We keep on getting silent calls (when the handset is picked up - silence) - from 01422249611 - which on doing a search is Swinton insurance - often four per day - often at up to 9pm - I registered my phone number with the TPS 6 months ago - but Swinton obviously are too stupid to follow the rules....

Question - what can I do to stop these nuicance (automated) calls ?

I don't particularly want to contact Swinton - because they don't have a simple "contact us" email - you have to register on their website - no doubt bringing a flood of spam emails and if I phone them - they will no doubt register my call and continue to call me

We don't have a Swinton policy - so how they got our number is another question

They will have got your number from an aggregator like confused.com or the like - you've gone looking for quotes and they've paid someone for your details.

If you're TPS registered they can only contact you if you explicitly consent to the contact - watch out for the small print on aggregator sites...

Complain via Ofcom; here's the details from Ofcom's website

How can consumers complain if they receive a silent or abandoned call?

If you have not done so already, you should contact your network or service provider. Your provider might be able to identify the organisation making the silent or abandoned calls and provide you with advice or assistance to prevent such calls in the future.

If you continue to receive silent or abandoned calls and your network or service provider is unable to assist, please contact Ofcom’s Contact Centre to register a complaint:

Web: www.ofcom.org.uk

Phone: 0300 123 3333

Fax: 0300 123 0811

Post:
Ofcom Contact Centre
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA

Ofcom's Contact Centre logs all complaints under a case reference number. Ofcom will update our database of complaints accordingly. This information will help Ofcom to target and take action, where appropriate, against organisations that are making these types of calls

Thanks - after two more silent calls this morning - I have registered a complaint to Ofcom

and by the way - you said to ask my provider for help in finding the perpertator - it is SWINTON insurance

Hi,

I am Head of Marketing for Swinton and am concerned by your recent experiences. Please can you call me on 0161 236 1222 so that I can investigate your complaint personally.

Regards.

Mark Hallam

Sorry - no can do - just don't keep phoning "potential customers"

It is annoying and these automatic diallers should be banned

Can you please confirm or deny that this number (01422249611) is Swinton ?

If so - a simple solution - stop using it for these unwanted calls to everyone - according to a web search - I am not the only person annoyed by this number

I have had these annoying twerps ring me after doing a MS search for car insurance on more than one occasion.They get you to repeat the same underwriting criteria you have just put into the system on the promise of a better quote.When its all done they don't offer a better deal !! What is the point?

From memory they then offer to refer you onto another 'specialist'. I agreed to try it once but it was a complete waste of time.

I would agree with Twee that Mr. Hallam should improve his intial offering and cease these annoying and tiresome cold calling tactics with immediate effect.

How about it Mr.Hallam? Try listening to your potential customers.Also there are many threads re Swinton's claims experience which provide a sharp reminder about the appalling standard of service you are likely to receive if the marketing guys entrap you.Many of the recent customer reviews on the MS site don't make comfortable reading either.

..... and of Mr Hallam - no more was heard

At least the phone calls seem to have subsided - for the time being at least

I'm having this problem also. I have asked Vodafone to try and sort it. I'll keep you posted.

I too have had 'silent' calls from Swinton. Three in number, yesterday alone! When you are up a ladder etc this can be very, very annoying!

Having taken car insurance with them via Moneysupermarket.com and availed myself ..hopefully of Moneysuopermarket.com's offer of £50 cashback...I now have become increasing frustrated and angry by these 'silent' calls, all traceable to the Swinton number!

Surely Moneysupermarket.com have some moral obligation not to promote Swinton if the evidence is there of these calls?

I am sorely tempted to cancel the insurance for this reason, using the distance selling legislation.

I have complained to Ofcom and am about to make a formal complaint to Swinton using their complaints procedure!

How do others feel about this?

Cheers

Simon

Thanks for that. I have now spoken to Swinton customer services to make a complaint. They have removed my number from their 'caller'.

I shall make a complaint in writing too as the same thing happened last year soon after having an on line quotation from them.

Obviously their 'system is not working correctly if this can happen again.

Admittedly the calls did stop last year after my complaint however here we go again.....!!

Cheers

Simon

It does look as if Mr Hallam is for real, even if he has now gone silent!

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/329/32

http://www.articlealley.com/article_524746_19.html