Recently a number of residents have had "cold" telephone calls from outfits offering security systems or inspections for damp. It is best just to hang up on all such callers. Better still, to block their calls in the first place. Again, for most people, junk mail is of no interest and much of this can be stopped. Methods of doing these are as follows:
- To stop unsolicited telephone calls, just phone 0800 398893 (the call is free). You
will be given a choice of pressing 1 to stop unsolicited sales and marketing or 2
to stop silent telephone calls. If you press 1 you are told the number you are
calling from and asked to press 1 to confirm that this is the number you wish to
stop mail for. You are told you will hear within 28 days that it is happened. If you
press 2 you are given another telephone number to call (0870 443969) to stop the
silent calls for 1 year.
- To stop junk mail, write to the Mailing Preference Service at FREEPOST 29,
LON 20771, London, WE1 0ZT (you do not need a stamp) or telephone them on
0845 703 4599 (you have to pay for the call at local rates). You will be given the
option to register then on the phone or have an application form sent.
- To stop junk mail which is addressed to a deceased individual, a Bereaved
person can write to FREEPOST, The Bereavement Register (there is no need for
a stamp) or you can telephone 0870 600 7222 (the call is charged at the
national rate).
- To stop junk fax messages (which mainly go to businesses'), telephone
0845 070 07025 (the call is charged at the local rate).
- So far, there is no way of stopping SPAM (junk e-mail) completely. Some servers have SPAM controls; some file cease-and-desist orders against flagrant offenders and you can block off groups of e-mail addresses - such as all those ending in "com" - but you may then lose desirable e-mail. Other ploys similarly all have drawbacks.