Uh, is it that common, really? Where do the companies they get his number?

I don't live in the UK but I get maybe one unsolicited call per year.

I don't know why really: I'm not on any do not call lists or anything. When I get that yearly-in-the-average call of mine, I just ask if they're selling something and then tell them I never buy anything from a phone marketer which kind of leaves them hanging and soon hanging up.