Industrial Workers Office Scamming

moneygurus

I have just received a call from a representative of the "Industrial Workers' Office". He interrogated me to find out whether I was related to the name on his list, and hence a good target for the sale, without telling me who he was or on whose behalf he was calling. I asked and his answer was a rather testy "Well, if you give me a chance, mate ..." and he then began to describe whom he represented and what the company does. Having received many calls from this firm, I stopped him and asked him to remove our details from the database, informing him that we have registered with the Telephone Preference Service. He said the he would "try". I told him that that would not be good enough and that only exactly what I had requested would suffice. He then told me not to speak to him like a "f*****g d***-***d just because I'm on the other end of the f*****g 'phone, mate". I have never received a call from anyone using such language, let alone a business trying to win my custom. The organization in question clearly does not train its workers to make telephone calls that will preserve its brand and, given this experience, I can only presume that its recruitment and selection process would not withstand much examination. Something needs to be done about these people.

Dr._Vespapero

I have heard an unabridged version of what this caller has to say and in natural circumstances where a person answered and followed the line of enquiry with answers to the questions posed - the event & venue where it would be possible to determine if there is any access to compensation is both local and in the near future [less than a week] and the person answering the aforementioned call is looking to be able to attend.
It is true that the information revealed to the call recipient shows an insight into their professional career and present registered domicile - so if this is just a scam, details bought in a bid to gain further access using this method, it will very soon come to light.


In the event it is legitimate, I would suggest such an operation is not low key, that e.g. a local MP/even a celeb with a career span including time served in such an environment and the likelihood of eligibility for compensation, said to be covering hearing loss of 5% or more, is his/herself trying to attend and bring local press/media interest to widen the scope of the event, effectively getting 'Industrial Workers Office' to stand on the proverbial soapbox and bang the proverbial drum about it, with at least tens of their operatives ready to process potentially hundreds of claimants on the day - as in this case we're talking about a steel town, heavy industry on the doorstep providing thousands of jobs over many decades.

The particular one in question is 24th February, Wortley House Hotel, appointment based, and the number that called here is 02381879998, not withheld, while the crux of the enquiry was to establish that things have changed; A test taken over a decade ago assessing 'normal hearing' and declaring 'no valid claim possible' could now be annulled using a more recently devised thorough frequency test that will determine afresh if there is any possibility of compensation [and it is likely in this case because of constant low-level noise in that environment that would not necessitate ear defenders or plugs, but would be a factor at all times throughout a forty year career span].
It was certainly implied that a test taken just before retirement some thirteen years ago would say just that: "unimpaired hearing" - because this recent kind of testing would almost certainly highlight hearing loss that it didn't pick up on, and hearing deteriorates commensurate with what you expect to hear - that sudden lapse in forty years of ambient noise creates the conditions for ongoing issues and continual testing is therefore surely part of a pension plan - so that it isn't a sudden incursion at some later stage taking a large bite out of funds preferably reserved for other things.

Naturally it all remains to be seen - but as I have said, I was privy to the call being taken and heard it in full - I would not have the person receiving that call waste a moment of their time and especially not like to see them duped, so I might even take myself down to this event purely to discover what they could possibly hope to do for those going hard of hearing, i.e. after fiscal reparations - because there's still very little respite for tinnitus sufferers even in this modern age of advanced medical practices, technological developments and pharmaceuticals....


They've just phoned back as I typed this - I didn't listen to them this time, but heard the recipient going over the details, & an appointment is booked.


Fingers crossed - I will try update asap - it will be nice to know this is all above board

Dr._Vespapero

The clinic at The Wortley was genuine, the people very accommodating, it was called something different though, 'National Hearing Clinic', if memory serves. I asked the genial young lady booking people in if I could make a general enquiry and then talked to an audiologist about treatments for a condition like tinnitus, which he confirmed has no actual 'cure' and where remedies are just that - they work when taken/deployed and often times the combatant method is another noise and while the condition, at least in my case, has a degree of variation that would make a lot of counter noise necessary to be effective, but likely also counter productive.


All in all I'm pleased I made the enquiry in person, and with their handling of it.


