It was only a matter of time before this happened - another unfortunate collision of technology with the telephone. I got a call at home at about 19:30 from a company on the pretext of asking about satellite dishes. Nothing strange about that, other than the fact that the number called is registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), which is meant to stop unsolicited telemarketing calls. And the voice at the other end was a recording played by a computer. That was more worrying, especially when my silence at its first question (did I receive satellite TV through a dish) was met with a "Hello, hello are you still there?" before the machine cut the call off.
One of the things that puts a limit on how many cold calls you get comes down to the cost of paying people to talk to supposedly potential customers. That has become a major factor as the cost of placing calls has shrunk rapidly. With a computer doing all of the work, suddenly the marginal cost of placing each call plummets, even compared with farming out those jobs to low-wage countries. Letting computers call people without your expressed permission is something that needs to be stopped. In principle, it is already illegal in the UK. But that is not what Data Partnership Solutions of East Sussex believes.
Data Partnership Solutions was the company responsible for the call. To be fair to the company, it did not block its number (0870 240 2559) and the rep who answered the phone at the other end did not give me the usual runaround on identifying the company. His first question was, did I want the address in order to make a complaint? I didn't take notes of the brief conversation, but I think we reached that point before I even mentioned the TPS. The East Sussex address given, by the way, checks out and there is a company registered under the name Data Partnership Solutions at a nearby address at Companies House (albeit a bit late with its first accounts).
However, when I did mention the TPS, his response was: "Well, these calls are surveys rather than sales calls, so they aren't really covered by the TPS." Having said that, he asked if my number was to be taken off the list or, rather, added to the "do not call" list. I said yes and that was more or less the end of the call.
Then I went and checked, as much as you can at 8pm at night, what the situation is with automated calls. I dimly remembered UK legislation being passed to outlaw automated calls - being the main reason why you don't get pestered by recordings of breezy people flogging rip-off holidays in Florida from the UK, only from other countries.
Here's the relevant bit of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, which came into effect at the end of 2003:
19. (1) A person shall neither transmit, nor instigate the transmission of, communications comprising recorded matter for direct marketing purposes by means of an automated calling system except in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (2).(2) Those circumstances are where the called line is that of a subscriber who has previously notified the caller that for the time being he consents to such communications being sent by, or at the instigation of, the caller on that line.
...
For the purposes of this regulation, an automated calling system is a system which is capable of -
(a) automatically initiating a sequence of calls to more than one destination in accordance with instructions stored in that system; and
(b) transmitting sounds which are not live speech for reception by persons at some or all of the destinations so called.
No need to invoke the TPS. It's the law that a robot can't call you without asking you first. Wait a minute - that's "a robot can't call you" for direct marketing purposes. Now, in my book, a survey about what sort of television I receive is pretty much a telemarketing call. It's not a sales call, but the company at the other end wants to know information about my spending. That puts it squarely into the marketing domain for me. This is the point where I regret not just giving the robot a bunch of useless replies to see if it transmuted into a sales call. My guess is that the final part of the call is for you to say "please tell me more", at which point you invite that company to place that sales call.
I suspect this and other companies will probe this apparent loophole until they get told to stop, if they get told to stop. And, if it is the case that companies can trouble you up cheaply using machines under the pretext of "research", then the 2003 regulations need to be tightened up. If not, we need not worry about VoIP spam - it will just hit you using the regular telephone service.
To try to help that process along, it's next stop Ofcom for me.
Our receptionist just received a call from an automated service. Before she hung up this is what she heard:
"Hello! You have been randomly selected to receive a free holiday in Florida for 9 days...."
I've received several calls from this number (0870 240 2559) that once I answered were immediately terminated by the caller. I put it down to a scam where the caller expected you to call them back (to a premium rate number possibly).
Cheers for the info, I will be contacting Ofcom/Icstis also.
I have just received a similar call and discussed with a supervisor the same arguments raised about the TPS and the fact they don't need to scan the TPS lists. He agreed to take my number off their lists if I gave him the number, my name and address - I refused to give name and address so he told me he would not remove my number!
Just to update, I have reported them to the Information Commissioners Office - seems to be the place to go!
I've received five calls from this number (three tonight) i tried ringing but after 20 secs of ringing it goes dead.
Be careful! This could possibly be a scam mentioned on The Register recently.
www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/24/sky_tv_scam
Probably best to be on your guard for a follow up call.
I received a call from the same number, googled it and found your blog. For what it's worth I'm on TPS too. I didn't get to the phone in time and I'm not going to call them back as it's an 0870 number which are premium rate.
In any case, I agree with your other posters; on no account give them any personal details.
Just missed a call from this number, obviously nothing important that I need to get back to after looking at this blog. Im also on TPS, lot of good that seams to do when the companies dont follow the rules anyway.
To update anyone following this.
Received today a grovelling letter from Satellite Direct after I passed on details of their calls to the telephone preference service.
If anyone is still getting the calls let the TPS know and hopefully if they get enough complaints about them they might be able to enforce some sort of sanctions against the company.
Four calls received from 0870 2402559, on 2/8, 10/8 and then two on 11/8. Not answered (phone now programmed to show "scam" for this number!!)
Over the last week and a half, I've recieved 19 calls from this outfit, all during the day while I'm at work. Off work today they called again but only let it ring 3-4 times before hanging up.
Previously their ringback number hangs up as soon as I connected but today I got through to someone who explained the abofe - that they're a company called Data Partnership Solutions and that, that they were conducting a survey and because of this they didn't have to adhere to the TPS.
