The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team has secured funding to provide free* call blocking units to help protect people in receipt of scam and nuisance phone calls on their landline phone.
Please note that there is a limited supply of call blocker units available. You can apply on behalf of someone else with their consent, or you can apply for yourself.
What is a call blocker?
The call blocking units available are trueCall Secure+. A call blocker is a unit that filters unwanted scam and nuisance phone calls from a landline phone (this unit does not work with mobile phones).
In previous call blocker projects run by the NTS Scams Team, these units have blocked 91% of scam and nuisance calls.
The unit plugs into an existing landline phone and phone line, it can work alongside broadband and/or lifeline/pendant devices that are already installed. The unit will also work if your phone must be plugged into your braodband router.
You can find out more about call blocking units, how they work and watch some short animations on how the unit works here.
Further information
Enclosed with the call blocking unit will be a handy set-up guide (can be seen here).
To check eligibility for a free call blocker, please start the questionnaire by clicking on the relevant button below. Please note we have a very limited number of units and they will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
What happens next?
- You can apply for a unit by completing the online questionnaire.
- Receive the call blocking unit along with a welcome letter detailing how to set up the unit (please allow up to two weeks for the unit to arrive).
- Set-up the unit to start blocking scam and nuisance calls.
*There is no charge associated with obtaining a call blocker. However, on the day you set-up the unit and every Sunday after, the unit will perform a link through the phone line to trueCall’s head office (0208 area code in London). This may incur a cost charged at standard call rates, if the user’s call tariff does not include free evening and weekend calls.
During this link, the unit will transfer a list of the recently blocked scam and nuisance calls for the NTS Scams Team to investigate. However, the unit will also perform this link if it is reset (e.g. turned on/off, unplugged/plugged in, during a power cut). The NTS Scams Team recommends that once set-up, the user does not unplug or switch off the power from the unit or the phone, to avoid any unnecessary charges.
At no point will anyone contact the user out of the blue from the project and request money.
The trueCall Secure+ call blocking unit comes with three years free access to the internet control panel. This control panel allows the user to view incoming and outgoing calls and the ability to set up the unit preferences. However, after three years, the user will be asked to opt in to continue this service, which there is a charge for. This payment is not automatic and the control panel is not necessary for the unit to work.
Please click here to read the Privacy Notice to understand how your data will be processed.
Please do not send the team any personal details via email. If you need to contact us regarding an order, please send us an email with the order number and date of application and the team will be in touch within five working days.
