Littlewoods 'Award' - Potential scam - where did they get my details from?

mahoc1

Hello,

First time posting here.

Today I received a letter from Littlewoods informing me that I have apparently been awarded a sum of money to open a credit account with them. I just have to sign the form and send it back.

Obviously I'm not going anywhere near this, I have no interest in a credit account and I certainly don't want to accidentally give them permission with my signature to run a credit check on me. This letter is going straight in the bin.

My worry is this: where did they get my details from? I have never bought anything from Littlewoods, nor have I supplied them with my details at any point. I have also only been living at this address for about 6 months. I would like to be able to a stop to more letters in the future, as I'm very annoyed that my details have been shared without my permission to send me junk mail. Is there anything I can do about this, or any body of authority you can contact if you're concerned about your details having been shared?

Thank you for any advice.

McCuddly

Is it the letter that says they'll give you £20 if you open a credit account?

By the sounds of it, it sounds like a general mailshot/junk

fluffnutter

Sign up with the mailing preference service at the link here. This will help stop unwanted marketing literature. Contact Royal Mail (link here) to sign up for their opt out service. Lots of companies pay RM to deliver 'To The Occupier' type mail, i.e. not addressed to you specifically. You can opt out of this.

Thirdly, make sure all your preferences with the companies you deal with, e.g. bank, etc. are set to 'No marketing' to stop them spamming you and be sure to tick or untick all the 'Occasionally we share your details with other companies you might be interested in' boxes whenever you sign up to anything.

None of this will completely stop junk mail; you're still get fliers, takeaway menus, Bettaware catalogues etc. that are hand-delivered but it will help to drastically reduce the amount. It might take a few months for your address to fall off the various marketing lists it might be on so be patient.

McCuddly

Have you bought from Kay&Co (Kays, Great universal, Empire), Very, Choice, Additions, Isme (Marshall Ward) As they are the same company and you may have let them share your details within the group. Or have you ever ordered from a magazine?

now to keep the littlewoods rep happy - I am not posting in an official capacity, nor am I asking for account numbers or personal information. I am simply helping people in an open forum, on my view of issues. My opinions are my own and not that of SDG.

I'd agree with fluffnutter.

mahoc1

McCuddly - It tells me that I have won at least £15, but it could be as much as £1500. Obviously I would be in the £15 pile...

None of those companies ring a bell with me. The only thing I can think of, relevant to this address, is that I recently asked for mailings from Hotel Chocolat. I'm fairly sure that I refused detail-sharing though. I wonder if that could be the culprit.

Fluffnutter - I live in a hall of residence, in which I've only been living for 6 months. The letter was fully addressed to me, name, room number, etc. This is why I was definitely not happy as I'm usually very good about ticking the right boxes and not giving my information to anything. My flat receives the usual junk mail, but nothing and certainly nothing with my name on it. This is the first time.

I took a look at the links, and I like the sound of MPS, though I am worried that they will remove me from mailings that I have approved. Would this likely happen?


Is there any way to complain to Littlewoods without revealing more information than they already have on me?

I realise this may be an exercise in futility, but I am not happy that they have sent me unsolicited mail in this way

McCuddly

Maybe they sold your details on? Just ignore it

Freddie_Snowbits

McCuddly wrote: »

I'd agree with fluffnutter.

I disagree just for the sake of it. Does what Freda does, open up account, take said £15 off first order, pay up and leave the napkin on the table.

McCuddly

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

I disagree just for the sake of it. Does what Freda does, open up account, take said £15 off first order, pay up and leave the napkin on the table.

Freddie speaks sense there actually

I'd do what Mr Snowbaits suggested personally

PZH

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

I disagree just for the sake of it. Does what Freda does, open up account, take said £15 off first order, pay up and leave the napkin on the table.

Welcome back Freddie :beer:

SpammyTheSpammer

Many, many years ago, when young and poor, I received these "you been awarded a sum of money" letters from GUS, Littlewoods etc. I accepted every £15 offer and gradually accumulated a wonderfull collection of saucepans, cutlery sets, putters (I play golf) and many other "desirables" including a fireguard. Only ever 1 item from each account and alwats paid for on the nail - do not take the credit option!

I opened so many that I had to start a filing system so that I could keep track of all the different acounts.

I still fail to understand why they kept letting me open new accounts as I always used the same (real) name and address etc. Their loss was my gain, bwahhhh haaa haaaa!

McCuddly

SpammyTheSpammer wrote: »

I still fail to understand why they kept letting me open new accounts as I always used the same (real) name and address etc. Their loss was my gain, bwahhhh haaa haaaa!

They would have just changed it to a dual account where you can shop from any of the catalogues.