They volunteered their contact details so that I could lodge a complaint.
I agree, their "loophole" is tenuous at best. I'm complaining to the TPS and ICO, for what it's worth.
<AOL>>Me too</AOL>
Who are you all compaining too? The DMA who administer TPS seem to ignore compaints and the Information Commissioner's office seem to be overworked.
I just recieved my first call from these jokers. I hope they record the calls, or have somepne listenin in, as I used extreemly strong & very loud language to let them know my point of view.
Houting at a computer may not acheive much, but it feels good!
I am also receiving regular calls from 0870 240 2559, but also a second number doing the same thing 0870 850 7618. The line hangs up on both these numbers whenever I pick-up. Also on TPS. Will report both numbers for what good it will do.
I've received a call from 0871 204 0196. Apparently there's a parcel waiting somewhere for me.I've tried to ring back twice but am put on hold and a message says I will have to wait as they are experiencing a high volume of calls! Is this a scam?
Just rung the 0870 240 2559 number and they very efficiently put my number on the "do not call" list' They also checked for another number I have at this address.
It's a pain having to do this, but it was a very short conversation and I wasn't put into any sort of a queue to extract money from me. Sooner the legislation is tightened the better.
Thanks for a very informative site. On Tuesday 05/09/06 we received a call as well "Hi this is Steve from DPS, you have a message awaiting collection, please phone 0871 204 0196 to speak to one of our live operators". Since we were expecting a bicycle parcel thru the post, I thought this was important and called. Put on hold for 10-15 mins, got to position 1 in the queue, then got cut off. We are registered with TPS but no good in this case. Flaming angry about it and wondering if there is anything we can do? We need a big list somewhere of s*** companies pulling scams like this or some way of nabbing them!
It seems obvious that these are all parts of the same scam. I got through the call, when I said I didn't have sky tv it said that I had won a holiday to turkey and should phone the 0870 number to claim my prize.
Very very dodgy in my opinion.
This DPS scam is still going and my Dad in Northern Ireland just had a message left on his answering machine asking him to call 0871 2040196 as he had something to collect. I called the number for him on my mobile and was told "all operators are busy, to get you message ring 0871 2044214. I rang it just to see what would happen but it didn't reply although there was a pause and then it rang again. I suspect they will make money from the call but I just wanted to have a go at someone.
As an update I got an answer phone message yesterday morning to say I had a message waiting and should ring 0871 204 3087. I tried to return the call and when I was put on hold and told I was 15th in the queue(!) I hung up. I googled the number but got nothing, they are obviously using a number of different phone numbers, so hopefully adding this comment with help others.
The 0208 216 2500 did not leave any msg on answerphone. I note that 2 days before I had been called by 0208 216 2500, also noted on a website as initiating unwanted calls. Are they connected, or passing numbers around like spammers?
I hit this entry by Googling the telephone number left on the answering machine (0871 2044214). My wife nearly called the return number before I pointed out it was a premium rate number.
Got the message on answer phone: Hi I am John from DPS we have a message awaiting your collection Dial 0871 204 3087 to speak to one of our live operators, rang and was put on hold so I hung up and checked the internet and found this site so scam is still on going
I've also just had a message left on 1571 of the sort,"This is Jon,you have a message awaiting... please ring 08712043087".Rang without really thinking,was told I was 5th in the queue,suddenly thought it could be premium rate,rang off,then rang BT and was told the calls cost 10p per minute to that line,so not quite the premium rate I thought it might have been.
Hi...I got the same message on answer phone yesterday,same number 0871 2043087.They said they were DPS and I had a message waiting from a live operator.I only heard the message this evening and called the number as I was expecting an important call.Had to listen to music for a couple of minutes...I was next in line it said...got through to an answer machine telling me to call back between 10am and 8pm mon-fri...hmmm...wondering how much this scam has cost me now..?
I somebody calls and deliberately hags up before you can answer it is classed as a nuisence call. In which case you complain to the operator of your phone provider. The penalty is up to six months in prision so they had better watch out.
Cheers guys. Just googled this number after receiving a message from Steve of DPS - 0871 204 3087 - won't be calling him back.
Thanks for this, I got the same. I suggest that anybody finding this page goes to http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/contact_index.shtml and logs a complaint with Watchdog, as they seem to be exploiting what they see as a loophole, and a bit of embarrasing publicity might close the loophole or at least put these scammers out of business.
Yet again same as previous posts, message left on our answer machine "this is steve from DPS " bla bla bla etc etc phone 08712043087 to collect message....DONT DO IT....DONT PHONE BACK...THESE SCAMMERS WILL TRY ANYTHING TO RID YOU OF YOUR HARD EARNED. If you have a broad mind and would like to read how some people get back at email scammers, go to www.ebolamonkeyman.com ,this site is dedicated to humiliating the 419 Nigerian scammers, i came across it some time ago and fell off my seat laughing. Please please be aware that the site does contain quite a bit of bad language, definately not suitable for minors.
Oh my, I'm so pleased I googled the tel no of the message left today, saying pretty much the same as what I've just read on here, so thanks all for typing your experiences in... Message simply said... I'm John from DPS we have a message for you simply call 0871 204 3087 to speak to one of our live operators.. SO VERY pleased I haven't rung it! someone needs to do something about this, there are far more unsuspecting people out there! I feel lucky
This is teh website to register your number on to prevent . reduce silent calls. This has been endorced by TPS and I found teh link through their web site so should be OK to use.
http://www.ukdatait.co.uk/cgi-bin/sgAddNumber.cgi
THIS IS TAKING THE **** I HAD A CALL TODAY FROM A COMPANY CALLED DPS SAYING I HAD AN URGENT MESSAGE AND TO CALL 0871 204 3087 TO SPEAK TO A LIVE OP TO RECEAVE YOUR MESSAGE
Data Partnership Solutions (08702402559) are still at it! I received four calls over the past four days. I phoned their number yesterday and was told that my number would be removed from their list, but still received another call today.
