Nuisance sales calls getting you down? This may help.

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I expect most of us have experienced unsolicited sales and marketing telephone calls whilst we’re working or cooking the dinner and know how distracting it can be.

I have been running my transcription services business, KATTS, since 2003 so my telephone number has been in the public domain for a long time. I have always received these ‘nuisance’ calls but I've got to say that in 2011 it got to choke point. I was receiving so many calls, not only from pushy sales people but also automated calls that I actually stopped answering the phone.

This had a very detrimental effect on my business as I wasn't picking up new business enquiries unless they came via email. Even more worrying was it was really getting me down emotionally.

A family member told me about the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), the free opt out service enabling you to record your preference on the official register to not receive unsolicited sales and marketing calls in the UK.

‘It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so.’

I had heard about the TPS a year or so before this but I was a bit worried about registering in case people who needed to reach me were barred from getting through by telephone. However, things had reached such a point that I wasn't answering my phone anyway so I thought I had nothing to lose.

I now know that my worry was unfounded because the TPS doesn't work by barring calls, it merely adds your number to a register.

Registering with the TPS was really easy; I registered my telephone number online through their website. The TPS information states ‘it is a legal requirement for telemarketers not to call a TPS subscribed number after 28 days, but you should start noticing a gradual decline from registration’. This is absolutely true.

I have now been registered with the TPS for since 2011 and I would highly recommend it; I am so happy with the results. The telemarketing calls did reduce quite dramatically. If I get any marketing calls now I tell them I am registered with the TPS and generally they apologise and go away.

I can now focus on my transcription services in relative peace and quiet without the phone ringing every five minutes, which is bliss.

For more information or to register with the TPS visit their website at http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html.

If you feel inclined to like and share this article I would be very grateful.

About the author: Sarah King established KATTS professional transcription services in 2003 and specialises in transcription of interviews, conferences and focus groups.

Please visit King Audio Transcription & Typing Services for more information about transcription services.