Blank phone calls

iviv · 3 Jul 2009 at 19:22

My grandparents have been getting these, but I don't think its the usual marketing calls. When they 1471 it, instead of saying the number was withheld, it gives the message 'We do not have the number', which is rather weird.
When they answer the phone, there's no pause, like its waiting for the machine to put you through to an operator before it hangs up, its just dialing tone instantly.

I think I'll sign them up to the tps anyway (They think they may already be, but a second time can't hurt) But even then, what else could cause this? As I said, marketing calls are almost always withheld numbers, not nonexistant.

Thanks!

Lummox · 3 Jul 2009 at 19:29

Fault at the telephone exchange

pingwing · 3 Jul 2009 at 19:36

I think its almost time to post the "its a trap" picture

Otherwise its those weird cold callers that can ring you, then you get dumped onto a premium rate line by waiting for some noise or something :S (could have dreamed that one in my sleep though)

Feek · 3 Jul 2009 at 19:37

pingwing said:
Otherwise its those weird cold callers that can ring you, then you get dumped onto a premium rate line by waiting for some noise or something

That'll be an urban myth.

iviv · 3 Jul 2009 at 19:46

Yeah, I considered cold callers, but again shouldn't they leave 1471 with a 'caller withheld their number' message, rather than what they are getting?

ivrytwr3 · 3 Jul 2009 at 19:49

sounds like marketing, you pick up it goes dead, but they record what time you pick up. A real operator will call the same time another day.

iviv · 3 Jul 2009 at 20:12

ivrytwr3 said:
sounds like marketing, you pick up it goes dead, but they record what time you pick up. A real operator will call the same time another day.

That's the thing, the line's not going dead, it goes straight to the dialing tone as if there hadn't been anyone calling.

djohn · 3 Jul 2009 at 20:19

A lot of these type of calls are made by computer these days. PC phones X number of calls all at the same time with say 10 operators waiting to answer, first 10 to answer speak to someone and the rest are put in a database according to if they answered but a little slow or, if they didn't answer at all. :confused:

Werewolf · 3 Jul 2009 at 20:28

iviv said:
Yeah, I considered cold callers, but again shouldn't they leave 1471 with a 'caller withheld their number' message, rather than what they are getting?

Not if the caller is from a number that doesn't support the tech behind 1471.

Foreign call centres often are behind exchanges that don't give the number in a format 1471 understands as I understand it.

Housey · 3 Jul 2009 at 20:30

More than likely someone with a badly tuned outbound dialler making the call without having an agent ready to take it.

Nitefly · 3 Jul 2009 at 20:31

I loathe it when you pick up and there is a 3 second silence as the other side connects. That's when I try to sell them something...

Not really

One day *sob*

asim18 · 3 Jul 2009 at 20:34

It's the matrix. They'll be sucked into the phone.