Hard sell from activation people

Mutton_Geoff

I've just called to activate a new Barclaycard and was stunned by the 10 minute hard sell ramble to flog me identity theft protection for "only" £5.99 a month. All my objections (I don't let cards out of my sight, I cover PIN pads when entering numbers, I shred all statements etc) were met with "yes but ..." responses. The rep even tried to tell me that I would need to employ a solicitor at hundreds of pounds an hour to correct my Experian file if it was ever accessed by a fraudster. Even had the cheek to tell me that people had mortgages illegally taken out in their names for which they became liable!

I've met plenty of hard sellers before and perfectly capable of fending them off, but Barclaycard are really pushing the boat out with their current techniques to trap people simply ringing up to activate their cards.

Grumpy old man letter in the post I think.

latecomer

It is amazing what some of them will say to try and scare you into taking protection. Last one that really tried it on with me was doing the usual what if you lose you job etc. I explained that I had savings, shares, a flat and if the very worst happened I'd sell the car as its not exactly important in the grand scheme of things. they didn't like that but there is no way I'd allow someone to bully me into some crappy product I dont want.

Definitely send in a complaint and mention the words harassment and bullyin

*Jane*

Hubby had the same hard sales ploy when activating our Halifax card the other day. Dont these people understand the word NO we dont want or need what you are offering.

skyrider007

The same sort of thing happened when I activated my MBNA card over the phone. I simply declined politely after 10-15 minutes on the phone.

calibrax

Make it crystal clear from the start, politely but forcefully, that there's no way in hell you will pay it no matter what they say. If they have a brain (hmmm...) then they won't waste their time...

If it helps, you can also tell a porky and say you have a Capital One card and they give you ID theft protection free.

All those energy companies that come round your door trying to get you to switch your electric and gas to them... I always say I'm renting, and its in the contract that I have to stay with the company I'm with (which is another little porky pie!). Although the other week, after the FOURTH energy company knocking on my door ON THE SAME DAY trying to get me to change, the answer they got was "!!!! OFF!" and the door slammed on them!

matt83uk

A&L are scumbags in this respect, they outsource their activation to CPP. Who despite explicitly saying "NO" they went ahead and sent me the identify theft pack and £59.99 bill. I complained to A&L who said it was "nothing to do with them, speak to CPP", obviously not happy I sent letters to all involved and eventually it was resolved after listening to the recording and agreed, but no real apology, I can't begin to imagine how rife this practice is.

I activated an A&L card the other day and had to go through CPP hell again, who again tried to sell the identify theft, what worries me is they put on hold for like two minutes after saying activated, I better not get another pack in a few days.

benf90

"If they have a brain (hmmm...)"

I think that's a bit of a stupid comment to make. Quite offensive actually.

I doubt any of them actually want to sell anything to you, it's just part of their job.

Luckily I've never had to do it as part of a job. But I've known people that have had to sell similar types of things, and worked in an office where other staff have had to sell similar types of cover.

Not a single one of them wanted to sell it. But as calls are recorded and monitored if they didn't try their best they would get marked down by managers etc.

In the most extreme circumstances I've known people lose their job because they've still been within the probation period set out in their contract.

You could argue they should look for another job, but life's not as simple as that.

The person who the OP spoke to quite clearly went too far in trying to sell it though. A complaint should be made about that as although I think Barclaycard would be making staff approach for the cover etc I doubt they would tolerate that type of pressure selling.

Kavanne

RBS tried to sell me PPI when I activated my credit card.

After the first sentence of the script (which I recognised) I said 'I'm staff' and he stopped and said 'OK, card activated, thanks!'

~Brock~

Experian provide this type of assistance and much more besides as part of their CreditExpert service for the same monthly cost.

[Deleted User]

My conversation with Barclaycard Activations went something like this:

Me: Hello, I'd like to activate my card.
Them: What's the number?
Me: 4921 8652 1234 5678
Them: OK, had you considered protecting your cards against loss and theft?
Me: No thankyou, I'm OK.
Them: But what if you lost them?
Me: I'd cancel them.
Them: Someone could use them before you knew about it.
Me: Is that a threat?
Them: No sir, just an observation we would like you to know.
Me: It sounded like you were threatening me.
Them: Not at all.
Me: OK.
Them: So you'd like to apply for the protection?
Me: No.
Them: Are you sure?
Me: Very sure.
Them: Well let me tell you about some of the other benefits.
Me: No.
Them: Firstly, if you lose your cards...
Me: NO!
Them: ...you can call us and we would cancel them all for you.
Me: NO!
Them: ...and once your cards are cancelled you are safe from fraudsters.
Me: (sounding bored) no... no... no no no...
Them: There are other benefits too...
Me: (singing a la "2 Unlimited") No no! No no no no! NO NO NO NOOO!! No No, there's no limits... NO NO!! NO NO NO NOOO!!
Them: Am i to take it you're not interested?
Me: You are correct in your assumption.
Them: OK, well I've activated your card. Have a great day.
Me: You too. Better luck next time.

~Brock~

billbennett wrote: »

My conversation with Barclaycard Activations went something like this:

Me: Hello, I'd like to activate my card.
Them: What's the number?
Me: 4921 8652 1234 5678

I hope that's not really your credit card number bill !:eek: