Receiving unexpected phone calls can be frustrating, especially if the number looks unfamiliar. One such number, 01916968300, has raised concern among many people. This article provides an in-depth overview of the number, including reports of telemarketing, scam activity, and harassment. However, further investigation shows that it is associated with Explain Market Research, a legitimate UK-based research company operating out of the Tyneside area.
If you’ve received a call from this number, here’s everything you need to know.
Quick Overview: Reports and Call Types
According to community feedback, 0191696 8300 has generated both positive and negative reports. Let’s break down the numbers:
- Telemarketing: 8 reports
- Spoofed call: 2 reports
- Scam: 1 report
- Dangerous caller rating: 11 ratings
- Total reports: 30 reports
- Lookups: 6,495 searches
While many users have flagged it as a nuisance, Explain Market Research has confirmed that the number belongs to them. They use it for survey-related inquiries, not sales calls.
What is Explain Market Research?
Explain Market Research is a UK-based company specializing in conducting surveys and collecting feedback on behalf of various clients. They play a vital role in helping organizations, businesses, and public services gather opinions to improve their products or services.
Their calls are part of legitimate market research efforts, which means they don’t sell products or services. As such, receiving a call from them is different from a telemarketing or scam call—despite the confusion reported by some recipients.
Why Are People Reporting the Number as Telemarketing or Scam?
Some users have categorized calls from 01916968300 as telemarketing or even scam-related. These reports often come from people who:
- Did not expect the call or did not recognize the company.
- Felt harassed due to repeated calls.
- Were uncertain about the purpose of the survey.
In other cases, users might have mistakenly identified it as a scam due to increased phishing and spoofing incidents, which are unfortunately common. Spoofing occurs when scammers manipulate caller IDs to display trusted numbers, leading people to confuse legitimate numbers with fraudulent activity.
Caller Feedback: What Users Are Saying
The community reports contain mixed opinions. Here are the most frequently mentioned terms:
- Company: 10 times
- Scam: 9 times
- Survey: 4 times
- Nuisance: 3 times
- Phishing: 2 times
- Noise: 2 times
- Harassing: 2 times
Out of the 11 user ratings, one user labeled the number as Dangerous, while six users marked it as Harassing. These terms highlight the frustrations experienced by some individuals.
Why Legitimate Market Research Can Be Misunderstood
People often mistake legitimate survey calls for telemarketing or scam calls because:
- Unexpected contact: Even when legitimate, unsolicited calls can catch people off guard.
- Caller fatigue: Receiving multiple calls can feel intrusive, even if the intent is harmless.
- Suspicion of scams: In today’s digital landscape, people are more cautious due to the growing number of scams.
Explain Market Research emphasizes that their calls are survey-based and follow strict ethical standards.
Should You Be Worried About a Call from 01916968300?
No. While some reports categorize it as telemarketing or a scam, the number has been verified by experts to belong to Explain Market Research. It is not used for fraudulent activities. If you receive a call from this number, it’s likely related to a survey or feedback request.
However, if you are uncomfortable participating, you can:
- Decline the call politely.
- Block the number to avoid future calls.
- Contact Explain Market Research directly to ask about the purpose of the call.
Their official website offers more information about their work and contact details. You can also verify their legitimacy through the Market Research Society (MRS), which ensures high standards in the industry.
How to Handle Suspicious or Repeated Calls
If you suspect a call may not be from a genuine source, here are a few safety tips to follow:
- Ask for details: Legitimate callers will identify themselves and the purpose of the survey.
- Don’t share personal information: Avoid giving out sensitive details over the phone.
- Call back using the official number: If unsure, hang up and call back using the contact details listed on the company’s website.
- Report the number: You can report nuisance or suspicious calls to Ofcom or Action Fraud in the UK.
Community-Verified Information: Why This Matters
The danger rating assigned by the community is valuable but not always definitive. In this case, 01916968300 has been manually verified as belonging to Explain Market Research. Crowdsourced data can sometimes mix legitimate activities with false assumptions. Therefore, it’s essential to cross-reference the information with trusted sources.
Balancing Caution with Openness
With increasing reports of scam calls, it’s understandable that people are wary of unknown numbers. However, not every unexpected call is fraudulent. Market research plays an important role in gathering insights and improving products and services. Ignoring these calls could mean missing out on the opportunity to contribute your opinion to surveys that shape future decisions.
If you prefer not to receive such calls, you can register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) in the UK. This service helps block unsolicited sales and marketing calls. However, survey calls are usually exempt from this list since they are not selling anything.
Conclusion: Legitimate Survey Calls, Not a Scam
While the 01916968300 number has received some negative feedback from users, the facts confirm that it belongs to Explain Market Research. Their calls are legitimate survey inquiries, not telemarketing or scam attempts. However, it’s understandable why some people may feel annoyed by unsolicited contact.
If you receive a call from this number, there’s no need to panic—it’s a genuine market research initiative. But if you wish to avoid such calls in the future, you can block the number or contact Explain Market Research directly for clarification.
For anyone concerned about phone scams or nuisance calls, staying informed and cautious is always a good practice. If you feel uneasy about a call, report it to Ofcom or Action Fraud.