I regret that my (unprintable) answers to the questions caused the call to be quickly terminated. The best plan is to keep feeding the robot voice with wrong information, and then to delay hanging-up for a few minutes after their machine terminates the call, as I believe this ties up their line for a while.
Great to have "security in numbers" ;-). We just got the "Hi, I'm John" message. Difficult to see quite what the scam is. Perhaps they get just enough of 10p/min (as someone else here says) to make it worthwhile. Anyway, knowing so many others have also received exatly the same means I for one won't ring!
Rang me today apparently enquiring as to whether I had Sky dish. I remained silent and after the voice patronised for a few minutes, it eventually told me to dial 1471 for their number so I could claim free flights or something. What does that have to do with Sky?!
Rang 1471 but did not call them; instead Googled the number and found this blog. Many thanks for posting it. Am on TPS and have complained to them, as well as Information Commissioner. Took advice of above post and wrote to Watchdog too. It seems from other forums on this issue that the TPS and IC have really done very little to stop these people, so hopefully going to the media will have a better effect.
I had a call from DPS on 26/9/06 asking me to call 0871 204 3087 to get my message...
Just received an automated call from the boys at 0870 2402559. Stupidly didn't google it first and rang them back to get details so I could register the complaint with TPS. Phone rang for a while and then didn't actually seem to connect, just went quiet. Will I be charged for this? Also keep receiving calls from 0870 2402473 which isn't automated. They are trying to sell me some kind of warranty cover for my Sky Dish. Has anyone else received calls from this number?
Just had a meesage left for 08712043087 from DPS (presumably Data Partnership Solutions). I don't think I'll bother to reply. This is the only Google link to that number.
Can't believe I was such an idiot! Called the "This is John from DPS... call 0871 2043087..." number after checking rate with BT. Fortunately hung up after only a minute, then it hit me what a scam this must be and I googled it. Clearly they must be making a packet even at 10p/min given all the e-mails on here. High time Offcom stopped this.
My parents just had a message from these scammers, the number that they called back was: 08712047040. The message was: Hi I'm Dexter from DPS...
I tried this on my mobile that had a quid left on it, (Just to be safe) to find out more about it and quit after 'Live operators, will be happy to help', they took 10p from my mobile, just hope that this was the same amount and not a penny more taken off the landline call to this scam.
Hope people become more aware of this scam and not become lead through this trap. I certainly will not proceed with this call from what I have read here! TOTAL SCAM
Hi guess what, I got a call from the 0871 204 3087 number too, with the same message from Jon. Decided to goole the number thankfully and got this very useful site. Did call the number for exactley two minutes and was put on hold just for curiosity. Will complain to watchdog. Hope nobody else gets caught
got the same message....cheers for the heads up everybody! watchdog will kick their a*#es
I too have TPS and am ex-directory, but it doesn't seem to help much. Apart from a number of recorded messages left on my a/phone over past couple of weeks, I took a call this morning, but a "live" voice just said "hello, hello", then hung up. Was expecting a call, so did a 1471 and called back the number: 0871 204 7040. Another DPS one... but I hung up after just a few seconds of the recorded message.
Am waiting for delivery of something and had message on 1571 for Hi this is John from DPS ring 08712043087 to collect message...as I live in small village thought was for delivery instructions and rang back...stupid...was on hold for 10 mins and 23 mins - a**holes
Just had the 0871 2043087 call on answerphone. Thought it might be a scam...so pleased that I googled it. Thanks so much!
Hi I received a call from DPS also, thanks to the info on this site I won't be calling them back. I am also on the TPS for all the good that has done.
Scammed tonight from this crap company ... hello, hello said the caller ... then hung up, unfortunately I dialed 1471 as I was expecting a call ... and was put onto a spoof holding system fot at least 10 minutes ... 0871 204 7040 ... I going to get BT to block payment on the call. To to everything I am registered on the callers preference service!
Got a call too last night, from a pathetic person saying hello, hello .. more than likely a recording though... Dialing 1417, found the number to be 0871 204 7040. Foolishly rang the number, only to be told by another recording, if you ring in response to a recent telephone call .. please hold the line. Several minutes later, and after having to endure some really horrible music hung up, I wonder how much that call cost, and how much of teh call cost they got. Searched for this number on a search engine, and found this site, thanks!! Seems to be my good old fiends at DPS, who don't get the message! Scamed three times before, all using different numbers, in as many weeks. First complainted to them, asking to speak to their MD, who strangely enough was not available, yeah... really scared, got speaking to a supervisor, that souned more like a 18 year old, controlling the whole opperation! Assured me that I would not receive any further calls, and I would be put on a priorty list to get my number off as soon as possible, ohh gee thanks I am so greatful that that!! A week later, another scam call from a real live breathing person, this time asking immediately to speak to the MD, much to their shock and hesitation, yet again no available, what does this guy do?? He's obviously frightend to speak to me, in hiding more like it! so got speaking to another supervisor, this time more mature .. same promise, and now same broken promise yet again. How are companies like this allowed to opperate? To top everything I'm exdirectory, and have been on the callers preference service for the 18 months!!! DPS, do me a favour .... no I can't print it here! Next tme I get a call from this company I will be taking legal action against them!
