*WARNING: northern counties roll-out, Survey UK/Matters Consulting *

Wolves1963

Received one today (West Midlands). Exactly the same details as Codger explained (Congratulations & Compliments slip) apart from call 0121 259 0023.

beansoup

Received today in Kent - an obvious enough scam but wanted info to send on to Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator.

Same as others but with local phone no.

Tony_J_2

Hi Folks, I just got one of these through the post today. I am in Herne Bay, Kent, and it has a Sittingbourne area phone number. I expect they rent a local phone number and get it diverted to a call centre somewhere.
I was tempted to phone them, but smelt a rat, Googled ,and ended up here. Glad I did. Thanks for all the info.

mattallen

Yep, another one in Herne Bay, Kent. Thanks for the heads up everyone!:T

kami2112

just got one today in Warrington, Cheshire

what did we do before Google!

MagicMan

I never fall for for these sorts of things but i must admit i was duped, was tired and wasn't thinking straight. Rung them up and as i was talking it occurred to me to google the company and i saw the horror story in front of me.

By the time it clicked in my head and hung up they had already got the first 3 letters of my postcode and my name out of me, even though i did not give my full address i fear this is going to be enough to be put on some damn list.

What is going to happen now?


Edit: I see people talking about the electoral register, i know i get a mailing every now and then from the council asking if the persons still living here are the ones listed on the printed form, i vaguely remember ticking a box that has something to with public records not being allowed or something before sending it back, i could be wrong though. I just hoping that maybe without my full address i might be ok.

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2nd Edit: I just reliased the damn handwritten "confirmation" code on the slip i told them probably traces to the exact letter sent to our house, i'm in a flat in the house and the letter was addressed to Mr/Mrs Flat 2 .... rest of address. And they already have my name. I am such an idiot. Is the worst that is going to happen that i just get direct-mail scam letters sent to me? Or could there be worst to come?

Some people in this thread have been talking about having bank accounts and the such opened in their name, this has got me terribly worried. If all that happens is that i just get more junk mail then i can cope with that but if i am at risk from identity theft and the first i know about it is a knock from the bailiffs then that is something else.

If i move (which i have been seriously thinking about doing anyway) and making sure i am not on the public electoral register and do all the usual address updates that go along with moving home will this protect me from problems like identity theft? If someone tries to open a bank account in my name surely the address won't match to the "super secret bank database" list and i should be ok? Just looking for some reassurance i guess.

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3rd Edit: I have just checked with my neighbour in the next flat (same house) and his handwritten "confirmation code" is the same as my one. Now this means that either the code is either the same for everyone and actually means nothing or it's the code that is assigned to our specific house (which has 7 flats btw). I think this means at worst that they don't know my flat number which is giving me some hope that they won't be able to complete my address.

The more likely reasoning is that the code probably means nothing and is just used as a confidence ploy to get you to ring. So if i am not on the public electoral register (which i will check tomorrow) then all they have is my name and the first 3 letters of my postcode and nothing else. As i mentioned each of the letters to everyone were addressed to Mr/Mrs *no-name*, then the flat number, and the rest of the address. So they have the physical addresses but not the people living in them.

howsoon

UK Survey has hit the North-East (south-east Northumberland it would seem). Usual modus operandi (addressed to Mr/Mrs , local looking phone number, gift allocation notification, handwritten code etc.). Quite a sharp practice as a local authority survey has just been completed and many people, particularly teh old and vulnerable, might be taken in by this. Will be reporting this to Advertising Standards Authority quoting the 2002 adjudication.
Thanks for all the previous information on this.

Sassysugar

Hi there

Just got the Survey UK scam through my door today (I live in East Hartford, Northumberland), same as other posts, Mr/Mrs, authorisation code with gift value exceeding £32,500 and an expiry date of 30 April 09. Phone number on it is local 01670 720002, so glad I googled it before even thinking about phoning the number!!!! Sounded far too good to be true!!

S

ESTUARY

Thanks for the warning. I received one this morning in Whitstable Kent, but it has the telephone no: 01795 57008 with Gloucester postmark.

Surely something can be done to stop them taking advantage of those less savvy then those of us who smell a rat!

janet6267

I received one this morning, luckily I searched and found this thread before phoning them. I live in Cam, Gloucestershire. Feel like turning up at the office and delivering it back to them.