Guide to tackling nuisance calls and messages
Most of us will have received a nuisance call or message at some time or other.
Maybe it was that time you rushed to the phone only to find it was a call centre trying to sell you something you didn’t want or need.
Or it could have been that text message offering thousands of pounds in compensation for an injury you hadn’t even suffered.
Nuisance calls and messages come in a variety of different shapes and sizes and can be inconvenient and annoying at the best of times.
Quick tips to stop nuisance calls
To stop unwanted sales and marketing calls, register your phone number – either landline or mobile – with the Telephone Preference Service. It’s free and takes 28 days for a ban to come into effect.
Talk to your provider about services to block unwanted calls. For example, BT offers a number of services to help stop unwanted calls, including ‘Privacy at Home’, ‘Choose to Refuse’ and ‘Anonymous Call Rejection’. Other providers offer similar services.
Some products – such as trueCall and CallBlocker can be used to help block unwanted calls. Please note that these are commercial products and are not endorsed by Ofcom.
But for more vulnerable consumers they can also cause considerable distress and anxiety.
If you’re fed up receiving these calls and messages there is something you can do about it.
Below you will find a series of guides which explain the different types of nuisance calls and messages.
Each guide includes advice on what action you can take to protect yourself and who you can complain to.
Download the short guide to nuisance calls and messages (PDF)
Download the complete nuisance calls guide (PDF)
Advice and complaints
-
Your fixed line, mobile and internet
Our job is to make sure that phone companies treat you fairly.
Our advice and monitoring forms -
TV and Radio Programmes
Are you concerned about a programme you have seen on television or listened to on the radio?
Find out how to complain -
TV and Radio reception problems
The BBC are responsible for investigating complaints of interference to domestic radio and television.
Advice and how to report a problem
Stay up to date
-
Ofcom Consultations
-
The Communications Market
-
The Consumer Experience
-
Enforcement Bulletins
-
Audience complaints