October the 1st and I have also received a message from John to call 0871 204 3087. Thanks for taking the trouble to leave your messages on this site.
Returned from Holiday 2nd October 2006. Rang 1571. Recording had been left "this is John of DPS Please phone 08712043087 to receive a message. I rang and had a series of recorded messages and music various before suspecting something was wrong.
Unfortunately I was expecting a parcel and had my guard down but I think I would have been taken in anyway.
Surely some body is reponsible for closing down these fraudulent operations. As far as I am concerned both DPS and BT have obtained money from me by deception.
Hi everyone, I also got the message on my answering machine to phone 0871 204 3087. The 1471 number was 0871 204 7040. I had no intention of calling but decided to google just to see what would come up.
Will go back up and find the complaint link.
Thanks for putting this info on the web. Much appreciated.
John also rang me because I apparently have a message awaiting collection we are expecting a parcel but as it sounded so dodgy my hubbie googled the number first great blog thanks for the info the number was 08712043087 cheeky robbing gits
Cheeky robbing gits ...? I'd call them something else, no.. I'll save that for when I speak to them. I too was scammed ... who exactly are DPS, who owns it, anyone know their address? Are these scamming voice recorded calls a away around the caller preference service system, as it's not a live call ??
PLEASE note this has NOTHING to do with my company dps at www.dps.uk.com - I've had a couple of people call me in anger accusing me off calling them.
Ditto here with the 0871 2043087 number. "John" left a message on my answerphone, something like "Hi, it's John here from DPS, you have a message waiting for you, please call 0871 2043087 to collect it". Thanks for the posts, I was suspicious and suspicion is now confirmed.
I've just called 0871 204 3087 and sat on hold for 5 mins then it cut off, grrr. Does anyone have an office number for these people? I seriously want to call them and give them a piece of my mind
Got the "Hi it's John..." message tonight and glad I googled the 0871 204 3087 number before considering calling back. The message sounded quite genuine, but something not quite right. It's the same with reading emails I suppose: Don't open emails from people you don't know.
Still at it, awaiting a an overseas call, so distractedly called, thought about the scam possibility and the premium rate con possibility, so hung up after a few minutes as I had reached the limit of importance of the message. I also thought, what a stupid idea - if the message is that important, then they will just have to try again.
So thought I'd google it, and here I am, just wished I'd done it first, but thanks for the tips about blocking and i think i'll be making a complaint on watchdog also. How pathetic.
Sorry this time number: 0871 204 3087..this is Steve blahdy blahdy blah.....disgusted at the waste of my precious time - thanks to EVERYONE who has posted here for the reassurance that it is indeed a gratuitous scam....I've a right mind to......!!!!!
Data Partnership, I've had problems too with this company, always comming through from a different number, which I've always tracked down to be DPS, and I'm too registered with the Callers Preference Service. Found an other interesting link on this company on
www.martyndavies.livejournal.com
scrol down to Tue August 1st 2006 ... the first number given lets you speak to a real life person straightaway, but to be honest it's better asking to speak to a supervisor (you won't get the MD). The person who answers straight away wants to sell something, so be firm.
Hi Sorry Everyone .. make that last URL I gave
http://martyndavies.livejournal.com
Scroll down to Aug 01, 2006
Thanks
I had a phone message left at 1745 today from 'John at DPS' inviting me to phone 0871 204 3087. I checked 1471 and the call was made from 0871 208 4189. Some rubbish about having a 'message' to pick up from a 'live operator'... sounds very like a scam to me, particularly as 'John' didn't address me by name. Can BT/TPS/Ofcom put a stop to this?
Scamed tonight asked for me by my full name and middle initial, hey sounded really important, but said that he had immigrated!! Had the feeling it was a scam, dialed 1471, found the number to be 0800 0272500, which ofcourse .. a dead line. Googled the number and got an alternative number of 0870 840 7000 which is a MGT marketing .. Why can't all these marketing companies not all just P*** OFF!
Hopefully as I've immigrated I won't get any more calls from them!
Come back from holiday, had the I'm John on the 0871 204 3087 number. Thought it might be somebody trying to deliver a package , rang got the same runaround as others. Googled the number and found you. Not ringing them again
Paul wanted me to call back on 0871 2084190 form telephone number 0871 2084190 to pick up a message, thanks to all in this blog. They must be trying to fly under the radar by using a low cost premium rate so that prople will not complain while they rack up loads of small charges. I am registered with the TPS too.
I too received a call on my messaging service asking me to ring DPS. As I was expecting a parcel, and DPS sounded like a parcel delivery service I rang the number to be greeted with musak. I only waited a few seconds as 0871 numbers are costly. I, too, am registered with TPS. I then found your website by entering the phone number in Google. Thank you for putting my mind at rest - the parcel is still to come!
Just got a answerphone message from 'John at DPS' too - tel no: 0871 208 4190
TPS informed!
Just got a call from 0870 2402559 about "Do you have Sky TV". Googled the number and found this blog, so thanks for posting it. I'm on TPS too. Bloody scammers! Looks like TPS aren't interested (direct you to ICO) and ICO has far too many forms to fill out (although I might if this persists).
HI, also received message from "Hi Its Steve etc etc, please phone 0871 2084197, Googled number, glad to see my suspicions were right
Yeah... Me too. Thanks.
Hate to think that I might have been scammed.
I was waiting for a call from a friend whose baby is overdue and who may go into labour at any moment. She said that she'd send a mass message to all her friends and, as she often texts and I don't have a mobile, I thought that the message might come to me via my landline.
