Safety and Security Centre

Auto Trader is now offering sellers the opportunity to substitute their own phone numbers with 'Telesafe' numbers, to prevent advertisers being contacted by canvassers.

 

The new service - a world first - is free for sellers, who only need to tick a box when placing an advert.

On the rare occasion we are unable to provide the Telesafe service, Trader Media Group reserve the right to publish the seller’s private telephone number(s) online and in print.

Telesafe is designed to prevent known canvassers from contacting sellers. Telesafe is not provided to withhold a seller’s private telephone number for security purposes.

Why should I use Telesafe?

• Telesafe means Auto Trader can block calls from known canvassers. Our customers tell us this is their greatest frustration when advertising 
• Sellers can keep their own phone numbers private
• It allows sellers to remove adverts from the website simply by dialling their own number from their destination number and following the options
• Sellers can 'turn off' their number so buyers will be given a message telling them the vehicle is sold. If the advert also appears in Auto Trader magazine, this is particularly useful as potential buyers can continue to view the magazine advert long after the vehicle is sold
• Telesafe is a free service for Auto Trader advertisers
  

What will it cost me?
 
Telesafe is a not-for-profit service, and we pay for the cost of forwarding calls to sellers. Auto Trader is looking at ways to reduce these costs further.
 
There is no cost for sellers who opt to use Telesafe. Any buyers contacting you via a Telesafe number will be charged at the rates below.  These charges are only slightly higher than direct calls in order for us to cover the cost of providing the service for free.
 
An 0870xx telesafe number will be allocated to any Landline destination telephone number.
An 070xx telesafe number will be allocated to any Mobile destination telephone number.
 

Number range	Day	Evening	Weekend
0870xx	5.67p	3.02p	0.93p
070xx	37.50p	25.00p	12.50p

  
NOTE: Calls from mobiles may vary; all prices are pence per minute.
 
Do I have to use a Telesafe number?
 
No, Telesafe is optional for sellers to use.
 
Why block canvassers?

Research by Auto Trader has shown unsolicted contact from third parties is your single biggest irritation when using our service. Canvassers typically trawl classified magazines and websites to contact sellers to attempt to persuade sellers to advertise with them. We recommend declining offers from canvassers, who may try to persuade you to pay to advertise elsewhere. Auto Trader is regularly contacted by customers who have paid money to canvassers on the promise of a number of buyers interested in their car. On many occasions, these buyers fail to materialise.

Should you be contacted by a canvasser, please let us know on 0845 345 3450.
For more information about canvassers, read our how to avoid canvassing calls article.
 
How do I identify a canvassing call?
 
Canvassers are callers who are looking to persuade you to advertise your car elsewhere; usually for a substantial fee. Many canvassers will make themselves sound like genuine buyers in order to build rapport with the seller. They will ask details about the car, which aren't on the advert.

After engaging the seller in conversation, canvassers reveal they are working for an organisation which will put a number of interested buyers in touch with you, who are looking for vehicle such as yours. It’s worth bearing in mind Auto Trader has the UK's biggest audience of car buyers, so in choosing us, you've already placed your advert in the best place.
 
What should I do if I am still contacted by a canvasser?
 
We’ve designed Telesafe to protect sellers from unwanted calls, unfortunately we realise that on occasion s the odd call might escape our system.
 
Telesafe  can only block calls from known canvassers. This system is constantly updated but, if you are still contacted by canvassers, this is because Auto Trader do not hold the details of the company in question.
 
In this case, please take the time to report the details of the canvassing call to us so that we can block them from future contact to you and other advertisers. To do this, please call our Customer Service team on 0845 345 3450 or send an e-mail to at enquiries@autotrader.co.uk with the following information, where known:

• Your advert reference number, or your vehicle's registration number
• Time and date you were called
• The number you were called from
• Name of the organisation you were contacted by

 
Will this affect response to my advert?
 
Sellers will not notice any difference in the number of genuine enquires about their advertised vehicle. Only canvassers from other organisations will be filtered out.
 
Car buyers will be unaffected if the vehicle is still for sale. If the advert has been removed or the vehicle sold, callers will be played a message to let them know.
 
I've sold my vehicle, how do I turn my advert off?
 
There are two options:
 

• Online
  You can delete your advert from the website at any time using the link emailed to you when you placed your advert. This will delete the advert from the site, cancel any unpublished insertions in our magazines and set up a recorded message to tell callers to your Telesafe number(s) that your vehicle is sold.
• Use Telesafe to delete your advert
  To do this, simply call your Telesafe number from its destination number (the telephone number you originally supplied us).

The system will recognise you as the seller. Press '1' on your phone to delete the advert when prompted.
After confirmation of this action, we will delete your advert from the website, cancel any magazine insertions still to be published and play a recorded message to any callers informing them the vehicle is sold.

 

Related links

• Telesafe Terms and Conditions
• Auto Trader Terms and Conditions
• How to Avoid Canvassing Calls
• About Telesafe for Buyers
• ofcom.org.uk

Auto Trader is not responsible for the content of external websites.