Nuisance calls

The following calling features will help you to prevent nuisance calls:

• Last Caller Barring: Last Caller Barring enables you to bar incoming calls from the last person that called you. You can block up to 10 phone numbers in your phone directory using this service.
• Anonymous Caller Reject: Anonymous Caller Reject enables you to automatically reject calls when the caller's phone number is withheld. This is a charged-for service and must be activated on your line before you can use it.
• Caller Display: With Caller Display, you can see the number that's calling you before you pick up the phone.

For information on how to activate any of these features on your account, please see: How do I activate a Boost on my account?

Stop marketing calls

The TPS is an independent organisation that helps you to make sure your telephone number is not available to organisations that make unsolicited direct marketing calls. To register your details with them, visit the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) website atwww.tpsonline.org.uk/tps.

Remember that we will never divulge your personal information to other parties without your permission. To change your marketing options with TalkTalk, please send us an email.

Advice for handling malicious calls

We offer the following tips and advice on what to do if you receive a malicious call:

• Most malicious callers get pleasure from an emotional response. It is important that you stay calm and detach yourself from the situation.
• Always remember you're the person in control of the situation.
• Don’t engage in conversation with the caller or rise to an argument.
• Place the receiver by the side of the phone for a few moments and do something else. After a few minutes, quietly and gently replace the receiver without checking if the caller is still on the line.
• Turn off the ringer on your telephone if you get nuisance or malicious calls during the evening, night or early hours of the morning - there's usually a small switch or button on the base of the telephone. You may even want to unplug your telephone completely. If you have more than one phone in the house remember to unplug all of them.
• Never give out your phone number or any other personal information unless you're sure that you know the caller. This will stop a caller who dialled your number at random from remembering it and calling again.
• Never give your name and number in an answer machine message, or say you're out, on holiday, or away on business.
• Never answer any questions on the phone, no matter how innocent they may seem, unless you know the caller.
• Avoid giving details of your gender or marital status in your phone book entry.
• If you have any children, make sure they understand that they shouldn't answer any personal questions or give out any details on the phone - even if the caller says they're a friend.

• Tracing the call

  Before you escalate a call to the Police for investigation, you are required to trace it. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Dial 1477 during or immediately after the unwanted call. You need to do this on five separate calls. When you do this, we trace the call.
  2. Contact the Police let them know about the malicious call and that you have traced the call with TalkTalk.
  3. The Police will contact TalkTalk's Police Liaison team.