Unfortunately, I did have a message but not from her--"Hello, this is Paul from DPS. We currently have a message awaiting your collection. To collect your message, just call 0871 208 4190, OK, thanks!".
I thought that the long waiting time was because everyone else was queuing up to get news of the birth and I stayed on hold for 21 minutes . . .
Has anyone had success getting hold of these scammers? What am I likely to be billed for this and can I get my money back? Grrrrr.
One way to contact these Scammers is on
0870 240 2559, Data Partnetship Solutions ...
the person who answers the phone, almost immediately) is a sales agent, as for the managering director which immediately rattles their cage, you won't get him but ask for a senior supervisor ... tell him/ber to take you off all their lists, if you ask them where they got your number .. you get some cr*p that you need to write in .. (I'll say nothing). I told them if I received any more calls from them, or their assiciated companies that I would take legal action against them as I am registered with the TPS, and have been for 16 months!
Is anyone getting positive responses to their complaints to TPS and the Info Commissioner or is it just a case of 'leave it with us'? I'm being pestered by that 0870 robot.
Incidentally, that 21-minute call to an 0871 number has cost you roughly £2.10. These numbers cost about 10p a minute at any time.
There are lots of people ringing them back so these guys are making a lot of cash from this and they figure they will make the most of it until they are forcibly closed down. Question is when.
Agggghhhhh,
Why oh why did I not google this stupid company first!!!!!
I got the usual message from John at DPS who has a massage for me and of course I called and was held in a queue for 25mins when I eventually gave up. I am waiting for an important call and I was sure it was probably them so later on I phoned again from my MOBILE!!!!! Why!!!!
I was then on hold for another 25 mins then was cut off. Thats when I googled them and found this site.
Has anyone got a clue how much this is gonna cost from my mobile?? Is there anyway of not paying it??
I, too, received a call from a very polite-sounding 'John/Jon' requesting me to ring an '0871' number. Not suspecting a scam I rang the number a handful of times but each time I got 'you are number X in the queue' message and I rang off. Then I started to smell a rat. Who would be sending me an urgent message to an answering service when I'm easily contactable in at least half a dozen other ways? Who were DPS anyway? Five minutes on the Internet lead me to this thread and I am very grateful for the warnings.
DPS sounds very familiar to me. Have they run a scam involved text messaging? About a year ago I found my mobile phone bill had unexpectedly increased 300 percent!!! When I contacted O2 I was informed it was due to the fact that I had subscribed to a premium rate service which provided trashy, often vulgar, text messages and I was being charged about a quid for each message. I had NOT SUBSCRIBED to such a service and O2 were unwilling to help me. They said it was a matter between me and the company. However, I tracked down the company via O2 and I threaten the company with Ofcom. I said I would be sending transcripts of these 'filthy' messages to Ofcom. This stopped the text messaging pretty promptly. I was upset that O2 would not act upon to one of its customers.
I think the company who committed this text messaging fraud is possibly the same one that's running the '0871' scam. Has anyone heard of DPS in relation to the text messaging scam?
Have now whinged at TPS, Watchdog (following link on previous post) and the Information Commisioner's Office. The latter confirmed that these complaints are mounting up and that the practise definitely IS illegal. A form is being sent to me by post for my official complaint.
In order to register a complaint you need to contact the office via one of the following methods (I called the helpline)
Post: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Telephone:
01625 545745 - Helpline
01625 545740 - Notification helpline
01625 545700 - Switchboard
Fax: 01625 524510
Their website is:
https://www.ico.gov.uk/Global/contact_us.aspx
(Sorry if that doesn't work as a link. If all else fails do a copy and past with it.)
Remember to make a note of the date & time of the call, the number they used (1471 will provide this. This is enough info for the company to be identified.
Thanks for all the help previously found here. Hope my contribution will also help others.
Just to let you know - I received a DPS scam call this morning (October 9th at 11.15). This was a "hello, hello" type, then the line went dead, then I dialled 1471 and called them back before receiving an automated "one of our representatives tried to call". Complaint registered with the TPS. Thanks for this thread, which I found to make my complaint with (I *am* registered with the TPS BTW).
I received a call at 09.21 this morning which I missed so I 1471'd it (none of the numbers given above) and returned the call. I got a recorded message telling me that I was calling Data Partnership Solutions and the office was closed. I was given the opening hours 10am - ? I have TPS'd my number but I was half expecting a call back asking me my opinion about intermediate technology from the charity Practical Action. Is this the new charity line?
Same again, October 10 today picked up a couple of messages from John at DPS with 0871 208 4197. Thankfully, I didn't call (although I was just about to) and checked on Google. Have contacted Watchdog as they must be making a mint of this, the cheeky swines.
Same again,james from dps rang to say ive got some messages to collect phone this number-08712084197,thanks to this site i didnt try and collect the so called messages...These buggers want bull whipping...
DPS are now using the number 0871 208 4197 for their scams, I suspect they have bought a whole range of DDI's I got three calls today on my answerphone from them. Simular message but without the phrase "to speak to a live operator" on the end.
I got a message on my answering machine today saying there was a message waiting and could I call 0871 2084197. I called but when I was told I was in a queue I hung up. Then I googled the number and found this site. Cheeky b*****s. I am registered with the TPS.
The Information Commissioners office acknowledged my complaint today and said they were investigating DPS and assdociated company Satcover. Found this cutting.. They've been doing something similar for a long time.
