Garda permission required to change phone number ?!?!

BanjoSpanner

We've been getting a lot of nuisance calls on the landline recently, marketing calls and foreigners pretending to be concerned about some virus or other that I've supposedly got on my computer. Today I called the phone company (UPC) and asked if I could have our number changed. They said that was totally possible but first I had to get permission from gardai. They had to sign and stamp a form and fax it to UPC, then the number could be changed. Has anyone ever heard of this before ? It's a new one on me.

littlelulu

BanjoSpanner wrote: »

We've been getting a lot of nuisance calls on the landline recently, marketing calls and foreigners pretending to be concerned about some virus or other that I've supposedly got on my computer. Today I called the phone company (UPC) and asked if I could have our number changed. They said that was totally possible but first I had to get permission from gardai. They had to sign and stamp a form and fax it to UPC, then the number could be changed. Has anyone ever heard of this before ? It's a new one on me.

Thats mad!! I can't even think of why the gardai would need to give consent. Identification purposes perhaps??

Apart from that are you sure you want to change?? How will you know when you have a virus on your computer or millions of dollars waiting to be lodged to your bank account

meathstevie

I think things got a bit mixed up there. Since you want to change your number because of suspected criminal activity directed against it your provider is probably assuming you involved the Gardai. If you would have done that there could be a chance Gardai wanted to keep the number live for a while.

01902

Best thing I have read all night. They are just crazy!!

sandin

No charge if its due to nuisance calls - but you have to declare that via a garda form.

L1011

Realistically, you'll get all those calls with a different number too. I get them here the odd time on a landline number that's never been given to anyone as I don't even know what it is. Not hard to robo-dial the entire 01 phone code if you have cheap enough telephony and staff - which they do.

Mint Sauce

sandin wrote: »

No charge if its due to nuisance calls - but you have to declare that via a garda form.

Similar system operates in the UK if memory serves me right. To change your number there is a charge from BT, if you are with another service provider, BT charges your service provider who pass the charge on to you. If you are changing your number due to malicious calls, you require a police report so that the charge is waved.

Although dont think marketing calls would come under this, you would have to request that the company calling you removes you their database. The UK have a system in place called the telephone preference service, on registering with them your number should be removed from all registered companies databases. Could be worthwhile for the OP to ask his service provider if they or eircom have something similar.

Cant help you with the foreigners calling you to fix your computer or telling you, you have won the Nigerian lotto, other than tell them not to call you again.

wmpdd3

same with eircom, free if you have a garda report thing, pay otherwise.

you have to make a complaint to *Eircom's Malicious Calls Bureau (1800 689 689) and follow it up with a garda report.

Not sure about UPC, comreg might have something.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Nuisance calls and marketing calls are not malicious calls. That's a completely different world altogether.
Getting a new number will not stop those calls. We all get them. You just hang up.