Cold Caller

Abstract_thoughts

Hi there, this is my first post so i thought i'd better give some background before i pry you all for knowledge. I came out of Uni with an obserd level of debt like most people, however thanks to places like this and a steady if not spectacular job im gradually clawing my way out. I still find it hard to stop spending but its been cut down to the point that it's manageable at least.

Now for the reason i decided to post here rather than lurk.

Earlier today i got a cold call from someone, the problem was i was slightly tipsy after finishing a night shift and heading to the pub before i started a few well earned days off (i realise that this isn't a socially acceptable time to be drinking but to quote cadbury's, anyone who's worked nights will appreciate that the feeling you get when you finish is definately one of it being friday ).

I didn't catch the name of this particular cold caller or where he was from, but i got the all too familiar broad questions and even broader answers to whatever i directed at him.

the conversation went somewhat like this (please skip to the end for the serious problem and why im posting this here if the main text is boring ):

Him > Hi there, is that *my name* I understand you have a number of unsecured loans.
me > I have a number of loans, however i'm not sure what you want, are you going to either try and sell me something or offer to consolidate my loans?
Him> Did i try and sell you something? Dont jump to conclusions, please listent to me.
Me> Ok go ahead.
Him> usual crap about loans, high interest, risky, thought about job future etc. I forget details as i was merry and only half interested. At this point i got bored, put him on speaker phone and left him chatting to himself in the pub, saying 'yup, uhu etc every 10 seconds.

The phone gets cut off and he calls me back

Him> Hi, something went wrong with the line there.
me> yep, so it did, what were we talking about?

At this point im really bored and figure ill just waste his time and make him put the phone down and not call back.

Him> We were talking about debt consolidations
Me> Dishwasher? No thanks, i cant really afford one, i've got a lot of debt already you see.
Him> Sorry i dont think i heard you right, i was talking about debt consolidation.
me> Sorry we have a bad line, well even with debt consolidation i dont think it's a wise idea to buy a dishwasher now, i should really pay off my debt.
Him> Dishwashers, why are you talking about dishwashers, are you taking this seriously?! (he's getting quite irate)
Me> Look i get too many calls like this, i'm not interested in your plans, please leave me alone.
Him> (this is where it gets a bit serious possibly) I dont think you know who you're talking to, you've made a big mistake, you've made an absolutely massive mistake, you're going to really regret this. Do you realise what i could do.
Me> no i dont know who this is, you didnt tell me, who is this
Him> this is someone who is going to make your life a misery, you'll regret wasting my time, do you think it's funny?
Me> Well dont waste my time cold calling me then

And so the threats continue along the same vein until i laugh as i put the phone down.


Now finally my questions, I know winding these people up isnt big or clever, but i'd been awake for well over 24 hours, had a few beers and find cold calls one of the most irritating things around, however i will take ANY threat seriously.

What is the chance this guy could actually do something detrimental to me, considering he knew my name and phone number, i presume he must have access to my other details? Should i do something preventetative.

What's the chance he was actually affiliated with one of the firms i have cards with and could hurt me that way.

And finally what course of action would people take if they were in my position? Ignore him as a wound up, full of himself salesman or take him seriously and ask someone (who?) to investigate.

I appologise for coming here and bombarding everyone with questions with my first post, particularly as i did goad the reaction from him in the first place, however regardless how slim the chance he could actually carry any threat out is i dont want to take the risk.

Thanks very much for reading this, and thank you in advance for any answers.

RAS

Which company did he work for? What was his name?

boredofbeingathome

Abstract_thoughts wrote: »

Hi there, this is my first post so i thought i'd better give some background before i pry you all for knowledge. I came out of Uni with an obserd level of debt like most people, however thanks to places like this and a steady if not spectacular job im gradually clawing my way out. I still find it hard to stop spending but its been cut down to the point that it's manageable at least.

Now for the reason i decided to post here rather than lurk.

Earlier today i got a cold call from someone, the problem was i was slightly tipsy after finishing a night shift and heading to the pub before i started a few well earned days off (i realise that this isn't a socially acceptable time to be drinking but to quote cadbury's, anyone who's worked nights will appreciate that the feeling you get when you finish is definately one of it being friday ).

I didn't catch the name of this particular cold caller or where he was from, but i got the all too familiar broad questions and even broader answers to whatever i directed at him.

the conversation went somewhat like this (please skip to the end for the serious problem and why im posting this here if the main text is boring ):

Him > Hi there, is that *my name* I understand you have a number of unsecured loans.
me > I have a number of loans, however i'm not sure what you want, are you going to either try and sell me something or offer to consolidate my loans?
Him> Did i try and sell you something? Dont jump to conclusions, please listent to me.
Me> Ok go ahead.
Him> usual crap about loans, high interest, risky, thought about job future etc. I forget details as i was merry and only half interested. At this point i got bored, put him on speaker phone and left him chatting to himself in the pub, saying 'yup, uhu etc every 10 seconds.

The phone gets cut off and he calls me back

Him> Hi, something went wrong with the line there.
me> yep, so it did, what were we talking about?

At this point im really bored and figure ill just waste his time and make him put the phone down and not call back.

