Received a phone call today asking for me by name (wife answered It) from some outfit called BDI.

I asked where they had got my number from (I don't give It to anyone) I was told from one of his colleagues file.

I asked who they were and the fella (with an Irish accent) said they are an Investment Company.

Suspicions prompted my next question which was where are you phoning from?

Catalonia Spain came the reply.

I then said I was not Interested.

I think there was a TV programme sometime ago about such outfits cold calling from abroad.

Needless to say the programme was not very flattering!

Starfrog, it is illegal for companies to contact you if your number is on the exclusion list. In my experience the only people who ignore the rule are foreign companies. The registration only lasts a number of years though so it might be that yours has lapsed. You are right about companies who view you as a customer though.

You can check whether your telephone number is on the exclusion list:

http://www.numbercheck.co.uk/

(you need to register but it's free)