Tucan Claims - are they bone fide?

Eddi_the_Seahorse

About a month ago this company cold-called me, in spite of the fact that my number is ex-directory and TPS-registered. I should add that I NEVER give any company my phone number unless it's absolutely essential, and I always insist that it must be flagged "No marketing" and must not be passed on to third parties.

What was even more worrying was that the caller (who had a very strong foreign accent) already knew my name. My immediate response was "How did you get hold of my number?" He was unable (or unwilling) to give me an answer, and eventually passed me over to another foreign-sounding gentleman who said he was the Supervisor. I repeated my question - this time I did get an answer: "I cannot tell you that because of the Data Protection Act."

The remainder of the conversation went along these lines:

Me: Is this conversation being recorded?
Him: Yes.
Me: Good. Because I want it to be put on record that I do not deal with companies who cold-call me. Nor do I deal with companies who do not abide by the rules. If your company was reputable, you would know that this number is TPS-registered, and as such you should not have called it.
Him: (mumbled apology)
(End of call)

Annoying though this is, my real worry is that despite my insistence that my phone number should be kept confidential, there must be someone out there who is selling on my details to unscrupulous companies such as this.

Now my son has received a letter from them offering their services. There was a telephone number on the letter, so I'm going to try phoning them and asking how they get hold of their information. Watch this space...