Now they are just looking for the 3p per minute revenue from the phone call to 0870. So they're quite happy for you to ring them up and complain - as long as you do it by calling one of their 0870 or 0871 numbers. Absolute swines.
Police will consider complaints of harrassment if exact times are provided.
Daily Mirror
19 May 2005
SINK THIS 'SKY' SUBS COLD CALL
SKY subscribers beware, if you haven't had a call from Subscriber Services yet you will soon.
The company makes 25,000 cold calls a week, each one starting: "Hello, I'm calling from Subscriber Services regarding the manufacturer's warranty on your Sky television system, which has expired."
The sales rep, on a fiver commission for each new client, then tries to sell a warranty for £65 a year.
But the caller is not actually from the satellite broadcaster, but an outfit that trades as Satellite Direct UK, Satcover, HomeCare, Skycare Service Agreements and Subscriber Services.
It claims more than 400,000 clients, including Judy Brooks of Wakefield, West Yorks, who insists: "They said they were part of Sky Digital."
When her system broke down, she phoned Sussex-based Satellite Direct, only to be told that it couldn't get an engineer to her for three weeks.
Then she called Sky, which said it would have fixed it the next day.
Subscriber Services and its sister companies are owned and run by 40-year-old David Reynolds, driver of two Lexus cars with personalised plates.
He blamed the delay in reaching Judy on sub-contracted engineers.
"We have rectified all the problems by employing our own engineers and the call-out time in that area is one to two days," he told us.
But could his staff's sales pitch mislead people into thinking the call is from Sky itself?
"If somebody says they are unhappy, if they tell us they took out our warranty by mistake or that we are not who they thought we were, we give a full refund," he pledged.
I got scammed but only for a few seconds as office shut!! then decided to put number on google.
Called at 10:49a.m. 11th October 2006 message left on answer service
"Hi this is James from DPS we currently have a message awaiting your collection, to collect your message just call 0871 2084197 thanks"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got called at 4am this morning by 0870 2402559 - also registered with TPS. I hope the organisation responsible is put out of business shortly.
I just got a call from this idiots. But when I put the phone down and then picked up to make a seperate call, they were still there, recording still playing out!
My sister had a call from james asking her to call 0871 2084197 to retrieve a message. she was very worried as her ex husband is in hospital. luckily she cant dial out from her phone and asked me to phone it and get the message. luckily i thought to google the number before i phoned. i did try finding out the cost of the call from bt website but it was very confusing. lucky i found this website
Hi all just recieved a call from DPS saying there is a message waiting. Was suspicious but still called and was on hold for 3 mins before thinking ok maybe not. Contacted TPS and trading standards. DPS seem to have a new number 0871 208 4192.
I'm in the club too. 'This is nitwit from DPS, call 0871 208 4197 to put my kids through college'. I'd rather not if it's all the same..
DOH !!! They got me too!!! I came home from work to a message on my answer phone saying i had a message waiting and to call 0871 208 4197 to collect it. I called the No. and hung on for about 2 mins before I thaught I was gettin scammed.
I got in this evening to find THREE missed calls from 0871/0845/0800 numbers, all from different companies. I thought they were scams but rang each one back to see if there was anyone there I could have a go at! One was DPS (on 0871 208 4198) and another was a company called LBM but at least that was 0800 and they gave a free number to call to be removed from their list.
Hi I got the "the hello this is James from DPS". Like a fool I rang back on 08712084197, waited 5 mins, then hung up. I feel like a fool but I was wating for a call from a company. Once bitten and all that. These people should be closed down.
Found your site by Googling 0870 850 7618 which has been calling my line several times a week when I'm out. They never leave a message and on principal I will never call a 0870 number back to see who it is.
I see only one other person on here has noted this number. Does anyone know who it is? Is it our DPS friends again ?
It's incredible that so many of us are falling for this scam. I would normally never call such a number but unfortunately I was away when I received the message that a voicemail had been left on my landline from DPS (to call 0871 208 4197). I am sure there is a delivery company with similar initials so I phoned FROM MY MOBILE and held for 15 minutes as I'm expecting some important tickets. I gave up as I was swiftly transferred from one piece of music to another for the duration of the call. O2 have confirmed that the 0871 number will be charged at 35p per min but that the call had not registered on my bill/account, even curiouser?! Seems that the easiest way to complain is to ring the Info Commisioners Office on 01625 545745 although all agencies appear to be fairly toothless in light of the weight of evidence at their disposal. Good luck guys!
Just to let every body know that 0871-208-4197 is still being used under the name of "information services" BT state that this is a 10p a minute line
My Aunt on return from holidays 3 days ago, replied to message left on her answer mach. stating:
"James from 'DPS', we cannot leave your message at your location, to call collect on 0871 208 4197"
The number the call came from was 0871 208 4196.
Today in the 'Sunday Life' newspaper (NI).
They state that last year a 'Mail Fraud' was being reactivated in Northern Ireland, from the mainland last year...And toreport to the police.
The same number is being used 0871 208 4197, However they state there is a £15.00 per call rate applied to the number.....
Dirty wrotten scoundrels!
Veronica, re 0870 850 7816 try link http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1156778278 for info on your call
i got a message on the answer machine from james from dps, saying i had to collect a message and he gave me this number 08712084197. my mum rung it and stayed on the phone for about 5 minutes and then got annoyed and hung up! we are waiting for a deliverey from ebay, and thought it might have something to do with that....obviously not!