Something I related to the specialist, from personal experience and will share with you too as it may be of interest - I once loaded a PC Tools magazine cover disc into my computer and found an application called 'Bitmaps & Waves' - it is essentially a means of spectrographic conversion, and with it I have successfully created a sound I would hear as [extra] tinnitus when I also have a cold [I was compelled to do this because the associated feeling of pressure is quite worrying too] - it is as simple as drawing a picture with high pitch noise at the top, low pitch at the bottom and time as a lateral read of the image from left to right. Add a sound editor like 'Audacity' and you can further tweak the .wav sound file output for accuracy and so when reporting the extent of your hearing troubles, quickly get a healthcare professional on the same page. Both the aforementioned programs are free to download and use...,
visit:
victorx.eu/BitmapPlayer.htm

audacity.sourceforge.net


Obviously though it still leaves the matter of a telephone operative acting unprofessionally - maybe if he reads this he will realise the scope of an operation bidding to serve any possible claimants with at least good advice if not the best reparations available.
We all have off days - but if reports coming in all describe the same person, then let him [he will duly] take stock of the situation - Personally, I turned down a telesales job and would rather forfeit unemployment benefits than do that kind of work, and I do not even know more than the simple fact it is a 'cold call' canvassing technique; could be fun to do, might meet great people - who knows - although just on principle alone, not for me.

Gerry_Hill

We've just had two calls from these jokers, one claiming to be "Locum ID" qne the other a few hours latter assuming I was my wife, from "Locum ID Clinics". The first had given the game away by mentioning that I'd done "heavy work", which I haven't, so I told him to stop changing their name (we've had lots from various "workers' offices" and clear off. I gave the second one shorter shrift but decided to see if they'd revealed their number. Amazingly, they had: it was from Halifax, 01422 718421. It sounded to come from a busy call centre - lots of chatter in the background and, inevitably, came from "John". To be fair, though, he did sound more like Halifax than Bombay.;)

tony290984

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I found this by googling 'Industrial Workers Office' as they were on the phone to me. The guy on the other end said that he was calling from the Industrial Workers Office in Stoke (I'm in Stoke-on-Trent) yet the telephone number he called me from was Derby (01332). All he asked me for was confirmation that I had worked in 'some form of industry' and when I asked him to explain, he said "for example, construction, factory, machine work mainly" and when I said no, he hung up. I only answered because I'm currently job hunting and was racking my brain to think of a job that I've applied for that could have anything to do with machinery; but clearly, it wasn't a prospective employer lol.

08lop89

Having worked for this company I can tell you that what they do is a CON and should not be allowed. For 1 the way workers are treated is unacceptable! The language used in the work place was unbelievable including racism! A lot of foreign men who was very sexual towards females staff! So what they do? This company will employ basically anyone and give them basic training for 1 day ( I received none was told to read from my script) so we are basically just told to ring the number that comes up and tell you anything to make you believe you have a claim! I could write so much more to shame this company LOCUM ID but what's the point ?! I am sorry for anyone who has to recieve these calls and would never work for a company like this again! Instantly hang up! Oh and if you have a foreign name in the work place you are not allowed to use it and told to use an English name! So if you was told you was speaking to Michael wrong more like Muhammed!

Texy

They also go under the name of Industrial Workers Department using the industrial workers database set up by the government.. Yea right, phone book and electoral role perhaps.. Fone number comes up as Darlington area code but she told me she was from Manchester.. Hmmm trustworthy company.. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE

Jackmydad

It's really dead easy to deal with any cold caller though isn't it?
It doesn't matter how important or urgent their call might appear to be.
Don't have anything to do with them.
Don't give them, or confirm any details. Don't answer any questions at all. Don't believe anything they tell you. Don't get involved in a conversation, you might tell them something.
If they say they are from your bank. Tell them to write to you. Don't give them your address!
Finally, be "rude" and hang up as soon as you know it's a cold caller.
It's not being rude. You don't owe them anything.

7486doug

I'm just on my way to one of the "clinics" in preston to have my hearing test from this company. I will let you all know if it's a scam or not on my return!

7486doug

Back from my appointment. Well to be fair it's exactly what it says on the tin! You get a hearing test, they assess your results, send you into a solicitor who look at a few questions that you've been asked and he decides if there's a claim to be put in! They are a non win , no fee outfit that take 25% if you win.
In my case they said there wasn't enough to persue a claim. I gave them very little information and don't feel there was anything wrong with their approach.