Not giving out personal info on the phone?

mr.ton

I once told 1st Credit that i was refusing their security questions because of the data protection act - ouch they didnt like! lol

tbourner

I usually give them half of it, like I say the first part of my post code but not the important bit, then I ask THEM what the end of it is to confirm who THEY are!!
I had one who refused and I said OK then goodbye, they said they needed to confirm my identity and needed to hear the whole postcode, and that they couldn't continue the call without it - I just said "Well that's fine with me, you phoned ME remember so what do I care if we don't continue!".

podperson

I used to get really panicked and stressed with these people calling me but now I just have a bit of fun with it. If a debt collection company calls up asking me to confirm security questions I ask why they are calling - which they can't tell you until you confirm security - and when they say that I just say well I can't confirm my details to a complete stranger when I have no idea why you're calling me, haven't you heard of data protection! Can go on a while sometimes but is quite funny. When I get bored I just ask them to confirm in writing who they are and why they're contacting me and then hang up.

FTW

mr.ton wrote: »

I once told 1st Credit that i was refusing their security questions because of the data protection act - ouch they didnt like! lol

I once told a DCA (BCW) that I was dead - I fell into an industrial ice-cream maker (I was pretending to be my non-existent brother).

I was just about to tell the monkey who called that I was found with two ice-cream cones wedged into my eye sockets, but he hung up before I got the chance. Shame - I was just beginning to enjoy myself.

It was only BCW - it isn't as if they had anything important to say.

redpete

You said they are asking to confirm information - so presumably they say something like "Are you Tinkerbell Lily of 12 Narnia Street with a Date of Birth 23rd July 1983?"

If this is the case you are not opening yourself to any scammer because they already have the info. If you don't want to talk to them for other reasons then just say you're not interested and put the phone down.

If they are just asking you for the info from scratch then tell them you are not prepared to give out the info over the phone.

Blahah

redpete wrote: »

You said they are asking to confirm information - so presumably they say something like "Are you Tinkerbell Lily of 12 Narnia Street with a Date of Birth 23rd July 1983?"

If this is the case you are not opening yourself to any scammer because they already have the info. If you don't want to talk to them for other reasons then just say you're not interested and put the phone down.

If they are just asking you for the info from scratch then tell them you are not prepared to give out the info over the phone.

If they offer up the information to you for confirmation that's a serious breach of the Data Protection Act. If that ever happens you should ask them to send a letter to the address they have on file, and to send a copy of the complaints procedure too. Then write a complaint about their breach. They could have just given out your address and D.O.B to someone else with your name - a nice gift for anyone considering identity theft!

MrsTinks

Ooooo I love when anyone tries to call me... My bank have cottoned on now... they write me
I NEVER give my details out on the phone unless it's a call I have made.
Anyone wanting to get my details will have to get me drunk first and then they may get my mobile number if they're cute Hubby might not be too happy though

I'd go with "Hun (don't matter if they're male or female btw) - you haven't bought me a drink, dinner or any bling - those would be requisites of ANYONE getting my name and mobilenumber and you want my home address? We haven't even had a first date! If you want to make sure I am indeed me - write me - Bye now!"

psychopathbabble

Probably just repeating stuff everyone else has said, but the one time my bank called me I said I'm not happy giving that info out over the phone and I'll be going in to the branch to talk to someone and see what they wanted.

Just saying 'i'm not giving any information over the phone, you may contact me by letter if it's important'. Just repeat this and if they don't like it then hang up. The fear of giving details out over the phone should outweigh the fear of someone thinking you are rude.. if they are genuine then they will understand and won't mind. x

barbiedoll

Oh man, I've been saying this to the overseas call centre staff at Cap One at least twice a day for the last three weeks. Even they are getting fed up with calling me, only to hear me say....."I'm not confirming any security details, I'm not discussing my financial details with a stranger on the phone, I'm not going to increase my payments so don't bother asking and I'm not dealing with your company unless it is in writing"
I have to laugh when they call, they don't even bother being polite now, I just get.... "Mrs Barbiedoll, right?" and then a big sigh. I almost feel sorry for them!