Feel quite shocked!

I agree worth considering a call blocker. You can put in the calls you want to accept. My MIL is getting some peace and quiet since we got her one. Make is TRUECALL

I always leave unknown, international or withheld numbers. If it is someone who actually knows me they can leave a message and I will call back!

We had numerous calls, when we first moved here, for the previous owner of our new phone number. Also , at previous house, got callers for the local riding stables trying to book rides and lessons as they printed our number,one digit different from their's, in error on an advert!

I`ve tried asking the 2 people concerned if they could do without their number withheld, but they neither of them can see my point, they don`t want to know, apparently it`s only me who grumbles about it. We keep getting calls from various agencies telling us we qualify for a free replacement boiler, but it`s amazing how quickly they lose the willingness to be helpful when I tell them that we don`t have a boiler to start with, as we don`t have central heating (I wish we had!) Today there was one from Scotland, definitely was, he had a very strong Scottish accent, as soon as he discovered we didn`t have central heating or a boiler, he started down the solar panel route. I couldn`t shut him up, so hung up on him, rude, I know.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Today is the first day I've not had one for some time. It seems to go in cycles and yes we're on TPS. Hey ho!

Henetha I can beat that! We get calls for a lady who has never lived here. I suspect that we were allocated her old no longer in use number when we moved here and still we get calls asking for Mrs H. I have told untold numbers that not only is she not at this number but she has never lived here! We know who lived here for the 25 years prior to us! Still they ring.

I also don't answer the house phone any more, it's just there if we lose the signal for the mobile. All family and friends (and local tradesmen) have my mobile number and it is never given out to anyone else. It comes to something doesn't it when you feel you can't even answer your own phone!

With regard to Telephone Preference Service, I was told, some time ago, that it can only stop computer generated calls; if the call is made by a person then it can't prevent the call from going through.

Wasn't there an option in the UK to block calls coming from a 'number withheld'?

P.S. Another recent solution.. I bought a smart phone and get 500 minutes of calls per month, so I use that more now for family and friends instead of the house phone.

I use the TPS service so only get nuisance calls from abroad. And they are always for the lady who used to live here , - FIVE years ago!
I've told the callers endlessly that she died (true), but they still keep calling.
GGGGGggggggrrrrrrrr !!!!!!!
Anyway, one solution is to leave the answerphone on, which I am now doing.
But it means I have to return calls to family and friends etc, and therefore it costs me money.

My BT phone does that for any number. But as the tribunal service are number unavailable, I can't use it. I do block overseas though and it works beautifully.

Got it by googling the name callblocker - costs about £40. A bit fiddly to connect to phone and you must have 'caller aware' but well worth installing.

Here's another suggestion I forgot to mention:
My DH used to respond to unwanted sales calls by offering in return to sell them "jam, which the wife is making just now" and he would offer this jam in 1 or 2 llb pots...
This usually got the caller to hang up.

I want one of those Gwoof where did you get it from?

I 've got a 'Callblocker' which connects to my phone. If a nasty caller (with a number) rings, you just press a button and they are blocked forever. Oh the joy of pressing that button! And if it is number withheld, wait until the caller starts to speak and you will recognise the voice and choose to take it or cut off.

The Dogs Trust must have replaced Battersea Dogs Home as the false number of choice.

I've had calls from NatWest bank inviting me to take part in a short survey. What do they want to know, I'm not a customer of theirs. The replacement boiler people are now offering solar panels too. Is this new? I googled one number after they called several night's running. The number was for The Dog's Trust . I have a phone with caller display and ignore calls that are witheld or out of area. If they need to speak to me they will leave a message.

Easiest way is to say 'hold on I'll get her..' put the phone down and wander off, have a or or a or play about post something interesting on GN. Come back half n hour later and replace the handset.

I love to think of them hanging on the line waiting.

sunseeker your mother and brother must have chosen to withhold their number. when they phone next can't you tell them about all the nuisance calls that you can't ignore because of missing an important call and ask them to change it?

Numberplease, you too?

I've just had a call from the 'Windows technical department' - hah!! The caller became very angry with me and ended up telling me I'm going to die in three days! So if after a while you don't hear from me..........

But Ana they keep ringing!! I can't ignore the "number withheld" because that's what shows when my brother rings me from Australia! He has some health problems at the moment and my mother is also unwell so I need to answer the calls.

I have had dozens of the boiler replacement scheme phone calls. Now they have changed to a window replacement scheme.

I never let recorded messages get beyond the first few words!

The one I am getting is a recorded message saying I am entitled to a new boiler paid for by the government. As all my heating and hot water is done by my Rayburn do you think the government will let me have £7,500 to buy a new one What does annoy me is the recording only gives an option to be put through to a salesperson, not an option to say I'm not interested

I had a couple of these this week and the last one a couple of days ago was when I had just sat down to watch TV,hello can I speak to mrs glamma,she's not home says I knowing it was a sales call, when will she be back? don't know says I, do you have time to do a short survey for me ? say's he, yes OK say's I then he goes through a big long spiel of the data protection act etc etc then ask's me what age range do I fit? 18-26,26-40,40-75 ? oh none of those, says I we have now been on the phone about 10mins,what age are you ? says himself,oh me I'm just 16 (I wish) and he said I had wasted his time as I was too young to take details from,at least it saved someone else the hassle and I found it quite amusing really as I could see the steam coming out of the handset.

Same here. There are hardly any nuiosance calls from this country. Most are incomprehensible as well as being unwanted.

number can't you ask family members to not withhold their numbers when they call you?