Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Lewis McCann [NTC 015]

We receive an average of four calls a week which are unsolicited. Less than 1% shows a valid UK number via Caller Display. Some 80% of the calls show “International” and the balance “Withheld”.

Most callers have heard of TPS and hang up if you mention it, but obviously are not checking with the TPS database. Callers are mainly in connection with PPI, Green Energy/Insulation & SKY survey. Most callers seem to have an Indian accent. Most worrying are those who purport to be Microsoft Support who attempt to gain access to home computers and then demand credit card details to fix the non-existent fault. As an IT engineer they get short shrift!

We will usually just hang up on nuisance calls as engaging with them is pointless.

From our view point the TPS service is a waste of money as it is ineffective.

Call interception devices that block certain numbers are also useless against nuisance calls. We have family in Italy and their number comes up “International” so they would be blocked too.

Control of nuisance calls will only take place when the Telecommunications providers are forced to provide the calling parties number for International calls. As a retired Telecommunications Engineer this should be technically possible.

August 2013