Preventing unwanted or malicious calls

Making a malicious, indecent or grossly offensive call is a criminal offence.

If you are a victim, we will do all we can to help you. There are some basic initial precautions you can take that may be of help.

1. Answer your calls with a simple 'Hello'. If you are in doubt about the caller, do not give your name, address or telephone number. This will help deter nuisance callers - who sometimes dial at random - from calling you again.
2. Always try to identify who is calling before giving any details about yourself. If the caller asks 'What number is this?', respond by asking what number they think they have called. Try not to give out any personal details until you know who you are talking to and you feel comfortable about doing so.
3. Try to keep calm and stay in control. Most malicious callers get excitement from an emotional response. Do all you can to try not to enter into a conversation.
4. If you receive verbal abuse, put the handset down and leave it alone. Don't hang up - just walk away and leave the caller hanging on the line. After a few minutes, replace the handset and end the call.
5. If the phone rings again immediately, do not speak first. A genuine caller will be quite willing to speak first and to give you details about themselves.
6. If you have an answering machine, be sure not to leave your name or telephone number in the answer message - and under no circumstances say that you are away for a few days or on holiday. Your answer message should only state that you are not able to answer the call at that time, and that you will get back to the caller if they leave their name and number.
7. Women should be careful to list their surname and initials in the telephone directory; do not use your title of Mrs, Ms or Miss.
8. If you suffer from malicious calls, we can arrange a change of number and can also put a block number on your telephone that prevents a caller getting through to you if they withhold their telephone number.
9. If you suffer from serious or persistent nuisance calling and feel that you wish to involve the Police, we will do everything we can to assist them with their enquiries.

Premium Rate calls

If you need to check a premium rate number that appears on your phone bill but you do not recognise, or if you have a complaint regarding the content or the promotion of a premium rate service, please contact the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) via their website at www.icstis.org or by phone on 0800 500 212.

Marketing 'cold' calling

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) runs two free registration schemes designed to reduce the amount of unwanted phone calls and fax calls that you receive from sales and marketing organisations based in the UK. By registering your telephone and/or fax line with them, the DMA can ensure that your number is no longer available to organisations, including charities and voluntary bodies, who might telephone you with offers and information you do not want to receive.

Telephone Preference Service (TPS)

Phone

0845 070 0707

Fax

0845 070 0706

Fax Preference Service (FPS)

Phone

0845 070 0702

Fax

0845 070 0706

You can also register with TPS online at www.tpsonline.org.uk

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) www.dma.org.uk is also a source of useful information.

Further information, including details of how to complain about unwanted sales calls, is available from:

Write to

Data Protection Office

PO Box 642

Frances House

Sir William Place

St Peter Port

Guernsey

GY1 3JE

Call

+44(0)1481 742074

Email

dataprotection@gov.gg

Website

www.dataprotection.gov.gg

Or call us

01481 700700

Calls from Sure

We value your opinion and from time to time we may call valued customers for a quick feedback survey to help up to improve our services in the future. If someone from Sure is calling they will introduce themselves and say that they are calling from Sure Cable and Wireless. If you are unsure of someone's identity it is usually best to refrain from giving out any personal details over the phone.