Let's try that one again. FAO David Weaver or any others wondering about 0870 850 7816 try this link http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1156778278
Hi, I got a call from 'Paul' on 0971 2084197 0n Saturday. I didn't return the call but contacted BT who, rather worryingly, said "No, it's not a premium rate number and it's not a scam. Just ignore it. I'm sure they'll call back if it's important". Yes, I'm sure they will.
Ooops! My call on Saturday came from 0871 208 4197 NOT 0971. Sorry.
Hi, just had a message "please call Paul from the information team could I ring back to get a message left for me on 0871 2084197" my Dad has had a recent spoof call from DPS as well. Googled the number and found this. My dad and I are both registered with TPS.
I had the message to phone 0871 208 4197 but took advice and googled before making a call. Now I am not going to.
I wonder whether the Telephone service provider (similar to BT) is in on the scam so that the two of them share the whole 10p.
One wonders why the Authorities are so slow.
I have also been contacted with a message asking me to call back 08712084197. Thanks to all here for alerting me to not call back.
Can i ask if everyone who has been contacted in this manner are Sky customers, as per Ian's note from October 11th?
I am a Sky subscriber and wondered if our phone numbers are being passed on to 3rd parties by Sky?
Hello Julian,
Thank you for your email.
Your request for information has been passed to the Network Abuse Team and we are able to provide the following information:
The company who has contacted you (DPS) is a market research company, the contact details we have for DPS are as follows;
Information Team
Suite 600
One Commerce Centre 1201
Orange Str
PO Box 511
Wilmington
Delaware
USA
Email Contact: infoteamuk@yahoo.co.uk
In addition we are able to request your telephone number is removed from the DPS call database, if you can provide this information we will submit this for removal.
If you require any more assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Tony Eames
Network Abuse Engineer
Telstra Europe Limited
Got in from a day out found this message on my phone.
"Hi this is Paul from the Information Team we currently have a message awaiting your collection, to collect your message just call 0871 2084197 thanks"
Rang the number as I was expecting some information on a project. Was kept on hold with various messages – “Thank you for holding, your call is important to us”!!!! etc. (Plus bits of music!) Then sussed it was a SCAM!!! Now expecting a bigger phone bill! Can anything be done about recovering these SCAM costs?
You have to understand that it is absolutely no good complaining to your telephone company, whoever it might be. As the major telco, BT is the worst of all! In fact, this whole scam ultimately derives from BT attempting to maintain their monopoly position in the face of falling voice call prices. The truth is that the telcos get a slice of the call income from these premium rate 087x numbers, and it is definitely NOT in their interest to block these calls. It may not be much individually, but when multiplied by the millions of scam calls that have been answered, it starts to add up very quickly. You could try complaining to Ofcom, but as they seem to be completely in league with the telcos (and probably getting an underhand slice of the profits as well, if only in kind), then it appears that you just have to put it down to living in Rip Off Britain......
Received a message from DPS today - fortunately pinged the number on Google first as it didnt make immediate sense to me - found this thread. I have an 01932 prefix phone number ... just in case they're targetting areas - we can follow their slow, decrepid crawl through the exchanges.
Watchdog - you listening ?
god damn just been pinched 08712084197 called today! ive been expecting a call to do with a package so when i missed the phone mistakenly thought it might be them and quickly phoned it back where it took me on to automated message saying this is the collection team blah blah blah we are busy at present but we know your waiting and we are trying to answer your call (some nice music to boot and repeated apoligies for waiting)23 minutes before i got suspious and started to question the code hung up and checked answering machine i had a message from paul at the collections team please call 08712084197 to retreive your message, then i knew it was a scam why wouldnt you just leave my message there and then you ass holes! googled the number and bingo find out i aint the only stupid fuck out there!
Hi,
I got a call from 0871 208 4197 - Paul. Thought it sounded a bit dodgy. Knew 0871's weren't too expensive, but when I dialled I got dead tone last night.
Searched google today. found this site. glad I couldn't get through!
Just got a call from "Paul" at the information team asking me to call him back on 0871 2084197 as he had a message for me. So glad i googled the no. before i rang. They should have their bits cut off!
I too have just had a 1571 message from a guy who's name I have not remembered. 0871 208 4197 was the number he asked me to call him back on to collect my 'message'. I imagine it not to be along the lines of 'Thank you for paying money into our account'. Rather annoying. Thanks google and everyone above who made it clear that it is total rubbish.
GOt the same message - from 'Paul'. These people are awful. We're lucky we are aware of these scams and are able to google numbers and all that. Think how much money these sick selfish people are making from elderly people or people who have no idea and no easy access to the web. SOmething serious needs to be done to stop these fraudsters!!
Just had a message left on 1571 by Paul from the "information team" please ring 0871 208 4197 to collect a message. Thanks to this blog i will not be bothering.
had a phone call today from dps saying i have a letter waiting for collection, did not think at the time and rang the number, got cut off twice but the third i stayed on, i heard a man in the background saying retrieve and walking around his house. it was too quite to be a office the number was 07099904736
Hi, the're still at it. Saturday 27 October 2006. Just had an american sounding automated message. Also registered with TPS. Will be sending a complaint. I have an 01827 number.
have informed Watch dog about DPS and left the mobile number i phoned back
The pack of Bas**rds im only 18 and i dont know about scams till i found this website after!!
how can they use so many numbers? this mobile number was obviously some blokes number
i hope this mans next Sh*t feel like a headgehog holding a pinapple in his hand!!!
i hope this mans next S**t feel like a headgehog holding a pinapple in his hand!!!
Just been hit by the 0871 208 4197 scam . This was a 'This is the information team ,you have a message, please phone 'version .As I was expecting a message I rang back.I was put on hold and hung up after 21secs.
