Go ex-directory. Do not complete any'shopping surveys'. Best of all, register your telephone number FOC with the Telephone Preference Service. It means that Sales Companies can no longer ring you at home. We get NO calls now! Visit www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps

Make sure you have a phone with caller ID and don't pick up unless you know the number. If friends complain that you don't pick up explain that if it says "restricted" you translate that as "most screen."

If you do get an unwelcome phone call and they're persistent, blow a whistle down the phone hard. They don't do it again.

Ex Directory is good, because it avoids people picking up your number in local phone books. But these days, even though BT (or other companies) dont admit to this. They sell ex-directory numbers, and I seemed to get more marketing calls etc. then when I was non ex directory. Legally by law, if you ring up the companies what keep pestering you, they legally have to take you off there calling list, if you request so. Also be careful, if you get a marketing call, the second you know it is. Put the phone down asap! Only reason for this is my grandma kept getting 2/3 calls a day, when her phone bill came in, it was huge, only to realise the calls she was receiving were becoming reversed charged! I agree with above, register with telephone preference service!