Letters: The number of cold calls to French phone is maddening

To the Editor,

We are on the Bloctel list to ban all cold calls, but it just does not work.

We get on average six or seven calls a day during the times allowed.

The way we deal with them is using an answer machine which displays the caller ID.

All our friends’ and family’s telephone numbers are entered into the memory using the name and not the number. Plus possible call numbers such as doctor, hospital and other specialist numbers.

If a call is displayed with a number then we just ignore it and it goes to the answer phone after four rings. 99% of the time the caller then breaks the call and does not leave a message.

If it is someone ringing us that has our number and it is not yet programmed into the telephone they have been told to leave an answer phone message the first time they ring and we will call them back. No message, no call back.

The list of numbers used by the marketing companies is pinned next to the telephone and is helpful.

However, if the law is changed to presumed opt out, instead of opt in, then that would probably solve the problem. 

But one will then have to be very vigilant for hidden or minuscule tick boxes opting you in when buying anything online or signing orders

Malcolm Hicks, by email

To the Editor,

Regarding cold callers, I used to get around three or four per day, sometimes more.

I became so fed up with them that I bought a set of (Panasonic) cordless phones from the UK that can block callers simply by inputting the first 2 numbers, i.e; 03, 04, 05 etc. 

You can also block callers by using the first 3 or 4 numbers, it's very flexible and really does work.

The numbers still show in the caller history, but they don't get through. Wonderful.

As for my French mobile number, that's another story.

Les Windeler, by email

What is your experience with cold callers in France? Is the problem getting better or worse? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com