Him> We were talking about debt consolidations
Me> Dishwasher? No thanks, i cant really afford one, i've got a lot of debt already you see.
Him> Sorry i dont think i heard you right, i was talking about debt consolidation.
me> Sorry we have a bad line, well even with debt consolidation i dont think it's a wise idea to buy a dishwasher now, i should really pay off my debt.
Him> Dishwashers, why are you talking about dishwashers, are you taking this seriously?! (he's getting quite irate)
Me> Look i get too many calls like this, i'm not interested in your plans, please leave me alone.
Him> (this is where it gets a bit serious possibly) I dont think you know who you're talking to, you've made a big mistake, you've made an absolutely massive mistake, you're going to really regret this. Do you realise what i could do.
Me> no i dont know who this is, you didnt tell me, who is this
Him> this is someone who is going to make your life a misery, you'll regret wasting my time, do you think it's funny?
Me> Well dont waste my time cold calling me then

And so the threats continue along the same vein until i laugh as i put the phone down.


Now finally my questions, I know winding these people up isnt big or clever, but i'd been awake for well over 24 hours, had a few beers and find cold calls one of the most irritating things around, however i will take ANY threat seriously.

What is the chance this guy could actually do something detrimental to me, considering he knew my name and phone number, i presume he must have access to my other details? Should i do something preventetative.

What's the chance he was actually affiliated with one of the firms i have cards with and could hurt me that way.

And finally what course of action would people take if they were in my position? Ignore him as a wound up, full of himself salesman or take him seriously and ask someone (who?) to investigate.

I appologise for coming here and bombarding everyone with questions with my first post, particularly as i did goad the reaction from him in the first place, however regardless how slim the chance he could actually carry any threat out is i dont want to take the risk.

Thanks very much for reading this, and thank you in advance for any answers.

It is a fishing call..there are a lot of companies doing this at the moment.And is often about a little known Govt scheme..known as an IVA. If you can block the callers ID.
You will probably be unable to find him, but you can report nusiance phone calls. Ring up your mobile provider and ask about this.

beanielou

I wouldent worry too much if I was you.

Abstract_thoughts

RAS wrote: »

Which company did he work for? What was his name?

I didnt catch it unfortunately, either he didn't say or I was too tired to notice it.

I asked him for his name after he threatened me and he wouldnt give me anything.

It is a fishing call..there are a lot of companies doing this at the moment.And is often about a little known Govt scheme..known as an IVA. If you can block the callers ID.
You will probably be unable to find him, but you can report nusiance phone calls. Ring up your mobile provider and ask about this.

yep, i was pretty sure it was a fishing call, however i'm still concerned as to whether he has access to enough of my details to actually do anything. He seemed very confident with his threats, it wasn't just a vague hint but a very confident warning, saying that i would be hearing from him very soon.

I had £300 stolen from a cloned debit card only 2 months ago and i dont fancy any kind of repeat, i've got an account with experion to check on any attempts to take things out in my name, but even if he only has my address i'm still slightly concerned as to what he can do with it if he is genuinely as annoyed as he sounded.


As for the IVA i've already registered to the schemes which are meant to stop cold callers, but it didnt stop this one it seems.

Abstract_thoughts

Thanks for all the speedy replies

boredofbeingathome

I too am registered on those sites..but i reckon they just cold call anyway. Re register your details and mobile no.
As for Cloning of cards, is that in any way linked to your mobile? If so you can request that they remove your no from their database.

natsplatnat

I am not going to be of any help to you I am afraid.... but I just wanted to say that your story made me smile and I hope you don't suffer any consequences from it. I get 2 or 3 calls a day from a mobile phone company trying to swindle an upgrade out of me..... I just connect the call and put the phone back in my desk drawer. And they still call!

I'm sure you will be fine..... just some company preying on the vunerable!!

(still smiling.... dishwasher! lol)

RAS

If he made any specific threats, consider reporting him to the police. Without his contact details, you cannot report him to the OFT or trading Standards.

Unless you can get his number from anywhere?

Head-Out-Of-Sand

Dishwashers!!! :rotfl: Genius!!!

It definitely sounds like a load of rot to me, how terrible threatening someone like that! He must have been having a very bad day for stitching vulnerable people up...

I wouldn't worry too much, if it's anything like the telephone job I worked (It was market research, not sales!! Please don't throw things!!!) the details are only available on screen for the duration of the call anyway.

Even if they were still on screen, he wont have any more details than name, address & phone number, as they're not entitled to have any more than that I imagine??

I would laugh it off and be very pleased you managed to wind the little termite up so beautifully! What's he realisitically going to do? Do you have any idea how many people he must get p*ssed off with doing what he does? You're probably at the end of a very long hit list!!

Don't give the sad little "I wanna be an extra in a Guy Ritchie film" waste of space any more of your precious thinking space!

Head-Out-Of-Sand

Oh just wanted to add, re the phishing thing - my BF has a business and therefore has an ad in yellow pages - he gets a lot of these kinds of calls, people saying he's ordered goods that he hasn't, ordered ads that he hasn't etc etc - he is in charge of all advertising and aside from YP doesn't pay any external ads/marketing, but he's said that some of them are so convincing (and often aggressive) he starts thinking he's wrong!! (Before coming to his senses and telling them to go forth and multiply. That's my boy!!!)

All bluster to frighten you into doing something you wouldn't even consider if you weren't being shouted at!