Harrassed by "Please Call Me" texts

TheDriver

Need some advice, my Mother has since Thurs, being bombarded with Please Call me texts from an 086 number, maybe 6-7 a day, all times of the day and night. Being retired, she was getting distressed and called the number where it was hung up when the girl at other end heard what she was saying. She then rang again and left a voicemail stating to stop. They continued.
I rang this number where a girl answered so the minute I mentioned about the call me texts, the phone went mute, I rung back and went to voicemail.
Any idea what the best course of action? Its obviously someone messing and not a scam, they sounded Irish etc but its annoying and shes feeling helpless etc.

MrJoeSoap

The Gardai are pretty much your only course of action.

Basq

Contact O2 with the number, and explain the situation?

TheDriver

was wondering which of the 2 would be best, a garda who is a friend suggested ringing O2 to block the number but we shouldn't have to do that and also feel someone shouldn't get away doing this as it is harrassment. I am perturbed though that they will answer the phone to me and then go dead!

soc

Perhaps you could send them a 'please call me text' back to them, every time they send you one? I'm sure after a while they'll get sick of it themselves.

TheDriver

was thinking that but if we have to take action afterwards, then wouldn't that look like we harrassed them back?

MrJoeSoap

I'm fairly sure o2 won't be able to block the number from contacting you. There may be certain handsets that can do it but network providers are a different story.

Have there been any texts sent since the time when you rang them?

Sizzler

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

The Gardai are pretty much your only course of action.

+1

Operators cant help you. You have to go the Gardai, simple as. Local station will suffice.

TheDriver

not sure, will talk to her later and check how progress is being made. However she rang yesterday and left a stern voicemail and they still came at lunchtime today so whoever the messer is, they are obviously stupid to be continuing.

TheDriver

Sizzler wrote: »

+1

Operators cant help you. You have to go the Gardai, simple as. Local station will suffice.

Any ideas what the procedure is, i.e. will it lots of hassle for us afterwards etc or does it follow a nice easy route?
What is the phone isn't registered?

Sizzler

TheDriver wrote: »

Any ideas what the procedure is, i.e. will it lots of hassle for us afterwards etc or does it follow a nice easy route?
What is the phone isn't registered?

Might take a few days as The Gardai wont take it tooooo seriously unless a threat has been made, but basically what they will do is go to the operator of whichever network it is on and they will get the persons details, if its unreg'd then they'll ask the number to be binned. Also bear in mind the odds are they are doing this to a few people and not just your mum.

TheDriver

I was thinking that but its not so much no threats but its the continuous texts coming through, ususally few at a time. Suppose if few go to the Gardai, then it will stop this joker. TO be honest, she put her foot down and they continue, woman who answered phone doesn't sound like a teenager and kids crying in background etc etc. When my Mum first rang, a woman answered and a man grabbed phone off her and told her to stop using the phone and hung it up, with a kitchen with kids according to what she heard.
All very strange!!

jor el

That all sounds very dodgy, like something serious is going no there. It's not your mother's problem though, nor is it her fault.

The operator cannot block a single number, and the Gardai can't do much if there are no threats.

If you want to annoy them in to going away, you could schedule webtexts for all hours of the night, do that every night for a week, and have your mother turn her phone off for the entire time. Something simple like "Go away" would be best. A few hundred texts at 4 in the morning for a week might make them get the message. Get everyone in your family to do the same, so they are bombarded with texts from a dozen or so numbers, for extra effect.

TheDriver

Thanks all, horribly frustrating none the less as the woman is not young and struggles with the mobile and has elderly relative so is running for mobile everytime it beeps for updates and concerned that if I start a war she will suffer as she isn't the one wanting to fight it

Kensington

jor el wrote: »

If you want to annoy them in to going away, you could schedule webtexts for all hours of the night, do that every night for a week, and have your mother turn her phone off for the entire time. Something simple like "Go away" would be best. A few hundred texts at 4 in the morning for a week might make them get the message. Get everyone in your family to do the same, so they are bombarded with texts from a dozen or so numbers, for extra effect.

+1.

This is generally pretty effective in getting them off your case. The Vodafone website lets you send delayed webtexts. Would take you about 20 minutes to set up for 5 texts scheduled on the hour, every hour, for a day or two to be sent to the person's phone - usually gets them off your back! Makes you wonder why they continue to send Call Me texts to your mother though, especially since their number shows up when they do it...

