So what's with the phone numbers

Squire_Fulwood

This is probably a vent but it is also a slight concern.

I have noticed that lately when I buy anything on line they say that they can’t deliver the goods unless I give them my phone number. I don’t know why that should be but I usually give it to them. Technically it is XD for historical reasons but I am not too fussed now.

Then my on line bank asked for my mobile number. My bank has taken to making you press a lot of buttons as you sign in like:-
Do you want to download this virus software
What is your ID
Are your details up to date
What is your mobile number (red asterisk and required)
What is your inside leg measurement (only joking)
Do you want a picture of my sister ........and on and on.

I looked at the “Update Your Details” and could not get out of it since I did not have a mobile phone number to enter. It is a red asterisk requirement it seems. I had cancelled my phone service and thought it would be unhelpful to give them that number. I crashed the browser in the end and started over without offering to update any details.

During the daily video chat with my brother he told me that his bank will not allow him to sign in without giving a mobile phone number. He does not own a mobile phone so there is a problem there. His bank has a high street presence so he went to talk to them. Trying to be helpful they re-registered him and then told him that as a result he would not be able to access his account for a week or so. They also told him that one way round it was to enter the number of his land line instead.

Registering on a site the other day it said it wanted my mobile number and not having one now I entered my land line number. “Number Not The Correct Format”, it said.

So, what is going on and how are you going to use some sites if you don’t own a mobile phone in future.

shammyjack

Get one of the many thousands of free Sim cards that are available and use that number .

I ALWAYS enter an unused Sim number ! If they need to contact they will email or write !

Squire_Fulwood

Thank you shammyjack. That is a solution to the problem but what I am wondering is why I need to take defensive action in the first place. What am I defending myself against.

Another case recently was when a friend got broadband and invited me to go and make sure he put all the plugs in the right place. The registration process involved them sending a password to his mobile phone. He asked me what would happen if he didn't have a mobile phone. I didn't know what to say to him.

Azari

Squire_Fulwood wrote: »

This is probably a vent but it is also a slight concern.

I have noticed that lately when I buy anything on line they say that they can’t deliver the goods unless I give them my phone number. I don’t know why that should be but I usually give it to them. Technically it is XD for historical reasons but I am not too fussed now.

Then my on line bank asked for my mobile number. My bank has taken to making you press a lot of buttons as you sign in like:-
Do you want to download this virus software
What is your ID
Are your details up to date
What is your mobile number (red asterisk and required)
What is your inside leg measurement (only joking)
Do you want a picture of my sister ........and on and on.

I looked at the “Update Your Details” and could not get out of it since I did not have a mobile phone number to enter. It is a red asterisk requirement it seems. I had cancelled my phone service and thought it would be unhelpful to give them that number. I crashed the browser in the end and started over without offering to update any details.

During the daily video chat with my brother he told me that his bank will not allow him to sign in without giving a mobile phone number. He does not own a mobile phone so there is a problem there. His bank has a high street presence so he went to talk to them. Trying to be helpful they re-registered him and then told him that as a result he would not be able to access his account for a week or so. They also told him that one way round it was to enter the number of his land line instead.

Registering on a site the other day it said it wanted my mobile number and not having one now I entered my land line number. “Number Not The Correct Format”, it said.

So, what is going on and how are you going to use some sites if you don’t own a mobile phone in future.

Whenever someone asks me for a number I am disinclined to give them I just enter the correct number of digits 01234 567890. Or 07123 456789 for a mobile. I've yet to find that a site does a sanity check on the number and rejects it (although some of the muppets that write the code for these sites cannot throw away the space and want it entered without one. )

vikingaero

Giving your mobile number has its benefits. It adds a tiny layer of security if the bank need to contact you quickly and for some people they use their mobiles as their main phones rather than their landlines. Also the banks want a mobile number in case you default and they can hound you.

RadoJo

My bank makes it seem as though you can't progress without downloading their software or giving them your phone number by greying out the boxes to continue without, but you can just carry on if you want to. I asked them to remove my number from their records when they kept ringing me trying to sell me stuff, but insisting that I go through their security procedures, so I've told them why they are not having my number any more, and stuck by it despite their best efforts!

Bongedone

vikingaero wrote: »

Giving your mobile number has its benefits. It adds a tiny layer of security if the bank need to contact you quickly and for some people they use their mobiles as their main phones rather than their landlines. Also the banks want a mobile number in case you default and they can hound you.

This is the main reason. I have had credit card fraud stopped in its tracks as they had my mobile number. Twice!

EDIT: Also the reverse. They where going to stop a transaction but called me 1st to verify it

hcb42

deliveries - so they can get hold of you to make sure you are in

flights - so they can get hold of you if a delay

hotel - so they can get hold of you if a problem.

Bank - so they can get hold of you for security.

Seems foolish not to!

Squire_Fulwood

hcb42

I can appreciate all you say but to my mind it also seems foolish to prevent my brother (for example) from accessing his on line bank account when he doesn't even own a mobile phone. Yes, I know, I thought he was kidding me too but since he has been to his local branch who were able to tell him a get round I suppose I believe him now.

Azari

Squire_Fulwood wrote: »

hcb42

I can appreciate all you say but to my mind it also seems foolish to prevent my brother (for example) from accessing his on line bank account when he doesn't even own a mobile phone. Yes, I know, I thought he was kidding me too but since he has been to his local branch who were able to tell him a get round I suppose I believe him now.

See post #4.

Squire_Fulwood

Azari

I just read post #4 again and it shows another get round. Not unlike the one the bank branch told my brother to use. I think we are of like mind but have different ways of dealing with it. You enter made up numbers to overcome a silly system and I would like a system that worked and didn't punish the customer by denying them access to their web site, whatever it is.

In post #1 I mentioned a web site that did not like the format I used because I put my home number in the mobile number box. I note that if my brothers bank does similar then the get round his branch gave him will stop working.

Instead of having to use a get round I would prefer that I could just politely refuse to give out information when I wanted to or indeed didn't have because I don't have a mobile phone or whatever.