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We simply have caller ID on our landline, if we don't recognise the number it goes to answer machine. 99 times out of a hundred......."the other person has cleared"

zebbo wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:34 am We simply have caller ID on our landline, if we don't recognise the number it goes to answer machine. 99 times out of a hundred......."the other person has cleared"

That's the way to do it...and it will cut the number of nuisance calls, over time, as you will start to be taken off their lists.

If you answer a nuisance call, even if you put the phone down straight away, they will mark you as a 'number that answers' and sell your number to other nuisance callers.

I have not had any since I started this thread but am always on my guard.

I still get the occasional call from people with odd accents claiming that their name is "Brian" or "Steven" etc. who "work for Microsoft."
I tell them that I work for Microsoft too, and ask which department they're calling from. **click**

Another good method of answering is "Hello, this is Sevenoaks (or wherever you live, obviously) police station; duty sergeant speaking, how may I help you today?" Very rarely will you actually reach the end of that sentence.

My call-blocker catches most of them, but every couple of months a new batch seem to appear and require blocking. The "silent" calls are probably the most (un)popular, and the odd recorded message. I had one of those where the scammers were so lazy they didn't even bother to edit it. The phone rang and what I heard was an obviously computer-generated voice saying "Hello, this is insert company name here... and we are calling to advise you..."

I should really let them go to answerphone, but when you live on your own you'll talk to anyone.

We have been scammed by Booking.com. A £240 debit appeared on our statement for a stay at a hotel in Amsterdam in August. We did not go anywhere in August and when we were in Amsterdam a few months earlier we were on a cruise ship. Our bank, HSBC, refunded the money in September. Now they have come back to us saying Booking.com have contestted the matter and the amount has been debited from our account. They provided us with documentation from Booking.com which does not make sense. They provided the address we moved out of years ago with no information about the hotel they claimed we booked in Amsterdam. If we cannot sort this out over the phone tomorrow I am minded to take it up with a branch in person. Will never use booking.com again. Have done so a lot in the past.

I'm sure you'll get it sorted CN

antonio66 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2020 2:12 am I'm sure you'll get it sorted CN

Thanks. Sorted now.

CN211276 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2020 10:58 am

antonio66 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2020 2:12 am I'm sure you'll get it sorted CN

Thanks. Sorted now.

So what excuse did Booking.com have for lying about it to get their cash ??

It came down to a big misunderstanding.

HSBC have always been good with us- been with the same branch for 35 years- I prefer to go to the branch with problems/ concerns.

Glad than got sorted