TheDriver

GOod idea I suppose. Why send to my mother, no idea and they answer the phone yet still continue and when questioned on the phone, just block it out as opposed to sorry it was my child playing etc. Annoying to say the least.

glanman

I had a girl a few years ago who sent me a lot of strange messages after we broke up, pretty scary ones as it went on and I asked o2 to block,they said they couldn't. they eventually stopped

If you put the number up here, or pm people willing to help to bombard them;> a few 100 messages should suffice. I'll help you out anyway!! send blank messages

Slow Motion

glanman wrote: »

I had a girl a few years ago who sent me a lot of strange messages after we broke up, pretty scary ones as it went on and I asked o2 to block,they said they couldn't. they eventually stopped

If you put the number up here, or pm people willing to help to bombard them;> a few 100 messages should suffice. I'll help you out anyway!! send blank messages

Do Not put the number up here! It's is somebodys personal details and as such is against the rules and will probably result in a banning or infraction! Don't know what the rules are concerning pms though, but check before doing anything like this!

glanman

ok dont put them up here but something to this effect would work. even just get some of your friends to do it

Oryx

Phone from blocked number. Dont mention anything about whats going on. Ask for 'Dave' or about a car for sale, or some bs story. See how much info you can gather that way. (Its amazing what some people will tell you when caught on the hop like that) You might learn nothing, or you might learn its a neighbor/mum of a kid you know, or something else might shed some light.

TheDriver

I was going to do that but in all honesty, no one knows my Mums number, its ex directory, she only barely texts family and relatives. In fact, my Dad's mobile number would be more smarter to find out as don't think thats ex directory. I am a secondary teacher so had the conspiracy theory but in all honesty, they could get my parents number off the phone book rather than texting.
Won't post any number up here as thats not fair but will get a plan together
P.S. Mum got another text after I rang them!

Snaggerman

Easiest solution, IMO, is to just get your ma a new sim card. As far as I know, there all free as long as you purchase some credit at the time. Assuming its pay as you go and not a bill pay tho.....

TheDriver

COuld get a new number but thats not fair on Mum as her friends would be as bad as her with tech and changing a number would not be easy!

Snaggerman

TheDriver wrote: »

COuld get a new number but thats not fair on Mum as her friends would be as bad as her with tech and changing a number would not be easy!

Ah, can understand that.
I remember my own mother getting late night prank calls before, I have to admit the Gardai weren't much help, no actual threats, make a list, blah blah. We resorted to making like 100s of calls back with blocked numbers, got rid of them soon enough. Maybe try this?

Joseph

Contact your local Garda station where you can either, get a new number for free or persue further, as it is harassment.

Bob Z

This probably wont work but worth a try. Try phoning back so that you so you go onto their voicemail. The person might have left their name on their answering service

Random

What phone does she have? It may be possible to block texts from this paritcular number using the phone.

Some Samsungs have the feature and you could probably purchase an application if it's a Symbian phone.

kravmaga

TheDriver wrote: »

COuld get a new number but thats not fair on Mum as her friends would be as bad as her with tech and changing a number would not be easy!

@OP

You posted and asked for advice from folk here.
Any solution that has been given to you and your mum has been rejected by you.

So you then have a problem with "NO SOLUTION".

Make a decision and get off the fence hun.

dudara

blueeyedboy Please respect other posters.

dudara

Lollipops23

is nobody else a bit suspicious that the person sending these texts may need help?(not just the mental kind!)

is is possible she is trying to get someone's attention seeing as the phone was snatched out of her hand when she answered?

OP go to the Gardaí and report it, pointing out the conversation your mum overheard. they may be able to advise what they can do.

Bob Z

Lollipops23 wrote: »

is nobody else a bit suspicious that the person sending these texts may need help?(not just the mental kind!)

is is possible she is trying to get someone's attention seeing as the phone was snatched out of her hand when she answered?

OP go to the Gardaí and report it, pointing out the conversation your mum overheard. they may be able to advise what they can do.

Yes it is a bit strange the way the person is using their own number. You would think they would block it or something. Maybe its a kid?

foggy_lad

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

I'm fairly sure o2 won't be able to block the number from contacting you. There may be certain handsets that can do it but network providers are a different story.

Have there been any texts sent since the time when you rang them?

as with most networks all their text services and call services can be withdrawn in the event of abuse! contact the guards and then your mothers operator and inform them the police are dealing with your complaint and ask for those call me texts to be suspended from the offending number untill the matter is investigated.

jor el wrote: »

That all sounds very dodgy, like something serious is going no there. It's not your mother's problem though, nor is it her fault.

The operator cannot block a single number, and the Gardai can't do much if there are no threats.

