Most phone service providers offer facilities to help their users block unwanted callers. The recent addition by TalkTalk is called Callsafe.
“At last, just the calls you really want”. “Wouldn’t it be nice to pick up your home phone, always knowing it’s a call you really want? No nuisance callers, no sales pitches, no scammers. We’re helping every customer get just that. All you have to do is switch on your free CallSafe”.
It works in a fairly standard manner. You create an approved list of phone numbers and those get straight through to you. Then a list of numbers to be blocked.
CallSafe automatically creates an Approved list from your regularly dialled numbers – like friends and family – and they’ll get straight through to you. You can also manage who’s on this list at any time, online or by calling 1472.
You can also keep a list of numbers you’ve chosen to block – plus CallSafe has a national database of known unwanted callers. If any of these numbers call, your phone won’t even ring.
If a number isn’t on your Approved or Blocked list, the caller will be asked to identify themselves in a short message. Your phone then rings, you hear their message and choose whether to take the call.
How Does CallSafe Work?
Every time you get a call, CallSafe will automatically check the number to make sure it’s someone you want to hear from. Regularly dialed numbers like friends and family, will be put straight through. For any new callers, CallSafe will:
- Check to see if the number is on a list of unwanted callers. If so, it’s automatically blocked and your home phone never rings.
- Manage any other callers with an extra step. It will ask the caller to record a short introduction before your phone rings. You’ll hear this message when you pick up your home phone and have the choice to either answer, ignore, or block the call.
CallSafe needs no extra kit, you dial 1472 to turn it on and leave the rest to them. If you want, you can view and manage your approved and blocked callers through My Account or by calling 1472. Or you can let CallSafe manage it.
Tristia Harrison, TalkTalk’s CEO, said:
“We’re tackling the industry-wide issue of unwanted calls head on. Protecting our customers is incredibly important to us and we’re committed to eliminating the disruption caused by unwanted callers. It would be a real shame if landlines became obsolete just because we are too afraid to pick them up.
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