How to complain

If you continue to get nuisance calls or a certain call is particularly upsetting to you, you might want to make a complaint.

The organisation you should contact to make a complaint depends on the type of nuisance call you've been getting.

An easy way to complain is by using the Which? Consumer Rights complaints tool.

This tool asks you to fill in an online form about the nuisance call you're getting. It will use your answers to decide which organisation you should tell, and automatically sends a complaint to them on your behalf.

If you'd rather contact the organisations yourself, find the type of nuisance call you're getting in the list below for information on how to complain.

Silent and abandoned calls

A call is silent or abandoned if you answered it and:

• there was nobody on the other end of the line, or
• you got an automated message telling you there were no operators available to take your call

If either of these happened, complain to Ofcom through its Silent and Abandoned Calls Complaint Monitoring form.

Unsolicited telesales calls

If you get a sales call you did not ask for, contact the organisation who called you and tell them you no longer want to be called by them.

You should also register your phone number with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).

If the calls continue after this, complain to the TPS or the Information Commissioner's Office.

Recorded marketing messages

If you got a pre-recorded marketing message when you answered the phone, you should contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

You can do this via the ICO website's 'Report automated calls' page.

Unsolicited marketing faxes

If a marketing fax has been sent to your personal or business fax machine, you should contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

You can do this via the ICO website's 'Marketing faxes' page.

Unsolicited marketing texts

If you get a text advertising a product or service, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

You can do this via the ICO website's 'Spam texts and nuisance sales calls' page.

Abusive calls

If the calls you're getting are abusive, threatening or malicious, this is a criminal offence.

Call your phone company and ask for their nuisance or malicious calls team.

If the caller is making threats to you or your family and you think they're real and immediate, call 999 and ask for the police.

If you do not think the threats are immediate, call your local police station by dialling 101 from any landline or mobile phone).