Something needs to be done about cold callers - I'm Roaming

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PaulB_

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Hi all..

Just sharing from frustration....

I have ended up abroad for nearly 2 years (unexpectedly - was meant to be a break, but then life happened) - but I have maintained some of my SA responsibilities such as banking, and a SA number (for OTP etc)

and because I am abroad, I am dependent on International Roaming. I don't think my current phone (Redmi Note 13 - supports Wifi Calling)

I'm getting to the end of my rope with all the cold callers coming in, and I see no way of being able to opt out. It has gotten so bad at times, that I have been forced to switch off my Vodacom Simcard, only having it on when I need an OTP.

It's really becoming an issue.

This one company has attempted to contact me 6 times since Wednesday - three times today already.

Each time my phone rings, due to roaming, Vodacom deducts airtime due to roaming.


This is harassment, and I am being penalized for it....
 
And even if you don't answer the call, you'll still pay for the time it was ringing.
 
Don't worry, there are numerous articles here about a crackdown on cold callers.

So don't worry, just wait, their day will come. Just be patient.

LMAO
 
Grouter said:
What?
Click to expand...
True unfortunately. The last time I was in the UK I also had a number of calls from unknown numbers that I didn't answer. My itemised billing showed the charges for these unanswered calls. Varied between R2 and R3. On Vodacom.
 
Yep. Its out of control. I doubt there is an easy solution to do it as a blanked ban as there are just too many numbers spammers and telemarketers call from. Unless there is an option to auto reject all spam calls in truecaller or something. Even then it may trigger roaming charges.

Best bet is to do exactly what you are doing. Only turn the SIM on when you know you need an OTP. This has gotten a lot worse in the last 10 years.
 
Cius said:
Yep. Its out of control. I doubt there is an easy solution to do it as a blanked ban as there are just too many numbers spammers and telemarketers call from. Unless there is an option to auto reject all spam calls in truecaller or something. Even then it may trigger roaming charges.

Best bet is to do exactly what you are doing. Only turn the SIM on when you know you need an OTP. This has gotten a lot worse in the last 10 years.
Click to expand...
It's gotten a lot worse in the past 6 months. It comes in waves :ROFL:
 
PaulB_ said:
Yep - it seems people aren't aware of this..
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I'm assuming it's like this for every service provider, not just vodacom? Lekker way of printing money for them. Especially if they're the ones spam calling you from some other company they claim no association with /tinfoil hat.
 
PaulB_ said:
Yep - it seems people aren't aware of this..
Click to expand...
You could also just leave that phone off / in airplane mode until you need it or do you want it on in case the bank needs to contact you in an emergency?
 
Did not know this. Did not see it in the terms the last time I checked,

Do you need incoming calls? Why not just bar incoming calls / enable sms roaming?
 
saor said:
You could also just leave that phone off / in airplane mode until you need it or do you want it on in case the bank needs to contact you in an emergency?
Click to expand...
I have Vodacom in a dual sim phone... I've one again switched the simcard off - but feel personally I shouldn't have to do this, and as to your prior message "I'm assuming it's like this for every service provider, not just vodacom? Lekker way of printing money for them. Especially if they're the ones spam calling you from some other company they claim no association with /tinfoil hat."

I have to agree... Not so much a Vodacom issue, but more a wider failure of failing to reign in these cold callers, and subjecting them to harsher penalties....
 
PaulB_ said:
I have Vodacom in a dual sim phone... I've one again switched the simcard off - but feel personally I shouldn't have to do this, and as to your prior message "I'm assuming it's like this for every service provider, not just vodacom? Lekker way of printing money for them. Especially if they're the ones spam calling you from some other company they claim no association with /tinfoil hat."

I have to agree... Not so much a Vodacom issue, but more a wider failure of failing to reign in these cold callers, and subjecting them to harsher penalties....
Click to expand...
Have you considered diverting all calls to Vodacom voicemail? This would be set on a network level via your handset and therefore no ringing and no charges. You could leave your sim on/live so your OTP's would still come through.
 
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FlashSA said:
Have you considered diverting all calls to Vodacom voicemail? This would be set on a network level via your handset and therefore no ringing and no charges. You could leave your sim on/live so your OTP's would still come through.
Click to expand...

Maybe he wants the occasional call to come through.

Funny enough, when on roaming I would always get fewer SA spam calls.

Oh and not everyone invoices for unanswered calls. It's South African companies it seems.
 
Mirai said:
Maybe he wants the occasional call to come through.

Funny enough, when on roaming I would always get fewer SA spam calls.

Oh and not everyone invoices for unanswered calls. It's South African companies it seems.
Click to expand...
Yip, makes total sense. But because OP can't fix the problem at the source, OP needs to self-make a solution for sanity purposes.

If it was me, I would set full divert to voicemail and then set voicemail with a recorded message that says "I am out of the country, either WhatsApp call me on this number or call me on <insert international number here>.

Bye bye spam calls, way for legit calls still to reach me.
 
FlashSA said:
Yip, makes total sense. But because OP can't fix the problem at the source, OP needs to self-make a solution for sanity purposes.

If it was me, I would set full divert to voicemail and then set voicemail with a recorded message that says "I am out of the country, either WhatsApp call me on this number or call me on <insert international number here>.

Bye bye spam calls, way for legit calls still to reach me.
Click to expand...

He has to because South African solutions are sh-t.

Reason 1.

Not smart people in charge. They create laws and think good governance is just creating endless laws.

Reason 2.

Corrupt people in charge who are being disingenuous and work with big companies to allow the spam through anyway.

Probably a combination of 1 and 2.
 
PaulB_ said:
Hi all..

Just sharing from frustration....

I have ended up abroad for nearly 2 years (unexpectedly - was meant to be a break, but then life happened) - but I have maintained some of my SA responsibilities such as banking, and a SA number (for OTP etc)

and because I am abroad, I am dependent on International Roaming. I don't think my current phone (Redmi Note 13 - supports Wifi Calling)

I'm getting to the end of my rope with all the cold callers coming in, and I see no way of being able to opt out. It has gotten so bad at times, that I have been forced to switch off my Vodacom Simcard, only having it on when I need an OTP.

It's really becoming an issue.

This one company has attempted to contact me 6 times since Wednesday - three times today already.

Each time my phone rings, due to roaming, Vodacom deducts airtime due to roaming.


This is harassment, and I am being penalized for it....
Click to expand...
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