Double nuisance

However, there is an amusing side to many of these calls. Wherever the caller is their knowledge of Scottish geography is usually negligible.

They seem totally unaware that many of their products and services are difficult to provide in rural areas.

When I explain that I live three miles beyond a sign saying “you have reached the end of world” there is usually silence followed by the dialling tone.

Last week I received the best call ever. Someone made an unsolicited call offering a service which for a fee per annum would stop the unsolicited  calls.

When questioned on how a private company that was not the telecom provider could block these calls he became very vague.

He then went on to ask if I had had any unsolicited calls that day. “Yes,” I replied. “Just now.” “Who from?” he asked. “You,” I replied, “and that is one call you can stop.”

At that he used two words, the first of which is actually illegal to use under the Telecommunications Acts, and rang off.

Bruce D Skivington

Strath

Gairloch, Wester Ross

It was good of Ian Arnot from BT to reply to my letter about nuisance calls. Why does absolutely everything to do with BT involve buying their products or  services?

My question was what they could do to stop nuisance calls, not what I have to do. I do not want to buy and programme a new phone, or pay a year of line rental up front, to protect myself from their deficiencies as a  service provider.

Malcolm Parkin

Gamekeepers Road

Kinnesswood, Kinross

Perhaps I misread his letter but to me it looked as if Ian Arnot from BT was more keen on selling new products than on actually doing something about the nuisance calls that plague so many of us.

I have read several letters from exasperated readers on these pages and I’m certain they represent the tip of the iceberg.

Come on, BT. It can’t be too hard.

Lily Maxwell

Jordan Lane

Edinburgh