@NAT - FREE Call Blocker Units

FREE Call Blocker Units For People Receiving Scam Or Nuisance Phone Calls

*** APPLY ASAP - DO NOT DELAY ***

The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team has secured government funding to provide free* call blocking units to help protect people in receipt of scam or nuisance phone calls and feel their circumstance may make them more likely to fall for a scam.

Applications can be made through their website: www.FriendsAgainstScams.org.uk/callblocker

What Is A Call Blocker And How Does It Work?

The NTS Scams Team is supplying the trueCall Secure Plus call blocker unit. A call blocker is a unit that filters unwanted scam or nuisance phone calls (more info here) from your landline (this unit does not work with mobile phones). You can watch some short animations on how the unit works here. The call blocker checks the caller's number. If it is a trusted caller then it allows the phone to ring as normal. If the caller isn’t recognised, then the call blocker acts as a personal assistant by intercepting the call and asking the caller to identify themselves. This process blocks unwanted calls without the phone ever ringing. If you want even more protection, the call blocker can completely block calls from unrecognised callers with an automated message asking them to hang up and call a nominated person if their call is important. The unit plugs into an existing phone and phone line, it can work alongside broadband and/or lifeline/pendant devices that are already installed.

Further Information

The unit can be installed and set up by a qualified engineer from QubeGB who will show you how to manage the unit's settings. At installation you will be asked to complete a short survey and consent form. The NTS Scams Team may contact the applicant at three months after installation, to carry out another survey.

To find out if you (or someone you know) is eligible for a free call blocker to be fitted, please apply online. 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 either yourself or someone else by completing a short online survey with their consent.

• Receive the call blocker (can take up one month for your unit to arrive) along with a welcome letter detailing how to arrange an installation date and time.

• A QubeGB engineer arrives at the arranged date and time to install the call blocker and completes the installation survey and consent form. Please note that there is a self-installation option, more information on this will arrive with the unit.

• After three months, a member of the NTS Scams Team may contact the user to complete a short survey over the phone.

****There is no charge associated with obtaining a free call blocker. However, on the day of installation 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 your standard call rate if your call tariff does not include free weekend and evening calls.

• If they would prefer not to have this happen, it can always be switched off and no charges can occur.

During this link, the unit will transfer a list of the recently blocked scam and nuisance calls for the National Trading Standards (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 installed, you do not unplug or switch off the unit from the power or from your phone to avoid any unnecessary charges.

At no point will anyone contact you out of the blue from the project and request money. QubeGB will only contact you to arrange an installation date if you haven’t made contact within two weeks of receiving your call blocker in the post.

The trueCall Secure Plus call blocking unit comes with three years free access to the internet control panel. This control panel allows you to view incoming and outgoing calls and you are able to set up the unit preferences. However, after three years you are asked to opt in to continue this service which is currently £10 for one year, £15 for two years or £20 for three years access. However the control panel isn’t needed for the unit to work.

If you would like to apply on behalf of any consumers, you can do so from today as an organisation on behalf. If consumers would like to apply for themselves, or on behalf of family/friends, applications open at 9am on Friday.