If you want to annoy them in to going away, you could schedule webtexts for all hours of the night, do that every night for a week, and have your mother turn her phone off for the entire time. Something simple like "Go away" would be best. A few hundred texts at 4 in the morning for a week might make them get the message. Get everyone in your family to do the same, so they are bombarded with texts from a dozen or so numbers, for extra effect.

they will probably go to the guards and you will end up in court with a conviction and facing a civil action for harrassment/stalking?

TeaServer

I don't think there is any malice intended with these SMS messages so going to the guards is a bit extreme IMO. Have you tried to call O2 and ask them to exclude your number from receiving these messages? It could be a technical glitch? Seems the simplest solution to me.

These messages are not regular SMS's in the sense that you don't actually send a SMS to send the message. O2 send the message on behalf of the person out of credit. I would be very surprised if they could not exclude your number from this service. Is your mother an O2 customer too?

foggy_lad

TeaServer wrote: »

I don't think there is any malice intended with these SMS messages so going to the guards is a bit extreme IMO. Have you tried to call O2 and ask them to exclude your number from receiving these messages? It could be a technical glitch? Seems the simplest solution to me.

These messages are not regular SMS's in the sense that you don't actually send a SMS to send the message. O2 send the message on behalf of the person out of credit. I would be very surprised if they could not exclude your number from this service. Is your mother an O2 customer too?

sending so many is most likely malicious as even if they were being sent accidentally after the calls to the offending number they would/should have stopped! let the police deal with the little "apprentice thugs" and o2/any network will do nothing unless the police are involved!

TeaServer

foggy_lad wrote: »

sending so many is most likely malicious as even if they were being sent accidentally after the calls to the offending number they would/should have stopped! let the police deal with the little "apprentice thugs" and o2/any network will do nothing unless the police are involved!

My reasoning was that as the message is sent by the 'operator' as opposed to the 'subscriber' there could be some glitch in the O2 system that is causing it to repeatedly send the messages. Its worth asking them to rule it out, then by all means get the guards involved if O2 don't/can't resolve the issue..

Overature

you can block the phone from reciveing from certain numbers.

foggy_lad

TeaServer wrote: »

My reasoning was that as the message is sent by the 'operator' as opposed to the 'subscriber' there could be some glitch in the O2 system that is causing it to repeatedly send the messages. Its worth asking them to rule it out, then by all means get the guards involved if O2 don't/can't resolve the issue..

true this can happen in some areas between cells where messsages get "bounced" back and forth but this would not be happening on diffferent days without the texts being sent on different days, and after the op and their mother rang to ask the person to stop sending the texts. the phone and number they are using should be shut down immediately and let them explain themselves in court if they want their service back!

gerrycollins

Sizzler wrote: »

+1

Operators cant help you. You have to go the Gardai, simple as. Local station will suffice.

All they need is a record from your self/Mother of two of the texts, written statement etc. They then have the right to request the operator to provide activity on the account as proof of such text and everything else that could might be used against this person in a harrassment case.

Its actually straight forward

TheDriver

Thanks to all! Regrading blue eyes, I am not rejecting everyones suggestions, just getting opinions before action.
Her phone is old nokia so barely capable of texts.
Thought about malicious but lady answered nice and calm and went mute when i mentioned texts. Number was used.
Don't want to contact guards so might try o2 first and see what they say and then try the law after that. If the law says its out of their hands then i can employ the same tactics back as it obviously is not illegal!

tony1kenobi

Overature wrote: »

you can block the phone from reciveing from certain numbers.

The call me texts are not coming from the protagonist. It is a service provided by the network. I don't think you can block calls from a network.

ecom

O2 are introducing a service over the next few days/week where you will be able to stop your phone receiving texts from certain numbers. I believe you will be able to do this online. Will be worth seeing if that works

Ste.phen

ecom wrote: »

O2 are introducing a service over the next few days/week where you will be able to stop your phone receiving texts from certain numbers. I believe you will be able to do this online. Will be worth seeing if that works

Got any more information about that? Sounds interesting

TheDriver

Well to update ye, texts have stopped but will monitor if that remains the case.
Thanks for all the input so far

newtoboards

TheDriver wrote: »

was wondering which of the 2 would be best, a garda who is a friend suggested ringing O2 to block the number but we shouldn't have to do that and also feel someone shouldn't get away doing this as it is harrassment. I am perturbed though that they will answer the phone to me and then go dead!

The network provider will be able to block the number from calling but won't be able to block the texts I'm afraid.

ecom

Ste.phen wrote: »

Got any more information about that? Sounds interesting

not much, just that you will be able to stop a number from sending you SMS's by texting a shortcode and i think online also. I've been assured its being launched over the coming weeks

MOH

foggy_lad wrote: »

true this can happen in some areas between cells where messsages get "bounced" back and forth but this would not be happening on diffferent days without the texts being sent on different days, and after the op and their mother rang to ask the person to stop sending the texts. the phone and number they are using should be shut down immediately and let them explain themselves in court if they want their service back!

