Forum Discussion

swifty-one's avatar
swifty-one
On our wavelength
2 years ago
Solved

I need to change my landline number

Can I please change my landline number? I am being targeted by people I know who know my landline number but I do not know theirs my phone says "Number Withheld"  I am disabled and I live with my eld...
  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    2 years ago

    If the people calling you are people who you know, then changing your number may be the way to go. But, as already mentioned, the 'new' number you get will be recycled from a general pool of VM phone numbers. Your new number might bring with it its own past history of nuisance calling problems.

    VM used to offer one number change free of charge for customer affected by nuisance calls. Disappointing to see the suggestion of a £25 charge for this now.

    What features does your existing phone system have?

    Some allow you to block 'withheld' numbers (although this might also block callers such as doctors, hospitals etc. who may legitimately withhold numbers).

    Some phones have a 'do not disturb' feature which keeps the phone silent and send calls to answering machine. It can also be configured so that VIP callers (who are stored in the phone address book) can break through the 'do not disturb' setting meaning only people in your phone book can ring through.

    There is also a trueCall device

    https://www.truecall.co.uk/category-s/116.htm

    which can be configured in various degrees of severity to screen incoming calls. A new unit is £109.99 but second hand units come up on eBay regularly at much lower prices (with the usual caveats when buying from eBay).

    If the person calling is known to you though, you may need to begin with some severe screening restrictions until they realise they won't be able to get through, after which you may be able to reduce the screening settings.

goslow's avatar
goslow
Alessandro Volta
2 years ago

If the people calling you are people who you know, then changing your number may be the way to go. But, as already mentioned, the 'new' number you get will be recycled from a general pool of VM phone numbers. Your new number might bring with it its own past history of nuisance calling problems.

VM used to offer one number change free of charge for customer affected by nuisance calls. Disappointing to see the suggestion of a £25 charge for this now.

What features does your existing phone system have?

Some allow you to block 'withheld' numbers (although this might also block callers such as doctors, hospitals etc. who may legitimately withhold numbers).

Some phones have a 'do not disturb' feature which keeps the phone silent and send calls to answering machine. It can also be configured so that VIP callers (who are stored in the phone address book) can break through the 'do not disturb' setting meaning only people in your phone book can ring through.

There is also a trueCall device

https://www.truecall.co.uk/category-s/116.htm

which can be configured in various degrees of severity to screen incoming calls. A new unit is £109.99 but second hand units come up on eBay regularly at much lower prices (with the usual caveats when buying from eBay).

If the person calling is known to you though, you may need to begin with some severe screening restrictions until they realise they won't be able to get through, after which you may be able to reduce the screening settings.