Stop Silent Calls

Excerpt from http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/no-more-junk:

Stopping silent calls

As of Feb 2011, new rules introduced by Ofcom mean companies using automatic diallers can only call once a day if there's no agent to complete the call. This includes all call centres, not just sales teams.

If you're getting silent calls, which can be generated by automatic dialling equipment in call centres, you can register with the Silent Call-gard
( http://www.silentguard.co.uk/ )
service, but you need to renew it every 12 months.

This adds you to a database used by the major telemarketing companies that use predictive diallers therefore reducing the number of silent calls.

If the calls continue, you can complain to Ofcom, here's what to do:

Step 1: After the call dial 1471 and see if you can get the number.
Step 2: If the number is withheld, note the time & date of the call and contact your provider's nuisance call department, eg, BT's Nuisance Call Advice Line ( http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9084/c/345,351,363 ), Sky Nuisance Calls Advice ( http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/securitycentre/article?contentid=3236210&catlist=3132510 )
Step 3: Complain to Ofcom online ( https://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/silent-calls ).

Ofcom can fine the company up to £2m (was previously £50K) if it sees fit - the money goes to the Treasury, Ofcom doesn't give compensation.