It's not difficult and can even be therapeutic. Imagine how you will feel when you realise that you are doing something about it. That you are secretly building an evidence file which will put you back in control.

• Buy a good size exercise book from your local stationers to be used as a log book.. You will need one with non-detachable pages and the pages should be numbered if possible.
  
• If you have blocked your phone to withheld numbers - then unblock it. (you will need to receive calls.)
  
• Keep a clock or timer next to the phone.
  
• Start keeping a detailed diary of your unwanted calls.
  
• Log date, time and length of call. Don't keep more than one or two per page. (Keep it neat)
  
• As soon as the call is finished do a 1471 and log if there was a number or if the callerID was withheld. Note down a detailed account of what was said by whom, was the caller male or female etc.
  
• Start trying to go through various scenarios so that you log a number of typical exchanges. You might be upset. You might be angry, Try being very cooperative in order to draw more information as to who is calling and on behalf of whom.
  
• You might want to plead with them to stop calling or to tell them that it is very late and that the children will be wakened.

You will soon learn to get into the role and you will soon understand how to draw the full range of reactions from your harasser.

Do not tell any lies. Keep your reactions typical of the ones which you would have were you not this time turning the tables.

We suggest that you go through this for a month or so.

Keep your call log book in good condition. Do not tear out any pages. Keep the page numbers fully sequential.

In addition too this, we would suggest that you record the calls. Telephone recording is legal. You do not need to warn the other side.

If you use Skype then there are several software programs around which will let you do this. We have found that callBurner is very good and we will be offering it through this site very soon. There are cheaper programs and even free ones but CallBurner seems to be very fully featured and we think that it is worth the price considering the problem you are trying to combat.

If you use a landline then get a telephone recorder from Maplins. However, we will soon be offering a very superior landline telephone recorder through this site and a good price.

If you do record your calls, then you should still keep your written log but also reference each written log to the voice recording which you have obtained on tape or on computer file.

The big question is always -

This is a common misconception.

As long as you are not interfering with the BT phone line then you are breaking no laws. Telephone recording is legal.

Click on the Chilli to download a trial copy of CallBurner, the Skype CallRecorder:-

See also two new links in the library:

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 - statutes library

and

Harassment - Guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service - external links library

NOTE: Quite a few people posted on this "information" thread when they should have started their own. These have all now been removed to a separate thread which can be found HERE

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?400171-Judgments-in-favour-of-Consumers-for-Harrassment-by-Creditors

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?425654-Roberts-v-Bank-of-Scotland-plc-and-another-2013-All-ER-(D)-88-(Jun)-Telephone-Harrassment