the genuine mail, to say nothing of the difficulties in getting your front door open. You can make life easier for yourself - and your postman - by registering for the Mail Preference Service. This is a free service, and will mean that members of the Direct Marketing Association will cease sending you unsolicited mail. - Cut the clutter #2
Which just leaves all the unaddressed mail that cascades onto our doormats. Nailing up the letterbox is perhaps not the most practical solution, but Royal Mail will allow you to opt out of receiving unaddressed mail (be warned - this will affect all unaddressed items). You can get more information here. - Cut the clutter #3
Now that the torrent of junk mail has slowed to a trickle we're left with a few isolated puddles of hand-delivered flyers and leaflets. If you want to discourage this kind of mail, you could use a sign on your door or window. This is a handy resource that helps you to create your own sign.
Is it a scam?
However people may contact you, you should ensure that you're dealing with legitimate companies. Cold calling is a favourite technique for con artists trying to get hold of your personal information or bank details. Be wary of callers claiming to be phoning on behalf of your bank, utility company or a debt advice company. They may not be the real thing, especially if they want you to give them personal information over the phone - information that they would already know if they were genuine. There have even been some recent callers claiming to represent the CAB - no genuine CAB adviser would ever phone someone out of the blue.
If you're contacted by a company which raises suspicions, you can report it by contacting Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at www.actionfraud.org.uk/report_fraud
Useful Links
Phone
- Stopping nuisance calls
- Top tips for stopping marketing texts, calls and emails
- Money Saving Expert: Stop Junk Calls
- Telephone Preference Service