Sadly only found this site AFTER, keep up the good work!.
BT tell me the cost is 10p a min with a 3 p set up charge and it's rounded up to a minute so that's 13p for the first minute and 10p thereafter- oh and no they cant do anything about it!
DO NOT CALL THE INFORMATION TEAM BACK!
I just received a call from 0871 2084196. The phone was right next to me so I answered with the standard 'WHAT?' to unknown callers. Someone said 'hello' a few times and then disconnected before I could tell him where to go.
Hello, I also just received a message from 0871 2084197 asking me to phone that number to retrieve my message. So i came and googled the number and this is what I found, just letting you know it's still around
0870 2402559 Data Partnership Solutions rang us four separate times (to my knowledge). My number is on the TPS.
What 'entertained' me was that all four calls rang ONLY THREE RINGS - in other words designed to ring off before I got the chance to answer - I rang 1471 and called the number back (at my expense) to be confronted with a d*ck asking if I would like to complete the 'survey'.
I said I would like to make a complaint and was told by some snotty male voice "that they were entitled to call me as they were a survey company and not sales, and No I can't be removed their database either" and then they promptly hung up on me - Charming! NOT.
Of course I have made a complaint to the TPS.
Phil B
Had a message from 0871 2084197 this morning and googled it before I did anything else!! Thanks for the info on the site, much appreciated
Found a message on my phone the other day too lazy to listen to it until today. Glad I googled it and found this blog. The cynic in me knew it was a scam. Not addressing me personally. 0871 no. no ref number.
Gits!!!
Just had 1471 give me 0870 240 2559 so googled it and found my way here.
We are also registered with TPS and ex-directory, a lot of posters mention this above and I almost wonder if the calls are taregtting such number.
Three calls from 0870 2402559 in the last two days, to a central London number. No messages left. Glad to have all the information you provide here.
Hi, googled the number they used (2 numbers on consecutive nights) and found this. They said "Hi, this is John/Paul from the information team".... I almost called as thought it was some sort of new telemessage or something as just celebrated a birthday but was suspicious as no company or organisation was specifically mentioned. Perhaps theyre using "The information team" to be both nondescript yet official sounding. I'm signed up to TPS o will report it.
I too had Paul from the information centre.
Have phoned BT and they've made a note in their nuisance calls area. Also say phone ICSTIS on 0800 500 212 to report it.
In a similar vain - someone calls saying "hello - hello - hello" and hangs up. First time got tricked (doh) into calling back the non-witheld CLD and got held indefinately. Similar (obviously recorded) originating from
0871 208 4196 and 0871 240 9000.
Reported to BT nuisance calls dept, their response - "nothing we can do, no point to give us the numbers, entirely legal", hmm!
Received a 1571 message yesterday from 'Paul on the information team' asking me to call 0871 208 4197 to pick up a message. Suspected a scam as no company name given but as I was expecting a delivery phoned the number today. Long wait to get through to eventually speak to someone who explained they are a 'market research company' and had phoned to see if I would participate in their research. When I asked for the name of the company, the operator hung up. I've reported them to Ofcom - anyone else should do so too as I was told they will monitor the number of complaints before taking action. I am also going to contact Watchdog. I think it's shocking that this outfit clearly operating a scam is allowed to keep going.
Today I recieved the automated call about 'do I have a sky dish', from the exact same number that this blog was written about.
Thats 5 months since the author reported them.
Your complaints to TPS/Oftel/Icstis/etc etc arent doing any good it seems.
Why is this company allowed to bend the rules in this way. Are the telecom authorities really so powerless/incompetent that they cant slap a fine on them?
I too received one of these calls today and hung up
Data Partnership Solutions registered offices are at this firm of accountants in East Sussex. One recommendation might be calling them to advise them that this particular company has a questionable manner of business. If someone has access to Companies House records for this company, with the Directors personal details, please post it here on this page
Data Partnership Solutions
c/o
UHY Hacker Young
168 Church Road
Brighton & Hove
East Sussex
BN3 2DL
General Enquiries:
Richard Simmons
Tel: 01273 726 445
Fax: 01273 731 821
The OFCOM complaint URL is:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/landline/silent/
I have just recieved an automated call from the company.
Does anyone have a land line number to contat them?
I have repeatedly had 'silent' calls from Data Solutions Partnership and despite specking to someone who agreed to remove my details I received another call this morning, three weeks after my number had been "removed". I have complained to all the usual bodies who are (laughingly) supposed at act against such things but its obvious that this company is making fools of us all. I have also complained to my MP. I too wish that Companies House posted a phone number.
My post in this thread was published on Saturday but now you have removed it along with some porno spam that was nothing to do with me.
Why?????????
It was not spam and it was a particularly detailed description of the scam methods of Data Partnerships Solutions/Satellite Direct.
So much for Hacking Cough. More like Short Attention Span if you ask me.
I can't be bothered to make my whole post again unless I can have an absolute guarantee it will not be arbitarily deleted without good reason.
Julian,
It wasn't deleted on purpose. The software that drives this site was upgraded late Saturday, which may have led to it being killed off or it might have been caught up in a manual spam clearout by mistake. Please repost it - I'll keep an eye out for it.
Chris
08712084196
Hi just googled this number as i just recieved a message on the phone saying i hadmessages to collect...found your page seems its the same scam different( only slightly number)
Another number to add to the list, given by "James from the Information Team": 0871 208 9403
I received a message on the anwer machine today from James from the Information Team (0871 208 9403). I was suspicious and found this site on google.