I texted a mate before who was working somewhere abroad, got a mail from him a few days later asking what was going on - he'd received the single message I sent over a dozen times, spread over a couple of days.

If the text in all the messages is identical there is a chance it's a glitch in the network, might be worth checking with O2 - although the problem could be on the sending network's side.

IsThatSo?

That happened me once or twice, with O2 also. My sister sent me a text and it came through 6 times that day, and about twice a day for another 2 days :eek:

_Whimsical_

That sounds pretty weird OP. I feel sorry for your mum because it's probably upsetting for her.

If you don't get any joy with 02 I think you should follow an earlier posters advice and ring the texter from a withheld number. Don't mention the calls at all when speaking to whoever answers. Actually,it might be better to try and get someone with a female voice the texter has not heard before to do it.Have them pretend to be from O2 or whatever network they are with and inquire if they got all their free credit or say you are doing a check on reception in their area etc. Try politely to get their name. Then if the texting starts again reply to them using their full name and say that you will be going to the guards if she sends another text. If you do get a name check it against names in your classes also.

If you don't get a name then I'd seriously consider getting your mum to change her number. Some people can get weird little obsessions in a bid to gain attention. I think you are better to cut off whatever little fix they get from it and not feed it so that they don't up the ante to get more attention.

beemurf

I'd say most likely a glitch in the system to be honest I've had similar strange problems.

There a few weeks back I sent a load of call me texts to the mrs was caught middle of nowhere with no credit. Anyway she didn't ring or reply to any so I kept sending them like an eejet. Turns out when I got home she had bout six or seven call me texts from a number she didn't know nothing like mine. Sent her another call me just to check and that same number came up again and a few other random 086 numbers on further attempts, don't know where it was coming from! Lucky she didn't ring the number and eat em out of it sure she was livid with the amount of call me texts she was after getting!

God knows where our calls and texts could be getting diverted to sure my number was probably going to another randomer as a call me text at same time.

beemurf

chilly wrote: »

That sounds pretty weird OP. I feel sorry for your mum because it's probably upsetting for her.

If you don't get any joy with 02 I think you should follow an earlier posters advice and ring the texter from a withheld number. Don't mention the calls at all when speaking to whoever answers. Actually,it might be better to try and get someone with a female voice the texter has not heard before to do it.Have them pretend to be from O2 or whatever network they are with and inquire if they got all their free credit or say you are doing a check on reception in their area etc. Try politely to get their name. Then if the texting starts again reply to them using their full name and say that you will be going to the guards if she sends another text. If you do get a name check it against names in your classes also.

If you don't get a name then I'd seriously consider getting your mum to change her number. Some people can get weird little obsessions in a bid to gain attention. I think you are better to cut off whatever little fix they get from it and not feed it so that they don't up the ante to get more attention.

Read my post above! I'm sorry but if someone rang me after that incident and I didn't know my texts were going haywire and rang me. I'd be well sure I'd be thinking they were a complete psycho. It's most likely innocent in fairness. If numbers are getting crossed somewhere it could be that woman sending one off message to someone thats repeating through a glitch or a kid sending call me repeatedly to parent.

_Whimsical_

beemurf wrote: »

If numbers are getting crossed somewhere it could be that woman sending one off message to someone thats repeating through a glitch or a kid sending call me repeatedly to parent.

It could be a kid messing. If it was entirely unintended however I'd say they might have been open to replying to a woman who rang saying she was getting texts from them .The OP and family have contacted them on 3 occasions now.It's very easy to send a text back if you don't want to talk and say "what are you talking about? I'm not texting you".

That said, last year I was driven crazy by a Polish builder accidentally ringing me up to 20 times a day and saying nothing.Somehow I ended up on his speed-dial and everytime he stuffed his phone in his pocket it would ring my house and I'd get a 5 min call where all I'd hear was the muffled sound of a man walking around ,sawing or hammering as he hummed along to the radio. One morning I woke up to 20 of those calls on my answering machine before 9am.I rang him and texted him but his English was very poor so he had no idea what I was talking about.Eventually it was sorted when he tried to find out why his credit was disappearing so fast and he rang and apologised. I was obvious to me that it was an accidental call but I'm sure a call containing just an electric saw and a man singing along to Kylie could've frightened some people . I suppose I can only be thankfull he wasn't a death metal fan. I might have found that a bit more menacing.